Ok, so I know I'm a little behind on the Christmas post, but we've been so busy since we returned from Roanoke! So here it is..in all its yuletide glory.
We were fortunate enough to get to spend Christmas with my family this year. Usually we spend Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with my family and make a mad rush after that to High Point and Winston-Salem to see Lee's family. This year we decided to officially stay with my family. Normally, if we spend Thanksgiving with Lee's fam, then we do Christmas with mine and next year it will be the opposite. We divide up Easters and Mother's days, and 4th of July's. This was the first year we spent the ENTIRE Christmas holiday with my family. Thank goodness. I was homesick. I said it. I actually missed Roanoke. I know, right? Hard to believe. I do "like" Virginia Beach, what with all its amenities..and er..beaches..and concrete? BUT, I sure do miss those Blue Ridge Mountains and those cheaper home prices... haha. I used to think that Roanoke homes were expensive...(they are) but they've got nothing on VABEACH and Norfolk. Ok I'm going off on a tangent. I love Roanoke. Thanks.
We left Norfolk on Thursday night after work and made the long drive to my dad's house. I love road trips with my husband. We always find the most interesting things to talk about. Don't ask me for an example because I can't give you one. We come up with our most random conversations in that Honda...
After a long drive...we finally made it to Bedford. So naturally, we went to look at the Christmas lights..one of our favorite traditions.
No we didn't get to have dinner at the train station, but seeing the lights is one of my favorite Christmas memories.
Then, when were almost to dad's, Lee and I both caught a glimpse of a falling star. Yeah, I've seen a shooting star before, but this one seemed SO close. It was huge and we both said "WHOA! did you see that??" We made a wish and continued on to find my Dad and Tina about to fall asleep on the couch waiting for us and watching "That 70's Show" reruns--because it NEVER gets old!
The next morning, we woke up early and went to my best friend Julie's house. Julie came to visit me back in November and we decided to start a new Christmas tradition together of baking goodies. I got to explore her new house..(which is now actually three years old, but time flies when you're not speaking) :( ahem! Which is EXACTLY why we had to start this tradition.
We also both have a "thing" for gingerbread men. We both got a sweet little gingerbread man that we keep on our stove for Christmas and we are going to buy each other a gingerbread SOMETHING every year for Christmas. I bought Julie and I aprons from Vera Bradley for the occasion..but unfortunately, they were among the Christmas presents that were stolen from our front door. I did manage to find some of these in the CHKD gift shop...perfect :)
Lee and I had a great time at Julie's and got to meet her new boyfriend Todd. He's pretty amazing and Lee and I really like him a lot. Not to mention the fact that he got Julie a trip to Cancun for Christmas. Julie, Marry him! :)
After spending the morning at Julie's abode, we went to my mom and grandaddy's house to spend some quality time with them. The whole family was going to be there the next day, so I wanted to get in my time with them :) I bought my mom a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree and I wanted to give it to her so she could set it up for Christmas. My dad and I have a HUGE love for ALL of the Charlie Brown TV specials. I don't know why we love it so much, its just a thing. Lee can't stand it, but he watches it with me anyway,
Next, we headed over to Grandma Pat and Grandpa Frankie's house for our annual Christmas Eve dinner. Something I've done since I was abou 1 or 2 years old. We have a big feast and open presents. They have a habit of spoiling me to the bone. Lee too. And anyone who comes within 50 feet of them at Christmas time. They are pretty much a big pair of givers. They think my eyes light up and get so excited when I open gifts, but what they don't know is the secret behind the gushy happiness glow that I give off, is Grandma Pat's cooking. I always love the Christmas Eve dinner. A way to a woman's heart is
We had a great time eating, opening gifts, eating, opening more gifts, eating dessert and eating. And opening gifts. AND...eating. UGH I lost track of my Christmas carb count, but I'm pretty sure I blew Santa out of the water, and he eats like 90 million cookies or something close to that..
I think the highlight of the evening was when the G-rents opened their gifts from me and Lee and not only that, but put on a Snuggilicious fashion show for us. These are the things we remember folks..
