Happy New Year!

Well, just as I was getting back to blogging, our internet crashed so I am a little late on the holiday blogging.

So Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Here is a recap;

My father-in-law sent me these beautiful flowers, a very nice surprise and treat.

We spent Christmas Eve at my grandpa's house with my mom's side of the family. This is a tradition that we have done since I was born. It was always so much fun, we would have chili, house of smoke trays, and yummy desserts (my mom made them when we were kids and now my sister does). My grandparents always went crazy at Christmas for us, opening gifts would seem endless when we were kids.

In the upcoming weeks before Christmas, my Gram used to "hire" my sister and I to wrap all of the presents for her. I loved it because I always felt like I had insider secrets about what everyone was getting. She would take us shopping with her to pick out presents for everyone and we would always get a little "elf" gift for our help. It was the best. When I think back to my favorite times with my Gram, I always think of the holidays and how wonderful she made them for all of us. On the flip side though, the holidays are also the times I miss her the most. It's been two years since she died and and it hasn't gotten any easier to be without her. In fact, I miss her more and more.

This year was no exception to the pile of gifts, the kids just look different now. Instead of my brother, sister, cousins and I unwrapping and going crazy it is now our children. I love the excitement in their faces when they finish eating dinner and know that it's time to open gifts.

It was a great evening, I just wish my Gram would still be here with us.

Christmas Morning, which is my favorite part of the holidays, Brady still came running in and begged us to get out of bed to see what "Santa brought", then to beg his sister to get up. Brian and I got up and headed downstairs for our family Christmas tradition. I love Christmas morning, I love the magical feeling of the perfect Santa gift and stocking sitting there under the Christmas tree lights. I love that even though Brady is 12, he still loves getting the whole house up. We ate breakfast and huddled around the tree to open gifts. It was a great morning, although Mason was with his mom this year so he wasn't at home for our traditions. This is a tradition that mom started when we were kids and something I always loved. If Brian wouldn't have been on board with this, I wouldn't have been able to marry him. :) I love it that much.

I also surprised Brian with the best gift this year... a new car! I was so proud of myself, I actually managed to trade in and purchase a car without him even realizing it. He is having to make many trips a day to Arvada right now and with a daughter staring college 5 hours away next year, we needed something with really good gas mileage. He absolutely loves the new Kia Souls, they are goofy, I know, but he loves them and they are really fun to drive. We still have the Avalanche and my cute convertible, but we now have a family - good mileage - car. He loves it and Brady has named it Sully or Souly (depending on who is saying it)!

Later that afternoon, we had my mom, her significant other, and his son over for Christmas dinner and gifts with them.

Sharing family time with them was a perfect way to end the day and the holiday.