Christmas

This year Christmas was spent in our little home. After 12 years we finally went out and bought new decorations for the tree, since the old ones were beginning to fall apart and harder and hard to make the tree look good. So we went out and bought all new decorations and lights. I have to say, Chris is the genius behind our tree this year. He found the topper that was the inspiration for the whole thing. He chose a frosty blue and silver to be the color and picked out the coolest icicle lights.  When we got home to put it up, the icicle lights were just so big so he had the great ideaa to put them in the middle of the tree and we took the new cone lights and put them around the outer limbs. As we were putting up the garland, it didn't look right wrapped around so he had another brilliant idea to have them cascading down the tree from the top where the star was and let them hang instead of wrap. It looked fantastic and by-golly it an inspiring tree. We call it the melting tree. It looks seriously like a giant snowflake fell on top and was melting right before our eyes. We had many compliments on this tree and I give all credit to my brilliant husband that has a great eye for brilliance. (I mean, he found me so, this must be true right.)

Chris and I love waking up to our own home and have our own traditions. We opened our gifts. Chris gave me a beautiful diamond band and I gave him a Kindle Fire. We enjoyed sitting by our tree and just being together for our 13th year.

When we finished we headed over to the Van Dyck's to see the kids open their presents. I love watching kids open their gifts and the delight in their eyes when they get exactly what they asked for.

This is before the kids were even up. They didn't wake up until 8:30.

They definitely beat the Cornwell Christmas wake ups.

After watching them open their presents Chris and I headed home.

 We were hosting our first Christmas dinner and I had to start the baking and cooking.

Chuck and Grandma Avery

Even Capt. America made it to our dinner.

 We had Stephanie and her boyfriend Chris (weird that there are now two Chris' and two Stephanie's in this family) Betty and Darwin, John and Tracie including their 4 kids, Bruklin, Taryn, Johnnie and William. We had Chuck, Grandma Avery, John and Cheryl. So as you can see we had a great turn out and the food was plentiful and yummy. I am anticipating that will become a new tradition. Even the missing family were sad that they missed such a big dinner with almost the whole family. Maybe next year we will have everyone together for the first time in 7 plus years.