On Christmas Eve, Lee and I have several traditions. 1: We bake cookies for Santa. Yup we do that. 2: We open 1 present each. The tradition is that its pajamas..no matter what. And that will be the tradition when we have kids too. AND it will probably only take them a few years to figure out that its Pajamas but..not just any pajamas. The pajamas you MUST not only change into, but wear to bed and wake up with on Christmas morning. I know, a lot of people have this tradition but there's something about cottons and flannels that makes my heart beat a little faster :) I will say however, that this year, we already opened our jammies in advance..actually they were never wrapped. BUT, we did open a gift from each other. This year, we'll just keep that gift private. Just for fun ;) 3. We read the Nativity story from the bible. This is our newest tradition. Its something I've always wanted to do. Lee and I can just picture ourselves....sitting in our amazing wonderful home..in the living room, in front of the fireplace with out kiddos in their new jammies (Charlie Brown Christmas music playing in the background) and reading the Christmas story. After all, we are most certainly celebrating Jesus's birthday. He's our homeslice. Without him, there would be no CHRISTmas at all :) Thank you, Jesus. 4. We finish off with reading.."The night before Christmas." Just when you thought it all couldn't get anymore cheeseball..it just did. We know its cheesy but its Our Christmas..and we love it! ...after all the traditions are finished, we'll head off to bed and dream about sugar plums, dancing if you will.
Christmas morning. Cue the fireplace.
Stockings and christmas photos where everyone's sleepy and not wearing make-up. My dad, Tina, Lee and I all opened our stockings.
Lee and I had stockings from each other...er..I mean Santa and then two more stockings from..um Santa again. (dad and tina) They had stockings too..from who else? Santa! Lee pretty much slathered me with gifts this year..I wont go into detail I'll just make a list. :) This laptop that I'm typing on..yeah, I had it before Christmas, but you gotta admit that's a pretty amazing purchase and its the gift that keeps on giving. It's helping me complete my school course work and its perfect for blogging of course! Next, I got a brand new..VANITY! We have a TINY TINY TINY apartment. I hate getting ready in our little bathroom. I feel like I don't have the room. So, I've been sitting on the floor in our bedroom in front of a floor mirror doing my hair and makeup every morning. I was ok with that. But, Now I have a beautiful white vanity that Lee put together himself. It has a stool for lots of storage, because organization is my favorite thing (and Lee knows that!) Its so pretty..and modern..and well I just gush over it! He might have also spoiled me with some Vera Bradley traveling pieces..to accompany on my trip to Punta Cana next week! yay! Thanks hubs. My gifts to you were lame in comparison.
After some quality gift opening we made our way over to mama and grandaddy's house once again. We have a HUGE Christmas brunch every year. It's probably my favorite meal of my entire year. It even beats out Christmas Eve dinner..which is near impossible. YUMMO! We always do secret Santa on Christmas morning. I love it. I had grandaddy. I of course gave him the gift of choice this year. I'm pretty sure he loved it. I hope he did. Even if he does look like a royal monk when he wears it. :)
We pretty much gathered on loved on each other all day...we watched A miracle on 34th street, my family got to see our wedding video..we might have even played in the snow a bit..oh yeah did I mention that our FIRST christmas as HUSBAND and WIFE...was WHITE!?!?! It was. How perfect!?
Christmas night, we came back to dad's and got into our jammies and watched Elf. BECAUSE, my dad had NEVER seen it! How is that even possible? You tell me. We were supposed to leave the next day after church, but guess what? Church was cancelled and apparently VA Beach got stormed with a huge blizzard..over a foot of snow. ITS STILL not melted and Our road has yet to be scraped. Its a big icy mess! So, I had no problem spending an extra day all cozy at dads. PJ's, movies, dad's spaghetti. It doesn't get any better than that. I got my fill of family time, carbs, Santa, and just general lovin! I hope everyone had a Merry Merry Christmas :) This one will stand out in my memory for a while....
XO
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