We plan, plan, plan for the holidays and then in a blink of the eye it is just over; especially when Christmas is on a Tuesday and everyone has to go back to work on Wednesday! {reality check not welcomed} All the shopping for gifts, baking goodies, making plans to see as much family as possible, getting dressed up and making sure everyone around us has a perfect day and then in a few hours it is all over! Phew! I love the holidays and the adrenaline rush it gives us all. I love seeing the joy in everyone's face, from parents celebrating with their little one for the first time to grandparents that have had the same traditions for years and they still don't need changing! Social media makes it so easy to share and keep everyone up to date and I loved scrolling through my Facebook feed and Instagram wall to see all the happy, joyous, and excited families!
I had a wonderful time with both sides of the families! I love spending time with family, I wish we were able to get together more often {and we already find random reasons to make it a party} because I love my family!
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| Next random party for the LaFree's |
We are crazy but we know how to have fun :) On Christmas Eve we went to mass as a family! My two-year old cousin was there and kept asking to see "baby Jesus in the ranger" haha! She also knew that Christmas meant it was Jesus' birthday, if you asked how old Jesus was she responded and very confidently that Jesus was "two" I guess in her world, two is as old as you get. Wonder what she thinks of me? After mass we headed to grandma and grandpa's for dinner, presents and the most uncensored conversations I have ever had with family! Grandpa, who is normally pretty quiet even spoke up and had the rest of the family laughing so hard! It was a great evening all around, and LOOK what dad got...
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| A baseball cap, cheese head! |
...He LOVES it and can't wait to show it off at the bar for the next Packer's game!!
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| Anne got some PJs and Lamb Chop slippers she was excited about |
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When we left grandma and grandpa's we came home to have our own family Christmas. Santa needed help this year so he delivered early and asked mom to pass them out, funny thing was no gifts were "from Santa" Hmmm... We had a nice Christmas here at home too! I got fun, adult things such as, a kitchen mat, a portable heater, a hand mixer, cookie sheets, electrical tea kettle, clothes and a vacuum!
I was excited for all of these because now that I have my own place I really enjoy being able to use these things (and not just store them) and make my apartment more like a home with each addition! I can't wait to get back and vacuum my floors! {this is when you know you are an adult} Best gift of all from mom and dad, hands down...
...all three of us got one and we were all super stoked! HAHA. {and this is when you know you are poor} I also got some Royal Mail to open! Of course some of my favorite goodies and some new to try along with adorable personalized gifts. For being so far away and not being able to spend much time together they sure know me well. I love them all and miss them very much!
On Christmas morning mom made us breakfast, biscuits and gravy and cherry turnovers! Yummy!! We got ready and headed to Warsaw to have Christmas with the Ganser side. My little cousins were a ball of energy {more than normal because Santa had visited them the night before, of course} playing with all their new toys and showing them off! I took turns playing guitar with Olivia, how do I look Andrew? Think I am ready for a band?
Olivia definitely looks cuter, doesn't she?
We continued our tradition of the White Elephant gift exchange and this year we were all pretty civil with one another and I guess that happens when all the gifts are good choices! Either way we all had fun and ended up with something we liked! I got a new skillet and serving spoons! We ate another amazing holiday dinner topped with more desserts than I needed and shared in great family time. Christmas is exhausting and the road trip home was very telling of that...
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| All three passed out in the back seat |
Once home and everyone had a second wind we decided to play
Scattergories and although this is not my favorite game I had lots of fun and kinda want to play again. One round we rolled a "W" and one of the categories was "countries" After the timer went off we were all going around sharing answers, no one could come up with a country that started with "W" except me...
I looked at everyone in shock when I said "Wales?!" Everyone was like OH YEA...DUH! Anne says, please don't tell Andrew! HAHA. I just had to laugh. The family was coming up with all of these places I haven't even heard of but, Wales, I guess it was just too easy and obvious. It was the perfect way to end Christmas Day!
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| Ronnie all snuggled in while we play our game |
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Christmas may be over but my holiday break is just starting! I am hoping to see some friends, that I miss so very much when living in Zionsville and enjoy the rest of the time relaxing and preparing for the next semester of school! I hope everyone had a blessed day with their families and remembered the reason for the season! God Bless!
xoxo
