Back to work he goes...

Derek has just finished up his first week at Davis P.D. & loved it! It's a great change from Oakland and he's really enjoying the new vibe, people and community. He can tell the difference immediately; nicer locker rooms, welcome cookies, & a bunch of free stuff was waiting for him. He was swore in on his first day of work (13th) but a ceremony will be held on Jan. 5th for all us to attend! Im excited for that :)

Im very proud of my husband. He worked to so hard to get hired there & did it. Only 4 were hired (out of 80 I think he said). Davis is going to be a great change for our family. As much as he liked Oakland, I know he very quickly adjusted to Davis and is looking forward to getting on the streets the week after Christmas. We also lucked out that he gets Christmas Eve & Day off!

In other news.. I'm done with my first semester of grad school. It feels so nice to not worry about school for 6 weeks but I really did enjoy the semester.

Christmas shopping is officially done & the bottom of our tree is filling up with goodies. Im excited for Christmas. It will be the 1st of many that Derek & I spend together as a married couple... plus Radar has some presents under there too that I know she'll love!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

... all through my house...

I sure love decorating for Holidays! It sure makes it feel like Christmas with a huge tree in the family room! I'm so exciting to be spending our first Christmas in our new house & as a married couple! Now we need to figure out our plans for Christmas Eve & day-- we both have such awesome families so we'll have to split up our time! Well, 22 days til Christmas my friends.... now I must fill below the tree with presents :)

(Taken on my mac so not the best pic but hey, it works)

Shutterfly Shout Out!!!

So this year has been such a fun year. Clearly lots has happen & so many memories have been made. I can't believe in 2010 we bought a house, got married, got a puppy & I began grad school. With so much happening, I've taken quite a bit of pictures! I would always just upload them to my computer and there they would sit. However, not since I opened a Shutterfly account. With Shutterfly I've ordered prints, calenders and best of all their photo books. They so easy to make & great gifts for family & friends.

Right now Shutterfly, has such cute Christmas & Holiday cards, check them out here.

For Blogging about them I get 50 free so here is what I'm torn between.....

'

Find this one here

Peppermint Gift Wrap Christmas Card

My saved projects »

and this one here

Merry Plaid Christmas Card

My saved projects »

or this one here

& Calendars make another great Christmas present for love ones! They have so many cool styles to choose from. I love this one... So unique!

Find it here (& one sale)

Well run along now & go order some!! Also get 50 free photo cards just by blogging about how awesome shutterfly is! Here is a link to that!

Happy Holidays!!

so much to be thankful for...

& this guy is just one of them!

Im thankful for my wonderful family, my parents, brother & all my "new" Russell family! So grateful to be so close to all of them & of course Im thankful for little Radar!

Im thankful for my beautiful house that is now a cozy home. Its perfect!

Im thankful for my opportunity to go to school and further my education. Im thankful for my job, even though I complain sometimes... I enjoy it.

Im thankful for my husbands new job & not having to work anymore in Oakland.

Lastly, but for sure not least, Im thankful for all my friends. This year my close friends did so many amazing things for me & our wedding. I am so grateful for them.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! Off to get ready for a day full of food, drinks, football & spending it with my whole family together :) Im most excited for that part!

Fall

Fall is finally here!

There is just something about waking up in the morning & it being chilly! I love that feeling. Although it does prevent me from jumping out of bed :)

Our little family has been up to alot lately!

Graduate school is in full force and midterms & papers are taking up all my time. Along with school, work, taking care of the house & our pup, I feel like we are always on the move doing something. Although life is some what busy, I'm really enjoying it. Giants won the World Series!! Duck season has began so if your looking for my husband on a Saturday, Sunday or Wednesday, please check his duck blind and he wont be far from it! Its almost Halloween has came & gone! I've been doing really good in school, getting A's on my midterms & really enjoying my classes!!

Radar is getting so big! She is such a good dog though. She loves us & we love her in return!

Well I think that's all for me! Here are some pictures of our last few weeks. The pumpkin patch was so much fun! Who says you have to a kid to go to the pumpkin patch.. not me... Also we had a big Halloween party so sharing pictures of that too!!











Our house all decked out for Halloween!


I have a confession.. I used to be one of those people that judged so heavily others who treated their dogs as if they were people. I was never a huge dog lover so I never understood it. However... I must confess... I officially love my dog... to the point where I treat her life she is my daughter.... see below for proof...



She had to have a Fall photo-session :)

Meet our newest family member-- Radar Russell







Isnt she a cutie?? Radar joined out family on July 20, 2010, at just 7 weeks old, as a complete surprise to me! I'm so glad Derek surprised me with her because she has totally won my heart! Here she is now at 12 weeks old. She is growing so fast!




She is so my girl because she already knows how to pose for the camera. Dogs will do anything for a treat!

Wedding Pictures are here!!

Well its been almost 2 1/2 months since this amazing June day. I must say marriage is everything I imagined it would be! I love being married and spending everyday with Derek by my side. I hope all those who helped with this day know how thankful and grateful we are for all their hard work and time that went into making this day as amazing as it was! Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day! I sure do love looking at these pictures. The day went by so fast & so many details I was unable to take in and I'm so happy I now have so many great pictures to remember the day!!

Handcrafted by my Dad & myself!

Thanks Christine for my robe!! I loved it!! Mrs. Russell I am!!
With the girls getting ready! So glad you were all there to keep me calm & make me look beautiful!!
I love these little boys.. (& Derek too)

This is such an awesome pic of the guys! What a good lookin' group!My new in-laws (missing kate)... What a great pic! They did so much for our day!
I'm ready to go....
How cute is she??

These girls really are my best friends! We owe so much to my parents! They made our day absolutely perfect!
Aww.. Derek & Grandma... What an amazingly sweet women she is!
Daddy giving me away.. How special it was

What a beautiful ceremony...

Were official!!!
Walking down as man & wife. See the bubbles??

Our good lookin group!!

My hubby & I on the dance floor... My black & white checker floor that I loved!
I must say our shoes were pretty cool!

I loved all the photos in the vineyards & since I have about 50 of them.. I'll leave you with just this one!


All 180 of you-- I thank you for sharing our day with us!!

I just love this one.. The house & lights look so pretty in the back!

Umm... yummy cake.. & only a little ended up on my face.. Thanks babe for that :)



The end.... for now!

If your super bored and have nothing else to do with your time your welcome to view all 700 of them here...

http://samuelpotter.smugmug.com/Weddings/2010/Derek-and-Jamie/