Christmas....in March

Let's take a little stroll down memory lane, shall we?

Some of you may remember a little holiday a few months back that we like to call, Christmas! But it's MARCH right now, you say? Well, I have what I'd like to call "Chronological Disorder" It's a self-diagnosis of my inability to allow myself to post current pictures and our current status because something in the past is holding me back!! Right now, that thing is talking about our Christmas. Sooo...for the sake of this heavy weight I have on my shoulders to finally post these pictures then move on with our lives since then, I'd like to share our Christmas with you.

Ours was different and fun this year.

We got together with Aaron's family on the 23rd. Let me tell you, my friends, my Mother-in-law is Great. She is a practical woman whom I have been learning from since day 1. She also is always thinking of others, whether it be about things going on in their lives or gifts she thinks friends & family would enjoy. Year round she is thinking of others in regards to gifts especially! And let me tell you, Julie Roth really knows how to do it up during Christmas. We're talking Gifts Galore!! She and my sister-in-law, Lily, always choose such nice things for each of us. We had a delicious dinner & then it was present time. I didn't have as many Christmas pictures taken as I thought, but here are a few highlights....

Who's more excited for opening up their gifts here anyway??

Is this the face of Christmas or what? A floor full of ripped wrapping paper, a new favorite toy/animal and one happy, happy child. :)

The girls' Aunt Lillian and me.

Aaron had to work on Christmas Eve and Day (his first time in 6 years, we've been grateful!), so it took me up until that week to decide what to do. I didn't want to leave him, but I also didn't want to hang around the house like "any other day". We decided to have a quiet little family Christmas Eve, evening together. It was perfect. Girls napped beautifully that day. I was able to clean up and make an excellent dinner of ravioli and pasta sauce, shrimp scampi in angel hair pasta, etc, yummy yummy. After dinner we went into the living room to open stockings. My Grandma (their Great Grandma), handmade these stockings, which match my own blue stocking as a child. I LOVE that she made these for them!

...Getting excited to see whats inside!!!

Audrey had been telling me days in advance that "Maybe Santa will leave me a hat like his!!!" So two days before Christmas a little Elf, reluctantly, went and bought one at Walmart for $3, knowing it would only last the 3 days that it did. But boy was she happy to receive it!!!

Ellie loved posing with her stocking, but after digging a bit inside, she instead took great interest in the orange, used as a stuffer to fill up space..... Whatever makes her happy! :)

Enthralled by that darned ORANGE in her stocking...haha

I literally decided days before actual Christmas on what we'd be doing and then my Mom calls me and offers me a better deal I could not refuse. "How about we come over to your house? Oh and I will bring the entire dinner. Just make cookies with the girls."

What? Are you kidding? My Mom is wonderful!!!!!!!!

Audrey Pie & her Grandma Lu

She is always trying to make the easiest solution for others... Cooking for a group isn't exactly a strength of mine, and not having to pack us all up? Definitely an easier option for us. Aaron said at one point to me, "It's kind of a big deal, having your First Christmas at your house, right?" I had to laugh. Ummm....not sure if it really counts if I didn't attribute to 90% of the meal! But it still was fun to decorate and get ready for.

Anyway, so she & my Dad came over as the girls were waking up from naps. Entire delicious hot dinner and all. I made a side dish, cookies and we had wine/cider. Aaron got off work just as they were arriving. I only have one picture of our little family...

Our Christmas family

(sorry Ellie....you got hidden behind your Daddy..), but it was a very memorable fun Christmas. Even one of Aaron's co-workers, Dan, came over on his dinner break. Hopefully, we can start making inviting the guys that have to work holidays and don't have a full home and hot meal to go home to, a tradition to come enjoy it with us! (You don't mind cooking extras next year, right Mom?? haha, just kidding)

Grandma Lu, Grandpa Gerry & their little girls in their pretty Christmas dresses

Phew, I had enough leftover Turkey to make weeks worth of meals!! Thanks again Momma for all your help. You are the best! xo

The girls, of course, loved opening up their many presents. But I could tell, after being with Aaron's family for an early Christmas, our small little family for stockings and a few little gifts, and then being with my parents for more gifts, these girls were exhausted! We all were, I think.

But it was a fun, memorable Christmas, indeed.

.....okay, time to move on with my life! To my credit, it still IS winter until March 20th...soo... I'm good. :)