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| My mom's mantle decorations. I absolutely love it! She's so stinkin' creative! |
Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with my family has always been precious to me, as I am sure it is for many people.
Christmas Eve, my family and I always watch The Santa Claus with Tim Allen. It is my favorite Christmas movie by far and I never get tired of it.
This year was no exception. We watched The Santa Claus, laughing and smiling just like we always do.
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| One of my mom's handmade ornament flowers :) |
Christmas morning is laced with routine and tradition as well.
My mom and I are always the first ones awake. We shuffle our way to the coffee pot, pour ourselves a generous portion, and head to the living room to sit, sip, talk, and Pinterest together.
The boys usually wake up around 8:30 and they mosey into the living room like zombies. This year, there was a third zombie....my husband :)
We always open our presents first and then move on to our stockings. Its just the way we've always done it.
Taylor and I were extremely excited because we got new sheets for our bed, a new coffee sign from Hobby Lobby for our kitchen, and a little bit of spending money :) My brother got us an apple-pumpkin candle that smelled super yummy too!
Every Christmas morning, after presents, my mom makes cinnamon rolls for us. This year, they were perfect! They are always good, but this year they were fantastic. Maybe I was just missing home and our traditions this past year, but they were delicious.
The rest of the morning is always spent cleaning up wrapping paper and getting ready to go to my grandparent's house, where we have our Christmas lunch.
This year, not only is it mine and Taylor's first Christmas, but my Uncle is engaged, so it is a really sweet time for he and his fiance' too :)
My Grandaddy prepared a beautiful meal and we all sat around the table, eating and laughing together. We had turkey, ham, sweet-potato casserole, fresh, mixed vegetables with cheese sauce, dressing (stuffing), home-made cranberry sauce, roles, and my Grandaddy always makes chicken salad just for me :) Thanks, Grandaddy!
I really do have an amazing family. We have our issues occasionally, but our family is nearly drama-free, we all truly care about each other, and we are pretty close. I am incredibly blessed and I am very aware. I am so thankful for this gift from God. I praise him for that!
After our meal, we all gathered around for a few family photos.
Then it was present time!
Taylor and I got a few pieces of clothing, some baked goodies, a much needed vacuum, and a care package... you know you are officially an adult when you and your husband are super-duper excited about a vacuum cleaner ;)
After presents, we all sat around in a food coma and talked with my grandparents and watched their fat, English Bulldog do fat, English Bulldog things.
When we got back to my parent's house, we watched The Santa Claus 2 and then went to bed. We were beat, and Taylor and I had to be up early the next morning.
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