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We are so happy to live so close to all of our families, it makes it so easy to see everyone, especially on Christmas (though it does get a little tiring going from place to place, but we can't complain too much!!)
Christmas morning started out with more "Christmas Story" viewing, just long enough for "Santa" to get all of my gifts under the tree and my stocking stuffed! We also kept the tradition of the picture on the stairs in tact, though one of these days it will be nice to get Andy in it, but I suppose growing up there isn't a single picture of my dad on the stairs, so I guess that's just how it goes! :)
We had some great coffee and mimosas while we opened our gifts. Andy got some clothes, cologne, a few games, and even some Lego's--which I think he was most excited about! I got some new perfume, a humidifier (I swear I did ask for one), and lots of oral hygiene products in my stocking--is Andy trying to tell me something?! hmmm....
After the presents were all unwrapped, Andy cooked up a great batch of french toast, using sweet Hawaiian bread, it was so good!
We then headed to my parent's house for Christmas #2. We had a great afternoon exchanging gifts with my family, my mom, as usual, went overboard!! Andy and I came away with some great gifts including gift certificates to the Wintergreen Spa!
Around 5:30 it was time to head to my sister-in-law's for Christmas #3 with the entire Gribble family! It was so great to see all of our nephews, and hear about all the goodies that Santa left for them. Their energy is astounding! Amy and John made a great dinner for all of us, and it was just a lot of fun to have the whole family together.
Christmas #4 took place on the 26th when my Aunt Anne and Uncle Jim headed up to my parent's house. We had a great lamb roast for dinner, and had fun playing pool late into the night.
It was a great holiday, and we are so thankful to have such great families that we can share it with!
We had a great Christmas Eve, starting with some early morning shopping (it wouldn't be Christmas Eve if I wasn't out the door by 7:30 crossing off last minute gifts from my list). I also stuck to my tradition of wrapping gifts while watching "Its a Wonderful Life," my all time favorite movie! It still makes me tear up after all these years.
Andy spent the bulk of the day in the kitchen, preparing our, 5th or maybe 6th, Thanksgiving dinner this year! Ha! We usually make homemade ravioli for Christmas Eve, but Andy was craving the smell of turkey, so turkey it was! We invited Andy's parents and our good family friends, Dan and Eloise. Dinner was great and the company even better!
After dinner we spent some time sitting around the Christmas tree enjoying some coffee and cookies, and would you believe that all of a sudden that stubborn section on the tree that had been out since the beginning of the month turned back on! It was a Christmas miracle...well, maybe not, but it did seem like perfect timing! :)
After our guests left, I sent Andy upstairs so I could bring up all his gifts and stuff his stocking. Then it we fell asleep watching "A Christmas Story," the perfect end to a great Christmas Eve.
Yesterday, Greg and Erica's new puppy, Roxie (middle name Hart) arrived at National Airport, and they fell immediately in love.
Last night, Andy and I headed over to their house to meet little Roxie, and we fell immediately in love.
Roxie is an English Bulldog, Boston Terrier mix and is too cute for words! We brought along a few gifts for her, including her very own batch of "mini" Liddy Cakes and her very own Biggums (which as many of you know is Liddy and Erica's favorite toy!) Roxie started playing with Biggums immediately, even though he is twice her size! Adorable!
We are so excited for G&E and can't wait for Liddy to meet her new best friend!!
Roxie Hart, you won our hearts over for sure!
On Sunday night we had my family over for a holiday dinner and cookie swap. Andy and I spent most of the day getting everything ready, and enjoyed every minute of it! We tried some new recipes and even made a new centerpiece, which if I do say so myself, was quite fabulous!
For the cookie swap, Andy made Mint Chocolate Oreo Balls and I made Holiday Chocolate Bark. They both turned out great! I was also impressed with the cookies my family brought, Kathleen made "Top Secret Chocolate Cookies," Mark made "Double Chocolate Chip Cookies," and my mom made, "Apricot and Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies." All delicious and all super healthy...right?! :)
Last night, we headed downtown for a festive Christmas celebration with Greg and Erica. We had been planning for awhile to do a night on the town in lieu of exchanging gifts (though we all realized in retrospect that gifts might have been cheaper!)
We started at the Round Robin room at the historic Willard Hotel, where the boys enjoyed Manhattans and the girls sipped on poinsettias. The poinsettia was my signature drink at our wedding, so it was fun to go back three years later to the place that inspired us to serve it at our festive holiday wedding!
After our cocktail hour, we headed to the Occidental for dinner. What a meal! Between the yummy butternut squash ravioli appetizer, the fillet, duck and swordfish entrees, and a dessert of pumpkin cake with chestnuts and souffle's, we were all pleasantly satisfied and ready for a walk!
Fortunately we had planned on strolling over to the National Christmas Tree, which would be a first for Erica. It was fun to see all the families there, though I think our favorite part was the Yule Log where we got to warm up!!
DC is gorgeous during the holidays, and it was great to spend a fancy night on the town with our great friends!
Merry Christmas G&E!
Today is our three year anniversary, and I can't believe how quickly the time has gone! Andy even caught me the other night saying, "wow, I can't believe two years ago tonight we were having our 'Wedding Party Dinner Party!'" Funny when the husband is correcting the wife on the number of years they've been married! Oops! :)
Anyhow, I remember the day like it was just yesterday, and while it was an amazingly fantastic wedding, the days the have come since have been even better (well, most of them at least!) We've had a great three years and I can't wait for all the fun years and memories to come! Happy Anniversary Bub!
Andy and I have a tradition of exchanging ornaments every December 8 to celebrate our "kissaversary." Ok, ok, you can stop laughing now! It may seem silly, but it is just a fun little celebration and I think it is a great tradition. The ornaments we've given each other over the years are a great stamp in time and remind us of the memorable events of that year.
For instance, in 2004, Andy gave me an ornament that said "Will you marry me?" That of course, was the year we were engaged--in fact he orginially planned on proposing by giving me the ornament, but changed his mind when he decided to pop the question a week earlier--I didn't mind!!
Of course in 2005, the ornaments were geared around our wedding and the boat, in 2006, we commemorated our new home and our little Liddy!
Last night we exchanged our 2008 ornaments (I was in Tampa on Monday, thus the delay) and I am happy to announce that after six years of "Kissaversary" ornament exchanges, we now have our first official "Happy Kissaversary" ornament on the tree! Thanks Andy! **Muah!**
