Since Christmas of 2011 Andrew and I have spent and celebrated all holidays across the pond from one another. This year was different. This year Andrew and I were together.
Making memories and starting traditions, doing things our way.
Here is a look into our very first Christmas together.
We started celebrating and waving our holiday freak flag at the beginning of the month. We sang along with the Zionsville high school students at the holiday concert, we visited
Christmas at the Zoo, and
downtown Indianapolis to see some of the best Christmas lights around, and made
ugly sweaters for the party of the year.
As December 25 quickly approached we ...
...built our first gingerbread house as husband and wife.
...took a picture with Santa at Memorial Hospital.
...made the best purchase of 2014
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| Basketball with snowballs, anyone? |
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| Who doesn't want to wake up and be covered in snowballs? |
...we went to Christmas Eve mass at St. Jude then to my aunts house for food, drinks, laughs and a visit from Santa.
...we then came back to my parent's home and had our family Christmas. We tried something new this year, since Jesus was brought three gifts we each received three gifts from my mom and dad.
Here is a look at each of us opening a few of our gifts:
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| Mom and her new Keurig |
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| Dad and his new winter hat |
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| Matt and his Green Bay Packer Owner bobblehead |
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| Anne and her pink "solo" cups |
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Andrew got new guitar picks
...we spent Christmas morning with my mom's side of the family. The adults play a Chinese gift exchange and year after year it still proves to be a good time and really brings out our competitive side. The kids search through all the wrapped gifts finding the ones with their names on it then wait patiently for the 'go ahead' from the right person.
Christmas morning is always busy and only the beginning of more celebrations to come. |
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| Ellie celebrated her first Christmas and met my favorite baby doll, Geoffery. |
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| Isn't she just precious? She just loved Geoffery |
Christmas morning is always busy and only the beginning of more celebrations to come so some get a nap in anyway they can.
Christmas afternoon we pack up and head to Grandma & Grandpa LaFree's for more gifts, family, food and endless laughs. {unfortunatly I didn't get any pictures from this Christmas}
Christmas is always a full day, but I am so thankful all my family is able to get together and share this time together. I love that Andrew was able to experience the crazy with me. It was such a blessing, one that I didn't know I was missing in my life, when I was able to wake up next to my best friend on this day of celebration and family.
Long distance is hard but the outcome truly proves to be worth the wait.
Our first Christmas is in the books and now it is time to get ready for our first full year living together, celebrating all holidays and seasons together and making memories of a lifetime.
Making the most of what we have, where we are is exactly what we will do.
We are blessed.
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| Ellie sure thought the snowballs were lots of fun too! |
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
Cheers to a happy 2015!
xoxo
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