Merry Day After Christmas!

I hope that you had a fabulous Christmas! We sure did! Santa was very good to my sons, and my husband and sister in law were very good to me!

Our Christmas started on Christmas Eve when we gathered with Chris's family. We let the kids open their presents, which they loved, and then ate spaghetti with home-made sauce. The adults opened their presents afterwards, and I got a gift certificate for a massage! I also got several pair of much-needed socks! Chris got several new dress shirts and ties, which he really needed now that he wears them to work every day.

We got home around 10 pm, and we hurried to leave out cookies and milk for Santa and then spread some reindeer food for the reindeer. I read the Christmas story to the boys from Luke, and then off they went to bed, and I went to the Christmas Eve candlelight service at church. My sister and a friend and I sang a trio in a very beautiful service led by my daddy!

The boys started getting us up around 4 something, but dh held them off until 7, when we raced in to see what Santa brought the boys! He brought them a lot! Then we opened stockings and started on the gifts under the tree. It is amazing how quickly a 6 and 4 year old can go through presents! After they finished the tornado of opening their gifts, dh and I opened ours. Chris was very pleased with his wisk, wok, and fondue pot, and I was thrilled to receive an XM radio reciever and some very nice clothing!

We took a nap while the boys played, and then loaded up and headed to Waffle House, for a lovely brunch...but man, my sons are going to eat us out of house and home....Isaac ate an egg sandwich and a waffle, and Adam ate a waffle and two sausage patties!

We came back home for EVERYONE to take a nap, cause we were quite grouchy by this time! Then we all played with our new toys before we got ready to gather with my family at my sister's house. We ate a delicious dinner of ham, roast, meatballs, potatoes, green beans, rolls, and various desserts and hors devours. We let the kids open their presents and then sent them off to play. We opened gifts playing Chinese Auction, and had lots of fun taking gifts away from each other. This Christmas was a little different from most with my family because we decided to give each other cash for our cruise this summer instead of buying lots of gifts. My parents are celebrating their 50th anniversary, and have asked us all to go on a cruise instead of throwing them a party. We still had a great time and lots of laughs, as usual!

We are so blessed to live near our families, and be able to see them all for Christmas! I pray that each of you had a blessed holiday as well!