Post-Christmas Entry

Christmas quickly came upon and us and left even quicker. This year didn't exactly feel like Christmas. Maybe it was because of the warm and damp weather, the absence of my mother and her red bows all about the house, or maybe it is the fact that we are all getting older. I thoroughly enjoyed the time with my family though. I hurried home last Friday night and met everyone out at dinner. Actually, I knew they were on their way to the pharmacy, so I excitedly met them there and honked my horn at them in the drive-thru pharmacy. Courtney jumped into my car and we giggled that we finally were together. Dinner was a big laugh-fest. I was so happy to be with my family. We all haven't been together since late June, so I dearly missed having everyone together. Kyleigh fell fast asleep that night because she woke up very early to drive home from Atlanta. Courtney and I stayed up until 4am having a sleepover, giggling, and catching up on sister stuff. The next fews days are a blur of fun. I had friends over, Tiffany slept over almost every night, and spent lots of time with my family.

We decided to simplify things this year and we did a not-so-secret-Santa exchange. I think we all gave up on it being a secret with such a small group. My dad took me the local jewelry store and allowed me to pick out something special. I chose a simple necklace with a single pearl pendant. It is nice to have special, timeless piece from my father. Matt came out to Indiana to celebrate Christmas with Courtney and her oh-so-lovely family. :) It was nice to have him around, even though he wore my "Christmas Drinking Glove" that I got in a white elephant gift exchange the whole time.

Every year it seems like someone ruins Christmas. In our family it is a big joke because supposedly I "ruined" Christmas (If that is possible?) when I was young. You can read all about our Christmas traditions and how I ruined everything right here. Well this year, I did not ruin Christmas. Courtney did. She burnt all the Christmas cookies, broke a present as she was unwrapping it, and got Christmas dinner all over her sweater. She continued to do various things that ruined Christmas and required dirty looks to be shared between family members. What a Christmas-ruiner.

Most exciting, I won the "Annual Gingerbread House Competition." After much controversy, I was declared the winner by the expert judge, my father. Kyleigh did a good job this year, so the competition was tough and everyone was pulling out the decorating moves. Ky made an amazing snowman (which we all copied) and a pond with a Swedish fish in it, Courtney's architecture was good and very neat, and mine well ... was clearly the best. I created a two-story home with 3 arched roofs. I adorned it with tasty treats and drizzled it with melted icing that I dyed green. No wonder I won, right?

Today I am returning home for more sister time and to host a bridal shower for Courtney tomorrow. I am so excited about being one of the maids of honor (Ky being the other) and I helped plan this bridal shower. It's my first time planning anything like this, but I have games planned and Starbucks cards as prizes. With that, the party can't be a dud, right? I'll let you know how it goes. Maybe I will start a new tradition in my family: Bridal Shower Ruiner!

Pictures to come!