We Made The News

The Friday after Thanksgiving Aaron received a call saying that Fox 7 News found his business on the Internet and was interested in doing a story on Dennington Decor. So, an interview was set up for Monday morning. It ends up that they were doing a story on Holiday Lighting in general in the Austin area and Dennington Decor got to be the interview that covered that topic. Tuesday morning a crew set up in front of our house at 4:30 am and did live feeds from there until about 8:30 am. Aaron got up to be with them to make sure that our light show was going and to be on hand in case they needed any more interviews with him. It was great. They showed the main story about 4 times that morning and had a number of short live pictures. You should be able to still check it out at the Fox 7 News link: http://www.myfoxaustin.com/myfox/pages/InsideFox/Detail?contentId=5048663&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=5.2.1

I'm just so proud of Aaron. This has been a rough season to say the least, and, well, this boost of excitement could not have come at a better time. God is great!! We would love to get on the other news stations as well to get more publicity an increase our sales a little bit more, so if you know of any great ways to make that happen, please let us know.

And 7 became 6...

Well, Titus has managed to accomplish something before Aaris has. He has now lost a tooth before she has and seen the dentist before she has. This morning around 10:00 am he was playing on my bed and I was making sure to watch that he didn't get to close to the sides of the bed and fall off. Well, it didn't even cross my mind that I should be worried about him falling behind my bed. But, the next thing I knew he slipped right underneath the headboard and between the bed and the wall. I was frantic because I didn't know how I was going to get him out. I finally managed and saw that he was dripping blood from his mouth. I thought he had busted his lip and pulled it up to see how bad, only to discover that his front left tooth was completely gone. Yes, he knocked it completely out, root and all. I found it on the ground. I took him to a pediatric dentist to make sure that all his other teeth were okay and that nothing else got damaged. It's funny because when I first met with the nurse, she asked me how many teeth he has, and I said "7...oh, I mean 6 now". Titus is fine, but will have to go without a tooth until his 2 year molars come in. They can attach a permanent retainer to the molars that will hold a fake tooth in place. He was a perfect patient and didn't cry for any of the exam or x-rays and was even playing and giggling when I was checking-out. I on the other hand feel absolutely horrible about allowing this to happen and have been crying off and on all day. Aaron didn't get home to see Titus today, but did see my pictures and thinks he looks cute. I think Aaron is insane. I know that Titus looks, well, like a street-fighter, and I'm just anticipating those molars finally coming in, so I can get my sweet boy's innocent smile back.

Love and Bravery

As many of you know, Titus is a very lovey-dovey, tender spirited, cuddle and kisses baby. Therefore, his physical bravery and toughness has been quite the surprise. Physically he's not too scared of anything. And when he gets hurt being so brave, all I have to do is pick him up and let him feel my love, and he stops. He's had busted lips, fingers smashed in doors, huge knots on his head, and well, I better stop before I sound like a bad parent, and he only cries until he is picked up, then is stops almost instantly. All he needed for comfort, healing, and security again was to feel the warmth of love. My prayer for him is that he always feels that security and power of love from God first, and then from those that have and will be placed in his journey through this life. With that love I know he will have a successful life.

He loves climbing, and really likes sliding. The funny thing is that he likes to slide head first on his tummy. I included some pictures we took at the park a while back. You must check out the last picture in detail. Titus has his tongue out. This is especially funny because everyone in my family knows that I've always done this exact same thing with my tongue when I'm concentrating...especially concentrating on a sport or physical challenge.

READY

SET
GO
GOING
GOING

GONE!

Ladies Retreat

This past weekend I got to attend the Westover Hills Ladies Retreat. It was great! The speakers were good, the fellowship was wonderful, and God's power was everywhere. I had a great time hanging out with true loving christian sisters and friends! And I must give a big 'shoot out' to the girls of room 74-5 (April Gunter, Beth Fuston, Heather Hammock, Kristen Perkins, and Laura Cosper): you ladies rock and I had a blast laughing and sharing into the wee hours of the night!

My 100

So many of you have been posting a list of 100 things about you, so I decided to give it a try myself.

