Christmas Part 1

Today's photo challenge is to post "Something I love"... SO I am going to post pictures of Christmas because I LOVED this Christmas.

With the extra special extra hard work of a very special elf, we had a Traditional Christmas.

The past years Christmas has not been what it used to be. Honestly that was one of the first signs to me I knew something was wrong with my Mom but then add overbearing step-dad into the mix and his children and you get a Christmas that was not like what we had growing up. I had come to accept the fact that we are all grown-ups now and Christmas just would be this way until we started families of our own. Think Again!
Last year was extremely hard having been 14 days after Grandy's death. This year it came 25 days after my Dad's death and I did not have big hopes for it.

However this Christmas surpassed my expectations. We had family time, mom had all of her children here at one time. We had our Christmas traditions back. We had a Christmas day meal. We were abundantly blessed.

This is Mom, Patrick and I in our Christmas PJ's and below is us with Nana and our amazing elf Aunt Tammy.

Aunt Tammy sent Patrick and I to "our side" of the house at ohh about 9:30. Drew was there with me since we had just come back from visiting his family in Pampa so Patrick, Drew and I were holed up in a room playing Mario Kart and Wheel of Fortune on the Wii.

For the first Christmas in years Patrick and I awoke before 9 am. My phone went off at 6:15is with a Merry Christmas message from Christie who was celebrating with her family in Virginia. It was a sweet reminder of love and my dad. Patrick came in and woke me up at 7 (yes I absolutely fell back asleep after reading her text.) Part of me felt this is WAY to early to get up but the excited litle girl part who couldn't wait to see what Santa had left won over. We turned on lights in Mom and Nana's formal living room, started coffee and began yelling for them to wake up, for us to actually get to their room we would have had to go through the living room where Santa left us presents and that is a huge No No! After a few minutes of yelling Nana's snow village lit up and I told Patrick "we got her." Nana was awake. We waitied on Charlotte and Doss to come over and scurried into the living room like a bunch of elementary school kids.

The presents weren't what was important... we were taken grip with the magic of Christmas, the magic of Jesus' birth and the love of family.

Mom snuggled up in her chair watching Patrick and I go through our stockings.

Patrick in his new Cowboy's beanie showing off his new boot tray (he thought it was a serving tray.)

Aunt Charlotte and Doss came over to spend Christmas morning with us. They were bundled on the couch with Nana and the dogs of course.  It was so much fun to have them there for the second year in a row, I believe we have a new tradition!

 

Nana got a very special present from Aunt Paula, she collected some of Grandy's old shirts and made them into a  quilt. It was a very awesome and emotional present to open. She also made aprons for the sisters out of his shirts, so awesome!

 

Drew, Patrick and Mom waiting for dinner on Christmas day-night. We had a great brisket prepared by Nana complete with Monterrey rice.

The twins were in town to have Christmas with their family, it was so nice to be able to have a BIG family meal on Christmas. I cannot remember the last time that we were all together on Christmas, such a great time!!

 

One of the most special parts of Christmas was that it snowed ALL day long and into the next day. It was so beautiful and such blessing to have a White Christmas.

Christmas day made me so grateful for the family I have in my life and the abundant love. I found myself thinking about my Dad constantly how much I wanted to call him to wish him a Merry Christmas, I would text his phone in the moments of sadness trying to feel a connection but I knew he was celebrating the birth of our lord and savior in the presence of him alongside my Grandy and that made me smile.

I will have more from Christmas coming soon!