Christmas 2008

I can't believe Christmas is over! It went by too quick. Working the 23rd and 26th might be to blame. On top of work being the last place I wanted to be (first place would have been baking cookies, listening to carols, and sitting by the fire), it was the craziest week EVER. The county is on a mandatory furlough to save money, so there were only a few of us to do lots of work. Ugh...good thing this week I get some time off.

Anyway back to a recap of Christmas. This Christmas Eve everything felt a little different. We usually have a big dinner at my parent's house with lots of family and friends. This year my mom wanted to keep it low key and it was just our immediate family. I was a little bummed, but it just made me excited to plan Christmas Eve bash 2009 at our new home (or convince her that she really does pull off the best Tamale dinner!).

The other difference this year was after about 10 years of going to First Christian Church's Christmas Eve midnight service my family decided not to go. It hasn't been the same in the past years now that it is not either my parent's or our home church, but I'm big on tradition and had a tough time letting it go. Jose and I decided to go, but after it was over we concluded it is a tradition that we are ready to give up. Next year will be challenging--but exciting--coming up with a new tradition to take it's place.

Our Christmas Day was much more relaxed than last year when we drove back and forth between our families homes. Jose and I woke up early to open presents from each other and stockings. I give him a hard time because in the past he hasn't done so hot buying me gifts. This year HE ROCKED! He remembered just about every little home accent I had pointed out, the cutest slippers, pajama pants, and the GT Express!! I had no idea he would get me the infomercial wonder! I can't wait to try it out!

So far, our Christmas tradition has been to go to my parent's in the morning to open presents there. My little brother Jasen had said he was fine waiting to open gifts until 9 am, so Jose and I didn't have to wake up super early. Well as I predicted he called at 8 am asking for us to come over right away. Christmas morning was great! We were sooo blessed by awesome gifts!
The boys loved their X-box and guitar hero and played the rest of the day! At one point Jose walked out of the room, and came back wearing his Santa "shorts" (they are not boxers!) and made us all laugh.

After relaxing for a bit back at our house, we went to Jose's grandparents house to celebrate with all his family (my family came along too!). Small house + many people=chaos and fun! We played Apples to Apples and ate lots of food!

Since Christmas day is my dad's birthday, we went back to my parent's house to play more Guitar Hero and sing Happy Birthday! Every year I am in charge of ordering my dad's birthday pie. Since Marie Calendar's and Bakers Square went out of business, I took matters into my own hands and made my new specialty- Perfect Pumpkin Trifle (I just made that name up. PLEASE help me come up with a better name).