MY 100:
1. This is the longest I’ve lived in one city and one house (8 years in Austin and 5 years in our house)
2. All together I’ve lived in 10 different towns
3. and 18 different houses (we only owned 7)
4. I’ve never lived outside of Texas
5. I’m the middle child
6. Aaron and I talked about what it would be like to be married on our first date
7. The first time Aaron kissed me he made me tremble
8. He wrote a song for me and played his guitar and sang it when he proposed
9. He has always sung and played it every year on the anniversary of our proposal
10. I have over active sweat glands
11. but, I’ll just have to be thankful that God will fix that problem when I get to heaven :)
12. When I was a young girl my mom sometimes had to make two back-to-back hair appointments for me to get my hair cut because my hair was so thick
13. good thing because more than half of it is gone now
14. Now you know my two most self-conscience body image problems
15. Okay, so you all say that you love cookies, cakes, candy, chocolate, and ice-cream, but you’ve met your match
16. I don’t just love them, I eat almost all of them every single day
17. I know why I will always be at least 10-15 lbs heavier than my ideal weight
18. I am aware of many of my faults:
19. talking too much
20. talking about too honest or intimate of things
21.…or maybe I just don’t have discretion on when is the appropriate time as far as others are concerned
22. I’ve been a control freak and let fear take over when I didn’t have it
23. and well, let’s just face the facts – no trendy or mainstream fashion or decorating style
24. I’m aware of the problems, but it really takes time to fix habits I’ve had for 31 years :)
25. I’d say my greatest weakness would be that I’m very emotional
26. The bad thing about that is that it tends to scare people off
27. The great thing is that I believe I ‘feel’ life richly
28. Aaron and I are opposites on a LOT of things
29. He is an introvert and I’m an extrovert
30. He loves to re-watch movies or shows over and over, but I like to just watch them one time
31. He loves coke, and I really just enjoy water
32. He also loves milk and I’m lactose intolerant
33. He doesn’t eat breakfast and I crave my big bowl of cereal every morning
34. He is loves to read and I don’t like reading very much because I’m partially dyslexic
35. I really like reality t.v. and drama’s but Aaron likes movies and really only comedy t.v. shows
36. Aaron’s has three main jobs: bringing home ‘the bacon’, yard work, taxes
37. I’m in-charge of everything else
38. not by choice
39. I cut Aaron’s hair to save money
40. again, not by choice
41. I’m the worst procrastinator because I get scared to do something if I can’t do it perfectly
42. My kids are my world
43. I miss them when they are not with me
44. I’m not a good cook
45. I’m a pretty good baker
46. We went to Ruidoso for our honeymoon
47. but spent the first night together in a B&B in Fredericksburg
48. We’ve been to a B&B in Fredericksburg every wedding anniversary since
49. I’m not going to do the same for our 10th anniversary next year (…are you reading this Aaron)
50. My sister is 2 inches shorter than me, but my legs are shorter
51. I have a very long torso
52. This makes shirts, and sometimes dress lengths too short on me, and pants too long
53. I’m beyond scared of flying, and I can get really motion sick in a car.
54. I love traveling…I just don’t like the traveling part of it…just the destinations
55. I clean my parents house every other week to earn extra money
56. I deeply love people and feel strong compassion for those that are in need
57. I wish I could fix everyone’s problems
58. I’m not really good at just one thing
59. but I really try to be great at: being a loyal friend
60. loving God
61. praying
62. loving my husband
63. loving my kids
64. Aaron is my biggest blessing on earth
65. Aaris and Titus are my greatest gifts
66. My parents are my biggest supporters
67. I’m married to the hardest worker I know
68. and the most romantic person I’ve ever known
69. I went to college to be a meteorologist
70. I went to three colleges
71. My favorite singers are Nicole Nordeman and Martina McBride
72. My favorite groups are Rascal Flats and Mercy Me
73. My favorite radio station is The River 102.3
74. I was baptized by my dad at Westover on Sunday, August 2, 1987
75. My parents didn’t know I had gone forward until Phil Ware, the preacher, announced it
76. I hadn’t discussed it with them and I was sitting with the youth at the front when I went forward
77. I thought my mom had come to sit with me during the invitation song, but it turned out to be my aunt that saw me first
78. she looked very much like my mom…especially when I was nervous and trying fill out an information card
79. My dad was so emotional that he couldn’t finish asking the proclamation questions about Christ being God’s son, so Phil had to finish speaking for him
80. My brother got baptized that night
81. I love being completely goofy with my kids and making them laugh
82. My kid’s smiles fuel my soul
83. God is my strength and hope
84. Exercise is like medicine for me
85. My somewhat freakish physical strength has always been a source of identity for me
86. At times when I’ve lost it, or when my health has hindered me, I’ve felt completely lost and invisible
87. Singing is an emotional and spiritual outlet for me
88. but not in front of others
89. then it’s just a paralyzing fear
90. If something is not written down on a list for me, I’ll forget to get it/do it
91. I need God to make it through every day
92. Neither Aaron or I like coffee or alcohol
93. One of my favorite things to eat right now is the Chick-fil-A side salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing which is only $1.87 and comes with croutons and sunflower seeds if you buy it any place except the mall
94. I love candy corn, conversation hearts, wedding mints, cotton candy and pretty much anything that is pure sugar dissolving in my mouth
95. I graduated 8th in my class in high school
96. In junior high I held the record in my grade for having the most 100’s on my report card
97. When I was in 4th grade and my brother was in 5th grade, he told some bullies that if they didn’t stop picking on him that his sister would beat them up
98. I did end up having to meet them behind the school and hit one of them
99. My brother and I ran to our church to hide and called my mom to come and help us
100. I have had 2 black eyes, but they were just sports injuries

