Because It's Christmas Time

I know that I say this every year, but this was the best Christmas ever! For the first time in almost 24 years, I got to spend this Christmas with my Grandmother (Dad's Mom). Ryan and I had seen her at the Wedding last year, but as anyone knows at your wedding you may see a lot of people, but it is such a blur after it is over. Having her here, along with getting to spend time with my parents and Ryan was the most amazing thing ever! I am so blessed!

As you can see from the picture, we had about a gazillion presents to open. In my family it isn't always about having big ticket items to open. It is more about dragging out the time it takes to open the presents, thus elongating Christmas. It is also about the food, and this year was some of the best. We had quiche and orange cinnamon rolls for breakfast. We then snacked on a few things throughout the day to tide us over to Ryan's great dinner. He made some great ham and fresh green bean casseroles. We then topped off the night with my homemade pumpkin and rustic pear pies. Delicious!

We had a simply amazing time and the presents were great too, great enough to deserve their own post, that wasn't even what it was about. It was truly about time with family, which is always my favorite!

Gifts from the Mos

I absolutely LOVE getting gifts from the Mos for Christmas! They always get us the nicest things, most especially a Christmas ornament from Crate and Barrel. I was really wanting this penguin ornament from C&B, but I didn't want to spend the money for it. Around this time of year, I try to use all the disposable money we have for gifts for others. I truly enjoy giving others gifts that make them happy more than I like getting gifts myself.

Anyway, this little penguin ornament is SO CUTE! I named him Hubert. (Yes I have a pathetic habit of giving everything with eyes a name. Oh well.) He will be a great part of our family tree for many years to come.

Thank you Mos (Mike, Amanda, Zoe, Barnaby and Henry). We love and miss you much!

1st Annual Thanksmas Gathering

Last night was the 1st Annual Thanksmas Gathering. My mom, dad, Ryan and I went to have dinner at the amazing Tower Club in Downtown Dallas. The club is located on the 48th floor of Thanksgiving Tower and the chef there is absolutely amazing. Ryan and I went there for our one year anniversary and decided we had to go back again soon. So, we visited again for a new tradition we are calling Thanksmas.

Every year for Thanksmas we will go to have dinner and drinks at the Tower Club followed by looking at Christmas lights around town. Last night we went to drive around and see the lights in Highland Park. They had some very simple displays as well as a few more elaborate ones. Overall the decor focused mostly on lights and elegant lawn ornaments. There weren't a lot of kids type decor, which was fine by me. I am an elegant Christmas decor kinda girl. There were tons of horse drawn carriages with cold families in them clopping around the neighborhoods. Although I thought this would become annoying, it was actually great because we could travel slowly behind them and gawk.

I can't wait until next year's Thanksmas!