We both had to work on Christmas Eve and we were bummed. However, Lee got off at 10am! What?! why even go to work for 2 hours? I was supposed to leave at 330 but my boss let me go at noon! I was happy with that! I came home and Lee and I baked and decorated Christmas cookies!
..I think Im a TAD bit better at decorating than he is haha!
Later that night we headed over to Grandma Pat and Grandpa Frankie's house for Christmas Eve Dinner and presents! I had no idea how much Grandpa Frankie and Lee would bond! He jus LOVED Lee...of course..who doesnt? ha! They talked all nite long and he got the grand tour..it was great! The food was amazing..its just one of those meals you look forward to all year long. You have the same things every year..and its just not christmas without those things! My favorite thing is that punch that my grandma makes! I look forward to that punch every single Christmas Eve. We had yummy ham, shrimp cocktail, yams, rolls, mac and cheese, ...i cant remember it all but it was good! Strawberry shortcake for desert and white chocolate covered peanut butter ritz crackers...strange but a tradition! Grandma Pat and Grandpa Frankie are always so good to the people I bring over for Christmas. I've taken Hope a few times and she's walked away with lots of gifts and money every time. I know christmas isnt about gifts but it IS about giving and my grandparents are the most giving people on the planet. I'm so glad they love Lee..my whole family for that matter. They're all begging us to get married..even grandpa frankie told him he wanted to see a ring on my finger!...its starting to get a little crazy..I think Lee might explode! :)
Needless to say..we received many MANY gifts, gift cards, a lot of food, money..you name it. My dad and stepmom gave us a new entertainment center! WOW! AND longaberger from TINA! even a longaberger centerpiece for our table!!
I even had a suprise up my sleeve for Lee! He wanted an NC State umbrella soooo bad! I had to go incredible lengths to find this thing! After I wrapped it, I knew it was obvious what it was so I gave it to my dad to hold onto for me. Dad hid it behind the tree where no one could see it and after all the presents were opened he brought it to Lee. Lee was pleasantly suprised!
It even started to rain as we were leaving and he was happy to use it! hahaha! I had no idea but its a pretty decent umbrella..with wind guards and everything..crazy! We came home and decided to open a gift from each other.
I got a knitting kit from lee..hilarious..long story..Minnesota..another time folks! Lee got a shirt from me! He needed new clothes for work very badly.
Christmas morning I woke up early to make Cinnamon buns for Lee and casserole for our big Christmas breakfast! I was so happy to spend a quiet christmas in our new apartment together! We had sparkling apple cider in our new Christmas goblets (from my dad and stepmom) and ate cinnamon buns. We took our time..we didn't want christmas to pass by us..of course it does always..very fast. We opened our stockings first.
Thank you pottery barn! haha! I filled Lee with lots of his favorite things.. a hilarious chuck norris book, chocolate covered potato chips, and a world of warcraft desk calendar to name a few. I also got him oodles of clothes and candy! Lee got me the perfume that I wanted..yay!!
and my most favorite of everything..daddadadadada..my lime green cast iron pot form le creuset!!!!! wooohoooo! He did a good job! he did a GREAT job! LOVE him. We waited for the casserole to cool and headed over to my Aunt Jan's for dirty Santa and Christmas breakfast! It was yummy..we had a whole buffet of goodies..crackers, cheese, cheese balls, cookies, casserole, dips, sausage gravy, biscuits, sausage buttons..yummo!!
we played dirty santa..which was a little better this year than last year..the gifts were REALLY bobo last year! I was happy with mine! I got GREAT kitchen utensils from pampered chef that I didn't have and a woodwick candle! Love it! Lee got a gift card to Dicks that he was VERY pleased with and afraid someone would take it but no one did! After a great morning with my family we headed off to Winston-Salem to have Christmas Eve dinner with his mama! His grandparents were there from Minnesota..I LOVE THEM!!!!!!! And Loren and Lizzy came up from Raleigh..and Lizzy brought her parents who were absolutely wonderful! Lee's mom's boyfriend brought his daughter Katie who ironically lives in Roanoke!! and he also brought his sister and her husband. It was a full house! And of course..John was there too! yay :)
We litterally went from the cheese ball buffet to an elegant dinner..it was gorgeous!
And the food was like thanksgiving but better! My favorite was the corn souffle and of course the homemade eggnog!! and wine... MMMMMMMM...thank you Julie! :) After dinner we all listened to Lee's mom and brother play the harp and the oboe and we all sang christmas carols.
It was so much fun! We gave our gifts to everyone and I loved my gift from Lee's grandmother :) Lee's mom gave us enough money to buy the dining table that we wanted! BLESS HER..no more eating on the couch!! She also gave me a paula deen cookbook/calendar..one I actually didnt have! I love how different our families are. Its like night and day..but we also have two WONDERFUL families! I cannot wait to see them unite..its going to be hilarious. i cant wait to share all these great traditions with our kids someday. They will be some very lucky grandkids!
After a few hours with Lee's mom we headed over to Lee's dad's. We were waaaay too full to eat anything but we tried to swallow a little homemade Lefse and pecan pie. We received our gifts from lee's dad and then I had to hurry home. I didnt get home till around 1230..and i had to be at work at 730..i was exhausted! Lee stayed in Winston Salem and is hopefully coming home tonite so that we can go get our table and put our entertainment center together. I am truly the LUCKIEST girl. I can't imagine my life without Lee. He's changed me for the better.
In other news my sister had yet another baby...I'm an auntie again to little Jonah. My sister had a baby girl on Christmas Eve..last year and a baby boy on Christmas day this year..YIKES!!! P.S. she's 17. Im praying for my sister and mother and the babies..its been a hard couple of years for them.
Christmas was wonderful. I would've been satisfied just to be with my family but to have Lee and his family around me is a blessing. We are looking forward to New Years Eve with Hope and Jenna and Carolyn and their spouses/soon to be spouses! Im so greatful to have rekindled my friendships with all of them! I'm thankful to have such good friends all around me! I love you guys! Hope everyone has a safe and happy New year!!! :)
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