Tagged about my husband

1. Who is your husband? Joe Aaron Dennington. He is the oldest (and shortest) of three brothers. He comes from an incredible lineage of Godly men in which he is the 4th 'Joe' (Titus is the 5th). He is a super husband, terrific father, and my best friend.
2. How long have you known each other? 10 years, 4 months, and 16 days. We met on June 18, 1997. And actually, this was our second meeting. I attended Westover for 9 months when I was 11 and later discovered that the boy I remember having a huge crush on was Aaron!
3. How long dated? We started dating on July 10, 1997, and he proposed on Oct. 17, 1997. So, we dated about 3 months.
4. How old is your husband? 30. I’m about 1 ½ years older than he is.
5. Who eats more? I think I might. I know I eat more times in a day, but he eats more at each meal. Of course the fact that Aaron sometimes drinks 2-3 big glasses of Coke at a meal could have something to do with there being less room for actual food.
6. Who said "I love you" first? We can’t remember. Aaron journaled our entire first summer together. Literally. He said from the first time he met me, he knew it was special and he started a journal that very night. So, I know that we told each other that we loved each other on July, 12, 1997, but I don’t know who said it first, officially. My bet would be on Aaron, because he is the romantic one, and he is the one who initiated our relationship.
7. Who is taller? Aaron by 2 inches, but if you ask him, it’s more like 3 inches.
8. Who sings better? I sing louder, and he sings stronger. If you have never heard him sing base, you are missing out. A voice teacher at ACU told him that he had the most natural base voice she had ever heard.
9. Who is smarter? Aaron by far!!! He is a genius!!! (Actually he is a Mensa member)
10. Whose temper is worse? Mine. I’m way too emotional. He is a very tender hearted man, but he has way more self control.
11. Who does the laundry? Many years ago we made a deal that if he never made me do yard work, I wouldn’t make him do laundry.
12. Who takes out the garbage? Me, unless I catch him at the right moment and ask very sweetly.
13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do from the perspective of lying down, and he does if you are standing at the foot of it. I had always slept closest to the bathroom because I’m the one up in the middle of the night having to use it, but when we moved into our house, Aaron didn’t want to move sides. So, I just told him that also makes him closer to the door, so he would have to be in charge of the kids if they come to our room in the middle of the night. The problem is that Aaris didn’t get that memo.
14. Who pays the bills? I always have. In fact a lot of house bills are in my name because I’m the one that had to set them all up.
15. Who is better with the computer? Aaron again. He even created and designed his business’s website from scratch. You should check it out sometime. www.denningtondecor.com
16. Who mows the lawn? Aaron. I did growing up, so I’m sure Aaris and Titus will both learn and have chores of doing it when they are big enough.
17. Who cooks dinner? Me. Don’t do much cooking with Aaron gone all the time right now, and frankly that’s just fine with me. I’m not comfortable cooking. It’s kind of stressful for me.
18. Who drives when you are together? It really just depends on whose car we are in. If we are in his car, him, and if we are in my car, me. Aaron loves road trips and drives a lot on those, but he doesn’t like to drive with me around town. I’m kind of a bad ‘back seat driver’.
19. Who pays when you go out? Whoever is not dealing with the kids. But, I prefer to have Aaron do it because he is much faster with calculating the tips.
20. Who is most stubborn? On every day matters it’s me. But, on some issues that Aaron is really passionate about, it’s impossible to get him to think differently.
