actually i did get a couple, but most of the pictures i got were with my cell phone. the whole no pictures thing seems to be a recurring thing because i have been deemed the "gift passer outer" every year the last few years at my grandmother's house. i really don't enjoy this position i have been forced into, but i don't want to be labeled as the christmas scrooge by whining and complaining, so i just go with it. and so, of course that means my camera just sits lonesomely in my purse, anxiously awaiting pictures that will never come.
despite all that, we truly had a wonderful christmas.
christmas eve, we went go to my dad's house to exchange gifts and have dinner. as i have said so many times, my step mother is an amazing cook. the woman needs her own show on food network. seriously! for real! no joke! since we had all the works at thanksgiving, like ham and turkey, she wanted to do a more nontraditional meal and made an incredible vegetable soup for christmas eve. absolutely delicious! i ate two huge bowls plus a variety of the other finger foods she had prepared.
once all the eating concluded. we opened our gifts and spent time just talking. i will share some of my gifts in a giving and receiving post later this week.
christmas day was a beautiful day, and like always, we get up early to pick up our older boys and then drive to my grandmother's house. the whole trip is around 7 hours (delete soap box rant here). once we get to grandma's, we eat lots of yummy southern food made with love by grandma. i almost always eat until i feel disgusting and miserable. then, i assume my duties and begin the long task of passing out gifts.
did i mention that it's not just grandma at grandma's house? it's aunts and uncles, and cousins and second cousins, and my mom, and my "step dad" (he's been with my mom for awhile but they aren't married), plus jason and i and our 6 kids.
food + me = miserable me
miserable me + tiny 80 degree house + passing out gifts to 500 people = scrooge
get it now?
but i love them all and i am truly blessed to be able to still share christmas with them each year.
once we leave grandma's house, we head home where the kids open their santa gifts and the gifts from us. we usually try to slow it down a bit but this year the kids were so excited and flew right through everything. i will share their favorite gifts in that giving and receiving post i talked about earlier.
we definitely don't want to jump the gun and discuss anything prematurely, but jason and i have big plans to celebrate christmas next year in our new house. we would love to have our whole family come together to celebrate, including jason's family who live in GA.
what is your christmas routine? how did you spend your christmas this year?
