christmas is just around the corner!

i've done a little bit of decorating while the mister was away so i thought i'd share with you! i don't go ALL OUT for christmas decorating like my mama, but i think it is a requirement to have stockings and a lit tree. this year i've actually put way more effort into my gift wrapping skills. doesn't look like much under the tree, but i've already expertly and uniquely wrapped 25 gifts! i know people will just rip my packages to shreds only to turn around and throw their remnants in the trash, but there's something so beautiful and thoughtful about a wrapped present that took some effort.


the tree is really just a hodge-podge of ornaments i've collected over the years, but i thought it turned out pretty sweet.


i adore nativity scenes and i'm going to start collecting them i think. here's one of three i currently own.


wouldn't be a holiday at our house without some antlers! we thought this was the perfect place for theron's new buck directly skinned and bleached from the deer head boil we had last weekend.


our little wreath :) i'm really into all things holly this season. i think it goes perfectly with the colorado/log cabin/rustic/nordic theme we have going on for the holidays. simple, but so pretty!

hope all is swell this holiday season for you and your family!

wedding update

guess what? guess what? i found THE dress. it is enchanting, magical, fairy-tale-like and i feel fabulous in it. want to know the funny part, it was the very first dress i tried on at the very first place we looked! i'll admit it, i've really been getting into the bride reality shows (never interested me before, but i guess i can identify now - except for that awful "bridal plasty" one on E!) anyway, i always thought the dress selection would be this never-ending process, much like searching for a needle in a haystack...and what do you know, mine was the first one!

i made myself try on 10 other dresses for good measure, but none had the "wow factor" of the first dress or the crowd reaction. crowd reaction you say? yes, if you have yet to go through this process, they make you parade around on a stage in front of all the other brides, customers, and retail assistants (which on this particular day at lasting bridal couture in dallas, there seemed to be about 30 other people in the store!) i was horrified by this, but after a few walks on the runway, i guess you just get used to it. anyway, when i came out in that first dress, there was an audible gasp from the audience and they all chanted in unison "YOU MUST SAY YES TO THE DRESS!"

not only did we say yes to that dress, but we also found the flower girl's and bridesmaid's dresses too. what can i say, i'm notoriously decisive and i know what i want.

i would post pics of everything on here, but i know theron sometimes sneaks a peak on this sight and i desperately want that "i can't believe how beautiful you look" moment when those double doors burst wide open. suffice it to say, my mission was to find something along the lines of the jenna bush "oscar de la renta" crawford, texas ensemble and i found something that is even more desirable! can't wait to see what you all think...

in other news, after being sized (which requires the ring to go all the way to the nyc tiffany's and back) my ring is finally back on my finger again. it was especially sparkly today so i had to take a picture:



that's all the news in brideland, will keep you posted on further details!

wow, do i have a lot to catch up on!

seeing as though mr. pfeifer is deer hunting with the buddies this weekend, i FINALLY have time to catch up on blogging. i have missed it so and missed reading the tales of your lives as well! there is something so wonderful about having all of these memories neatly tucked away and categorized to conjure up years down the road. i hate that i haven't been more verbal or descriptive about the past few months because they have been some of the best/most influential times of my life. i supposed i should start by reviewing our thanksgiving holidays, which were amazing.

bad part about teaching in my school district: you may end up easily putting in 12 hour days (often). good part about working in my school district: that's right, an ENTIRE week off for thanksgiving! yippee!

theron and i definitely took advantage of our mutual time off together and we almost traveled the entire state of texas in just one week. we began by staying two days in the galveston area so that theron could take his 1600 ton masters series test. i am tremendously proud of him because this is an insanely hard test, but he PASSED and now he can captain a large vessel and is getting a sweet little pay raise! woohoo! here i am watching him study in the hotel room the night before the test. i think he looks so handsome when he has that intense, determined look. and don't you just love the new stetson "gus mcrae" edition hat i just bought him?



i had never been to galveston and i must admit i had this terrible perception about the place from things i had heard, but i loved it! i thought it was such a charming little town reminiscent of new orleans and the food at guido's was fantastic. if we ever have to move there someday (which is a possibility if we stay in the maritime business) i think i shall open a little store on the strand and theron can run the old quarter.

after galveston, i made theron stop AGAIN in luling, texas at my fave truck stop in the world - BUCEE'S!!!!! if you have not experienced the greatness of bucee's, you must...they have EVERYTHING!



after galveston, we spent one night back home in san antone and then it was off again up 281 to spend a few days at the lake. we even got some fishing in and took a family portrait! not to mention, we stuffed our faces with everything from fried turkey and tamales to stuffing and pecan pie...







after the lake, we went to dallas to celebrate meme & daddo's 50th wedding anniversary and i even got to fulfill a childhood dream and visit the american girl store...ahhh so happy :) was anybody else out there OBSESSED with these dolls like i was?



after hanging out with the robertson clan in dallas, it was time to hit the road back to our homeland. i must say, i always feel a sigh of relief when we start to hit the hill country. never thought i'd say this, but it just feels like home : )