21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Again, the underlying issue arises that I am too emotional and therefore I need to apologize on a regular basis. But, Aaron is rarely wrong, and it absolutely amazes me how he identifies it right away and is forthcoming in apologizing quickly.
22. Whose parents do you see the most? Probably Aaron’s because they go to our church and work down south.
23. Who kissed who first? He did, but I was definitely asking for it. :)
24. Who asked who out? Aaron was supposed to be dating another girl which is why we were just friends at first. But, I really liked him instantly as did he like me. But, one night at his house when we were just hanging out as friends, he sat me down and told me that he couldn’t stop thinking of me. The next day he broke it off with the other girl, we went on our first date, and talked about love the follow day. Crazy kids we were (19 and 20). Aaris and Titus will be locked away if they ever try anything this crazy.
25. Who proposed? Thank goodness Aaron did. It would have been way too boring if I did it. I was blown away by Aaron’s romantic creativity.
26. Who is more sensitive? Without a doubt me! Again, I’m way too emotional. It’s my Achilles heal, but I have yet to find a way to turn off my emotions.
27. Who has more friends? Aaron does. He just has those true, loyal, ‘do anything for you’ type of friendships.
28. Who has more siblings? We both have two other siblings
29. Who wears the pants in the family? I usually get a little more power in the day to day matters, but when it comes to anything of importance, Aaron’s always the leader. And of course we both spend a lot of time on our knees in prayer.
30. What is something that most people don't know about your husband? Probably not a lot. I also talk a lot and most likely have told you all almost everything. But, here are some things he does that might surprise you, again: plays the guitar, piano, and trumpet; wrote a book with his brother, Alan; is a great athlete and can hold his own in almost any sport; is an Eagle Scout; took a ‘voice over’ class and would probably like to make that a career; designs and makes cross-stitches; writes songs; is a good carpenter; can quote almost any movie; can remember almost any song lyric; has memorized a lot of things including all the presidents and all the best movie pictures; any time he really enjoys something he wants to make it a tradition; got in trouble only one time in school and that was for tripping a boy who was harassing a girl; was the voice of ACU’s “Sing-Song” one year; practiced driving a standard shift car with one hand when he was a teen because he knew that someday he would need to be holding a girl’s hand with his other hand; he also slept on only one side of his big bed knowing that one day he would be sharing a bed with his wife; he is an introvert; he is very, very competitive
31. What do you love most about your husband? He’s very creative and thinks outside the box. He can fix almost any situation because he is an amazing problem solver. He is a great teacher because he puts himself in the other person’s shoes and thinks of the best way they would understand something. He believes in the good of all people. He loves deeply. Aaron can get very emotional, very quickly when he is talking about his family. He truly loves God and has a belief in Him that has influenced my life. I can tell him anything and he holds no judgment against me. He’s my greatest fan and always ‘has my back’. He is fearful of almost nothing. And most of all: He is himself no matter what, and has never let what other's might think stop him.

Okay, so if you actually made it through all of that....I tag Laura Cosper

A lot of new posts

We have been very busy, and therefore, very tired!!!!!!! So, I have gotten behind on posts. But, I finally got around to posting 4 big posts today, so I hope you enjoy them!