Ugly Sweaters

Ugly Christmas parties are in full swing.  At the Industrial Crossfit party this year we brought the ugly sweaters a-blazing.  Goodwill was kind to us this year.  We found a shrunken wool J.Crew sweater for me, an Asian inspired ladies Christmas jacket for Ben and a Santa suit for Max.  

A SANTA SUIT!  He was adorable.

My sweater was too constricting and I thought I might suffocate so I cut the sleeves off and fashioned some leg warmers.  Ben wore his faux Chistmas sweater vest under his lady jacket and Max rocked the socks off his Santa suit.  The winner... wait for it.... of the ugly sweater contest was.... The ladies jacket wearing - Ben Walunas!  Naturally.

We also had a little white elephant gift exchange.  It really was Ben's lucky day when he walked away with a plastic sweat suit.  Good for losing all that extra water weight.  That will come in handy!

This little Santa wishes you a very Merry Christmas.  Also, about 4 seconds after I took this picture with my phone Max toppled out of this chair face first into the floor.  He is a wiggly little guy!! :)

our Christmas highlights

What a blessed Christmas we had.  We tried to soak up every second we had off work and enjoy the time together with family and friends.  Here are our highlights.

Christmas greetings

We wish you a  Merry Christmas.

2011 Ornaments

We barely made it!  6 days before Christmas we\ picked out our 2011 Christmas ornaments.

Time for a tree

I knew there were people who decorated real Christmas trees in their home.  They talked about the smell of fresh pine.  The fun of picking out the tree and the different shapes and sizes they came in.  I knew there were those people, but I have never been one.  I have driven by the lots full of trees, the signs promising the best price, but I was never intrigued. 

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!

Merry Christmas!

As Ben and I celebrate our first Christmas together as a new little family, we would like to wish everyone a VERY merry, safe and happy CHRISTMAS! 

At this Christmas season I am so very grateful for the birth of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on our behalf.  Remembering that Christmas isn't about what we open, but for what He has already so selflessly given. 

So, as my favorite Dr. {Dr. Seuss} and the Whos would say it, "Welcome, Christmas, bring your cheer. Cheer to all Whos far and near. Christmas Day is in our grasp so long as we have hands to clasp. Christmas Day will always be just as long as we have we. Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart and hand in hand".

Haul out the Holly

The weekend after Thanksgiving we were busily working to get our Christmas decorations out so they could be enjoyed the whole month through.  I love Christmas decorations, their like the cherry on top of the Christmas sundae.  Such a pretty reminder of the Christmas season.  With a few fun additions and some of the same old Christmas cheer we are enjoying all this season has to offer... especially the winter colds.  :-)

My favorite part of a Christmas tree is waking up every morning and walking downstairs to see the Christmas lights.  One night I told Ben that I would really like to leave the Christmas tree on all night.  I love to walk downstairs and be surprised by the Christmas magic and having to turn on the lights was taking away from the surprise.  We decided in effort to keep our house from burning down it would probably still be best to turn the lights off at bedtime. Now every morning I walk downstairs thinking I should turn on the Christmas lights and every morning I'm surprised that it's already done!  My little elf (more like really tall elf) husband so sweetly turns them on every morning before he leaves to work! {sigh} So sweet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Yes, we need a little Christmas NOW!!