Our First Christmas

Our Christmas was wonderful, I hope yours was just as fabulous.  This is the first time in my 27 years of life that I have been away from my family for Christmas.  Although the "I miss you's" and "see you soon's" pained my heart it was fun to wake up on Christmas morning with my husband and celebrate the blessing of Christmas with the Walunas family.

On Christmas Eve my family has a tradition of giving gifts to the homeless.  We would put together little presents of warm clothes and food and take them downtown and wish those we could find a warm and happy Christmas.  Everyone receiving our gifts were always so gracious and sweet.  I remember one time a gentlemen so overcome with gratitude gave me a huge hug with tears in his eyes blessing my family. It is a special tradition that reminded our family the joy that comes with giving and reminded Nate and I the true spirit of the season.  I was so sad to miss this festivity with them this year, then I realized I could keep the tradition going!  Ben and I gathered socks and gloves and some gift certificates for food and put together our own little gifts.  Then on a rainy Christmas Eve we headed out to give them away.  It was a wonderful start to our Christmas festivities and so fun to share with each other Christmas traditions!

After spending Christmas Eve playing games with the Walunas family we came home and broke out our new Christmas PJ's before we went to bed.  My parents and I both both bought us Christmas PJ's so we decided we would wear ours for Christmas use theirs as our New Year's PJ's. Pajama's for every holiday!

Ben modeling his new Christmas PJ's

Of course, any excuse for jumping pics!

 

In true Christmas spirit I woke up Christmas morning about 4 am.  I don't know why I have done this every Christmas morning since the beginning of time, but at least in my older age I can tell myself it's too early and to go back to bed. My poor parents couldn't always convince me of the same. Finally, our alarm rang and

 IT WAS CHRISTMAS!!  

We slipped on our slippers, Ben turned on the Christmas lights and much needed space heater, I grabbed my blanket and we went to see if Santa came to visit....   

He came and filled our stockings nice and full!

Ben delighted that he has the hose he been dying for so he can give our cars a good wash.

Amber excited for a sewing machine so she can sew her crafting projects.

My most favorite part of Christmas this year was looking at Ben and saying, "It's Christmas and we're married!"  It was wonderful being together, spending time with family and knowing the ones we love are happy and healthy.  1st Christmas = success!