Christmas

Our Christmas festivities began on Christmas eve. I spent the morning running around finishing some last minute errands while Blair and Nick were in bed. Later in the afternoon, I made a cheesecake for Christmas dessert. I also made some spritz cookie dough to make cookies. My mom came over to help with the baking. Mom and I made a tortellini casserole to take to Kelly and Karl's that night. After the casserole was finished, we made our first batch of yummy spritz cookies to take to Kelly and Karl. After we were finished with the food, Nick and Blair got dressed up to go to church. All 4 of us headed over to Kelly and Karl's to give them dinner and presents as well as to say Hi to Sadie and new baby Gabby, who was born on Monday, the 22nd. Sadie is so excited to be a new big sister and was just bouncing off of the walls when we got there! Baby Gabby is so tiny and adorable! After our very quick visit, we headed over to Nick's parents so that Nick and Blair could go to church with them. While Nick and Blair were at church, mom and I looked at some lights on the way home. We finished up the Christmas tree shaped cookies for Santa and wrapped all of Blair's presents. Boy, did she have a lot of presents! Just as we were finishing wrapping, Nick and Blair got home. After we settled down, Blair went to sleep and I put out Santa's cookies and milk and went to bed.

Christmas morning was pretty quite. I got up and started baking the ham for dinner as well as starting on the garlic cheese grits. While I was making the grits, I looked out of the front window and saw that my neighbor had gotten a yellow lab puppy for Christmas. I couldn't help myself and had to go and see the little guy. He is so adorable and I cannot wait for him to get a little bigger so that Hunter can play with him! I finished up the ham and then started on the turkey and apple salad. My mom and Doug came over early afternoon and we all hung out until Nick's parents arrived. We had a fantastic dinner of ham, turkey, stuffing, grits, sweet potatoes in 2 different ways, german potato salad, 3 bean salad, cucumber salad, apple salad, and corn. Our desserts were pumpkin pie, cheesecake, spice cake, jello, pound cake, cookies and ice cream. What a feast!!! After we finished eating, we put Blair in front of the tree and let her at her presents. She did better than I expected with presents. She did grab at several and when Nick tore the paper, she pulled on it. Of course all she wanted to do was to put it in her mouth! Blair got so many wonderful gifts from Santa, me and Nick, Noma and Uncle Doug, Grandma and Pop pop, Kelly and Karl and Aunt Megan. Blair is such a lucky girl to be so loved by everyone! Thanks for the wonderful gifts! We had such a fantastic first Christmas with Blair!

Nick putting together Blair's big gift

Blair and her big present from Santa

Uncle Doug and Blair playing

Noma and Blair

Grandma and Blair

The boys and Blair watching "A Christmas Story"

For me?

Yum! Paper!

Huh? What's this shiny thing?

Yay! Busy Balls!

Family Picture

Uncle Doug and Blair

Hunter and his Christmas bone