Holiday Fun

This is the first Christmas I have been away from my folks. I was very sad not to be going home for the holiday. In my family we do a huge Christmas Eve dinner and have everyone and anyone over. My dad always cooks the best meal. After dinner and cleaning up my dad and me go to midnight mass. We have gone to Christmas Eve church service since I can remember. After church we come home and go to bed and get ready for Santa to come. Then once Christmas morning comes around we all wait for my dad to get ready so we can go down and see what Santa left us. I remember being little and my dad taking his sweet time with everything! He had to make coffee, walk the dog, shower, shave or find something to do before we could go down stairs. It use to kill us. Even last year it was the same way. Haha! Its a tradition of sorts. We always ate ham sandwiches for lunch at my grandparents house and did Christmas over there in the afternoon. The rest of the day was just to relax and play with our toys or whatever we got for Christmas.

This year James and me started our own traditions. Instead of doing a big Christmas Eve dinner we had dinner with just us and one of our friends who had no one where else to go. After a super yummy dinner of Pork Tenderloin and potatoes we went to church. It was the first time Turkey has gone to Christmas Service. She has always been fast asleep. She was so excited to go. Our friend came with us as well. I got a little bit emotional because I missed my dad and my family. I had teared up a few times during the evening but not enough for anyone to really notice. I lost it once I got to church though. I realized how much my family means to me and how much I miss them. We talked and Skyped with my family and everyone who was over for dinner and it was great to see everyone. After church we came home and set out our cookies for Santa. Turkey had decided that Santa only needed 2 cookies and a glass of juice, she also left an orange for the reindeer. She got to open one present that had some super soft comfy footy pajamas in it. By the time we got her into bed it was close to 11:30, WAY past bed time!! Santa didn't have to wait very long for her to fall asleep so he could come visit.

Before dinner Turkey had gotten an email from Santa and he told her to be good and to listen to her mommy and daddy. He even knew where she lived and what she wanted for Christmas!! She was so excited and talked to the video of Santa. It was really cute! Note to self remember that for last year.

Christmas morning James and me were up bright and early! We were awake by 6 am. We are use to get up that early because of his job. Turkey slept til around 9. She never sleeps in! I thought it was a funny day for her to sleep late. Once she was up we headed down stairs. Santa found us! He left all sorts of good stuff in our stockings and some things under the tree. Turkey was very excited that Santa ate her cookies and drank her juice. She was more excited that the reindeer ate her orange. They left a few pieces for her to eat :)

We had a great Christmas morning. I received some presents from my Poppa that made me cry. He gave me somethings that were my Grandmums. I am a boob. I still tear up thinking about it. I miss my Grandmum. I wish that we could have been home for my Poppas first Christmas with out her. We chatted with him a few times this weekend though and he was surrounded by people who love him.

We got some very fun presents this year and were very well loved! After we got done opening everything and chatting with my family we put Turkey down for a much needed nap. It was a battle! So much excitement and so many cool toys! I bargained with her and finally convinced her to get some sleep because the boys were coming to dinner.

I started getting ready for dinner and James started cleaning up the living room. We had Honey Ham (thanks to my brother) mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, green beans, cinnamon apples and french bread for Christmas dinner. I made artichoke dip and had some other yummy appetizers to munch on before dinner. We had a house full for Christmas dinner!! I think we had 10 or 11 people for dinner. We all sat at the table and ate together family style. It was a lot of fun. They made my Christmas! The guys were all very sweet and grateful for dinner. We had apple pie for dessert and it was yummy!! We all talked about how every ones Christmas is different. Majority of the guys were raised in a family where you dished up your plate and then found somewhere to sit. Not very many were raised in a family who had a sit down dinners at a table. Lots watched sports during dinner. I refused to have the television on during dinner. It was a great time! Everyone ate tons!

After dinner some left and some stayed. We got a Wii for Christmas so we hung out and played Wii. It was fun. We had a great Christmas! We are very thankful for our families and our friends.

James ended up having Sunday off as well so we went on an adventure to Minot. Its such a long drive! Ok its not that bad, but we were all excited to go. We finally got there and went to the mall. We walked around for a while and got some things and went to lunch. It was fun to spend a day with James. Turkey loved having daddy home for a few days. She was so funny, on the way home she fell asleep for a little bit with her sucker in hand and her legs crossed. It was really cute! After she woke up she sang the rest of the way home. She has gotten her counting down pretty good. This is how she counts to 100

1..2..3...4..5..7..8..9..10..11..12..13..14..15..17..18..19..20..30..40..50..60..70..80..90..100

She leaves out 6 and 16 with everything she counts. We try and add them in and she won't have it. I am very proud of her and how well she is counting even if she leaves out 2 numbers!

I hope everyone had a great weekend and enjoyed the holiday!