A Grateful Heart: My very merry Christmas season
As Mr. T pulled into the garage last night, I was caught red-handed plugging in the Christmas lights. When he inquired as to why, two days post-holiday, I would be illuminating the neighborhood, I postured that “everyone knows” you can leave your Christmas lights up until New Year’s. At least. Right? I’m probably just trying to eek out a few more days of merriment and procrastinating because Lord knows un-decking the halls takes forever, but I can’t help myself. It was a very merry Christmas around these parts.
We started celebrating with our fifth-annual White Elephant Extravaganza and continued with holiday parties at various friends’ homes, delicious family meals, and riotous gift exchanges. I feel incredibly blessed and I’m thankful for all of the wonderful people in my life.
Hope the holiday was lovely for you, too!
xoxo,
shawna
A few, okay 4-zillion, photos:
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| It’s not Christmas without cookies! Peanut butter blossoms for the win! |
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| I attempt to make up for having the wrapping skills of a 5-year-old by using lots of pretty bows and ribbons. |
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| Christmas eve feast at my mom’s |
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| Bird’s the word people. |
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| Family “roasting” by the open fire. |
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| Is it really going to be a year before I can have this again??? |
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| Sisters! |
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| An East Coaster, Brenda is subject to random mama kiss-attacks when she stays away for so long. |
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| Eric John gets wildly excited about Christmas. Or as he says, “Christmos” |
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| One of the cutest kids on the planet. |
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| Maddox demonstrates proper cookie-eating form. Pinkies up! |
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| Baby belly! |
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| The cuteness!! |
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| Marm et moi. |
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| Angry Birds gear. It’s what happens to Mr. T when he doesn’t provide a proper Christmas list. |
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| As devious as I can look holding socks and a cookie scoop. |
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| This is what my mom gets for telling me “Mini-pies are the new cupcakes!” |
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| I do believe this is an “Aww” happy face. |
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| We’re going to Disneyland!! (And Brenda gets to come, too!) |
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| A gift for three. |
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| I wrapped it accordingly. Lots of layers and boxes. |
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| Just what everyone wants for Christmas… Communication research! |
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| More layers. |
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| And the possibility that I did, in fact, get the three of them one popcorn maker. |
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| Copious amounts of tape. |
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| And more layers! |
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| Finally. Is six layers too many? |
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| A fantastic expression from Emily. Lots of screaming. |
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| And the best part… Brenda still doesn’t know what it is… |
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| Two nights at the Disneyland Hotel!! |
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| Yaaayyyyyy! |
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| Handsome little brother. |
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| Tim and Jaba-the-Pug, aka Frankie |
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| Sisters! |
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| Slightly serious siblings. (And Betty) |
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| Sibs. Plus two puggles. |
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| The carnage. |
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| Frankie, the Christmas elf. |
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| Goliath, who refused to sit still long enough to wear a Christmas bow. |
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| A Christmas gansta. (ha!) |
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| What spoiled rotten looks like… |
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| A hand-crafted jewelry box by Mike Mikutowksi |
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| T and I have carved out a little Christmas tradition… Christmas brunch at our place. |
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| I make Christmas waffles (recipe here), sausage and bacon, and Tim makes incredible (truly) eggs and potatoes. |
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| Down in front! |
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| This was the first year we had everyone in the same room. It’s much more fun than eating at separate tables. |
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| My father-in-law, Ray, promising to get back to his signature white socks after the holiday. |
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| Me, T, and liquid gooooooolllllldddddd, aka mom’s peach jam. |
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| Emily’s looking gorgeous per usual. Josh reading about his new pizza stone. And Eric John giving me death stares. Me thinks someone was in need of a Christmas nap! |
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| Goliath enjoys sitting on piles of clothes, or in this case, brunch napkins. I think the cold shoulder was due to the fact that I made him wear jingle bells all morning. |
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| I was offered forgiveness at the cost of one breakfast sausage. |
