For Christmas Eve we always have a light dinner of sandwiches. We had roast beef & provolone served on pumpernickel & rye bread with all the trimmings and accompanied by our favorite chips. Everyone has a different favorite flavor so we get one bag of each. After dinner we drive around to look at the neighborhood lights. Later in the evening everyone is allowed to open one gift and we usually watch a movie while sipping hot cocoa or eggnog. This year the weather prevented us from diving around but that's okay. Our neighborhood was well lite starting the 1st of December and we were able to enjoy seeing all the beautiful decorations every time we left the house.
Steve's parents were scheduled to travel up from their home, however the threat of bad weather made us all change our minds about traveling. For safety, we all decided that they shouldn't come up. We are going to spend a weekend with them this month to make up for it.
On Christmas day we all got the white Christmas we were looking for. It was a great day at our house. Steve and I enjoy sleeping in and lazily starting our day on holidays, well most days actually. Nana was able to keep Jacob occupied until 10am and then he just couldn't take it anymore. She let him come in and wake us up.
We finally made it down stairs and got ourselves a bowl of cereal for breakfast. Then we all gathered around the tree to open gifts. Since Jacob learned to walk we have been letting him hand out all the gifts. Every year he happily hands out all the gifts until there are none left under the tree. Once they are all stacked around each person then we are allowed to start opening them.
There are a few themes in our gift giving that have developed over the years.
Steve likes to collect Pepsi items. So of course this year he received more Pepsi glasses to add to his collection. Pepsi stuff is not as easy to find as Coke. You can't just go to the store and pick out what you want. You have to find it in thrift or antique stores and garage sales or estate sales. I found these three glasses at a thrift store several months ago and hid them. We have a tin plate with the same image as the woman on the center glass.
I love to be barefoot. When I have to wear shoes I wear flip flops. No matter what the weather is like outside, you can usually find me in flip flops or without shoes at all. I received three very fun pairs of flip flops. As soon as the snow melts I am positive that I will find a perfect outfit to wear each pair with.
Jacob is very much into Transformers right now. He loves them! So of course we made sure that he got the Scorponox Transformer that he has specifically been asking for. He was so excited when he opened it that he even gave a fist pump and a "Yessssss".
At some point all the gift bows decided to attack Jacob.
Nana needs to ... I mean enjoys relaxing, so Steve and I got her an electric massage chair. It is very cool and works really well. Steve and I both tested it at the store to make sure we ... I mean she would like it. I'm pretty sure that is actual joy on her face as she peeled back the paper. She has it set up downstairs and uses it often. She says it works great.
We all received a few other things and have been enjoying them.
After lunch we decided to go out and play in the snow. Of course we bundled up first. I just can't help myself, I think kids bundled up to go play in the snow are just cute ... so of course I have to take a picture.
Jake wasted no time and leapt from the porch into the snow.
Nana stayed inside and watched from the window.
When she did sneak out to see how deep the snow had gotten around her car she was attacked with snowballs. She barely made it back in the house before she was covered in snow. Jake has good aim!
Have you ever pointed a camera at someone while they were not looking then called their name and just as they turned to look at you, you take the picture. HA HA HA ... I love doing that to Steve. This is one of those pictures! It cracks me up every time.
This next set of pictures explain themselves. Can you follow the story they tell?
Snow angels and lots of other random snowy fun was had before we went back inside to get warm and have our traditional dinner.
This year we had a spiral cut ham and all the usual sides: mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes - some candied and some mashed, bread stuffing, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, cranberry sauce. I think that was it.
For dessert we had pecan pie, cheese cake and pumpkin pie. Holy Moley they were good this year.
The pecan pie was amazing. I have never had one that tasted better. The cheese cake was thick creamy and flawless and the pumpkin was just right for Jake. I would have preferred it a little sweeter, but Nana cut the sugar on purpose for Jake and I'm okay with that.
The rest of the evening we watched some tv, played some video games and just general did nothing, together. It was great!
Here the boys are playing the new Indiana Jones DS game that we got for Steve ... I mean Jake. Notice the game case placement. That was not staged by me, he totally did that one his own.
We had a great Christmas this year and we hope all of you did too!
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