Christmas 2008!

Travis and I had a great holiday! It went by so fast, and I am very sad that it's over already. First of all I have to say that I am so grateful and feel very blessed to be able to spend the holidays with family! Both Trav and I's families are very close AND both of our jobs are very flexible and allow us to take lots of time off to spend the holiday's at home. I'm afraid sometimes that I take that for granted but I look forward to it so much every year! It's what makes the holiday's truly special!

The festivities started early Christmas Eve! We headed to my parents for a big Christmas Eve lunch with ham, mashed potatoes, rolls, cran sauce....all the fixins. As usual, it was delicious! There was plenty of wine to drink as well. We finished with homemade cherry cheesecake, made by Trav's mom, for dessert. We relaxed after lunch and exchanged gifts with my Uncle Bob. He got us a gift card to Starbucks. Trav and I are looking forward to using that!

When it got dark dad took us for a drive to look at the Christmas lights. We didn't head toward Salem this year because of the bad weather so there wasn't as much to see, but we still got a pretty good show. In the evening we opened our Christmas Eve gift which is always jammies related. Trav and I both got really soft Wii jammie pants. They are awesome!

Mom and I watched a holiday movie while Trav and my dad talked, and my brother played some games on his computer. After the movie I joined Trav and my dad for a card game of Hearts. My dad and I used to play when I was younger. We had a great time.

Christmas morning came early! Dad read us the Christmas story and we had coffee, tea, cocoa, cider, and fresh baked scones while we listened. The Christmas story amazes me every year.
We took turns opening our gifts! We were all spoiled to the max this year! My mom had an envelope on the tree for Trav and I that we opened first. It said that they weren't able to get our game (Rock Band 2 bundle) that we wanted YET, but that they still would. It just came out on the 18th and was nearly impossible to get! We were a little bummed because we'd been looking forward to "rocking out" over the long weekend, but we understood. So we opened all our other gifts! Trav got lots of great new clothes, and he got some nice new head phones from my brother. I got him a new wedding band and he had no idea I'd gotten it so it was really fun to watch him open it! I also gave him $150 for a shopping spree! I got a cool scrapbooking kit from my mom, and some new clothes, and my brother got me an awesome spice rack AND some bacon salt! Trav got me some great new running shoes, and a $150 for a shopping spree!

It was a great Christmas! We all chipped in to get dad a nice new Nikon camera. He loved it! Trav and I got him a couple shirts to! He liked one of them, but the other one was pretty much a joke anyway, since he always gets us random clothes that we usually aren't huge fans of! My mom loved her digital camera that we got her, and her new Christmas travel mug! And Joel loved his bluetooth headset!

When we were all done opening gifts my mom left for a minute and when she came back she had a huge box in her arms.....yep, it was the Rock Band 2 bundle! They did get it! Trav and I were SO excited!

After presents we had ham and eggs for breakfast, and then got ready and headed to Trav's parents for a big Christmas lunch at 1. We made it right on time! We had turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans with bacon and mushrooms, salad, and rolls! It was delicious! After dinner we opened gifts. It was fun watching Coraline play with her gifts and try to figure out how to unwrap them! Trav got some nice knit slippers from Amber and Jason and some a gift card for a haircut, and nice shampoo and conditioner from his parents. I got a nice shirt from Amber and Jason and some gift cards from Robert and Kathy for a haircut and pedicure! Cora was spoiled with lots of goodies!

We got home a little after 5 and set up Rock Band. My brother came over to play and we rocked until 11 or 12! It was really fun! I love singing and playing bass! The drums are pretty hard, but I think if I try it a few more times I'll get it down!

Friday we got to sleep in! It was great! When we got up we bummed around the house for a while and then met Air in Corvallis to get the shopping for our Christmas Dinner done! We got everything in good time AND we got it for a great deal!

Trav and I met Rash and D for dinner at Cascade Grill a little after 6. I tried the rainbow trout and it was delicious! We had fun talking with R and D! After dinner we went back to the house and played Rock Band until late!

Saturday Trav and I went on our shopping spree! We just went to the little Heritage Mall, but Trav found tons of good deals! He got everything he wanted and got good prices on everything! I have fun just watching Trav go shopping. He LOVES buying clothes so it's fun for me to just watch his face lite up. I didn't have as much luck shopping, but I did get 2 really cute sweaters, and a little tank top and loungin shirt. Plus I still have a lot of my money left to use when I do find the perfect clothes!!

At 4 we went to Trav's co-workers house to have wine and meet some more of his family. We had a great time with them! We had red beans with sausage and rice for dinner, which we'd never had, and it was SO good! It was a great night socializing and very relaxing!

Sunday we cleaned the house up in the morning and Air and K came over at 1 to help with getting dinner ready! Air and I got the turkey in the oven at 2, and then prepared the green bean casserole, cool whip salad, green salad, appetizer platter, rolls, and cranberry sauce. Rachelle offered to bring mashed potatoes and I took her up on it! We were able to relax for a while and play Rock Band with the boys before anyone showed up. My brother and his girlfriend got there a little after 4. Sara brought me some delicious sparkling wine which was very sweet of her! Josh showed up shortly after they did, and Rachelle, Derrick, and Robin got there right on time at 5! Dinner was a little behind schedule but everything was ready and on the table around 5:30!

Dinner was delicious! We had a great time chatting and eating and drinking! Air and K and Joel and Sara ended up staying until 1! We played more Rock Band, and Wii bowling and Wii golf, and even played some apples to apples! We had a really fun time!
Today we are pretty tired, since we only got about 5 hours of sleep! But it's only a 3 day workweek, so we will survive!!

My cousin Lacee is getting married to Hunter this Wednesday the 31st! Unfortunately Trav and I won't be able to attend, but CONGRATULATIONS Lace and Hunter!! I wish you all the best and we love you guys so much!