Christmas in 2011

I’m still a little groggy from all the measuring, compiling, cooking, baking, assembling, transporting, heating, eating, wrapping, unwrapping, hugging and laughing that went on in the past few days. I haven’t enjoyed a Christmas this much in a while. It was definitely well deserved, I think, after the year that we had.

Mom brought her stockings from home so we could hang them all up on the, um, staircase.

Our tree was topped with Disney, of course. Thanks to Hubs for the idea!

And there wasn’t an inch to be found under the tree, either.

I got creative with the camera. I’m trying to learn all the different features and how this fancy DSLR thing works.

Then we got to the baking. We made pretzel hugs – please don’t make these if you are not ready to eat ALL of them. I didn’t get a picture after they finished with the pretzel and topped and smushed together but oh goodness, they are addicting. Be warned!

There were green beans to snap, party ryes to assemble and trifles to make!

 

Christmas Eve came together like a dream at Grandma’s house!

Midnight Mass at 10:30 pm was next and it was lovely as always. There’s something about to mass in the middle of the night to celebrate something so important to our faith that has always meant a lot to me.

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The next morning, we opened presents by fireside!

Needless to say, everyone had fun opening gifts and there were lots of Ooos and ahhs and oh my goodness-es thrown around! But really, I was just happy sitting on my floor in the craft room, under the glow of the Christmas tree, surrounded by my immediate family – mom, brother and husband. It was a pretty awesome morning.

But once that was done, we had another appointment at the in-laws! Mom and brother came with and we trucked out to the other suburb where we spent the rest of the day with Husband’s family.

More present opening and confusion by the adults on how the children’s toys go together!

In this family, even the grandpuppy gets presents on Christmas! Although I’m not sure if this was a present for Bandit the dog or Scrappy, our cousin!

Good. Moose got it figured out. Well, his dad did at least!

Got to start off the digital addiction young, right? My brother and my godson, with the exact same expression as they start into their devices.

As much fun as everyone else was having, I wasn’t feeling very well on Christmas. I picked up a cold along the way and was just kind of feeling gross. Husband was thoughtful enough to document my feelings.

But what made me feel a little bit better was the sweatshirts the family got for the trip down to Disney this upcoming week. Everyone has one with a number and their nickname on the back! They’re happy flight hoodies!

Do you have the Green Pickle tradition in your family? We do. And it is more often better to watch the craziness looking for the pickle on the tree than it is to participate! I watch from a safe distance, preferably on the couch with a glass of wine.

We never did find the silly thing, my MIL had to show us where it was! No one got the extra gift this year, anyway. But then it was just in time for more food! Traditional fare this time, but the best was my pumpkin gingerbread trifle. YUM.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year’s to you and yours! I hope 2012 brings you love and prosperity the whole year long.