Christmas Recap 1 with My Fam...

...so I, well Haley and I, took way too many pictures and there's too many cute ones to pick from so Christmas with my family is going to be a couple posts.

My first gift I opened was...a COUPON ORGANIZER!!! Woo hoo!!! Watch out stores, I'm even MORE prepared now!
Haley was as big as the gift she got!!! She reminds me so much of myself its not even funny.

Here's the cute girl and I together....

When we first got there, my sister reminded me to take a good picture of Matt and I for next year's Christmas card. So our photographer...Haley, took Matt and I in front of every Christmas tree and mantel and took like 20 pictures so we have a lot to choose from! This one is in the running.

I had so much fun with my family and I really feel like I did an awesome job getting gifts for everyone that they all wanted, needed and would enjoy. I love spending time with my family and sharing fun moments with them. I look forward to many more memories. Hope you all had a great Christmas too!!!

Happy Birthday Jesus!!!

...one tradition that I want to start when I have kids, and I just made this up, I don't know anyone else that does that so give a shout out if you do, is that on Christmas Day, I want to make a birthday cake that says, "Happy birthday Jesus!" and our family would sing Happy Birthday. Anyways, I hope everyone has a blessed day and makes lots of memories with your loved ones.

Merry Christmas Eve!!!

...to all my wonderful friends out there (both in real life and Blog Land), may you have safe travels, fun family time and may you enjoy every minute you have with your loved ones. We're in Cape today then headed back to STL tonight then Florida bound Sunday...it's going to be a whirlwind as always.

These are just a couple of my favorite Christmas pictures over the years...

Haley at age 2 with Emma age 4.
My grandpa and I Christmas 2005, one of the last times we got to spend together. I love you Grandpa!!!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Wednesday PM Update...

...so I'm sitting in my car on my laptop outside my mom's house (she didn't leave us a key and I'm just dropping off the dogs and waiting for Matt). Emma knows I'm out here so I'm listening to her HOWL at me! It's quite hilarious I must say. I also wanted to say thanks to Mama Fish for helping me find that one last perfect gift for Mattie!!! Merry Christmas everyone!

WOO HOO!!! No more work until 2010!!!

...yes, you heard me right...I am not working at either of my jobs until 2010. I have the next week and a half to chill and enjoy time away from there. Some random thoughts...

*Only 4 more days until we're in Florida...still looking for a ride to the airport...
*I have eaten so many sweets that they don't even taste yummy and delicious any more.
*I don't think Matt's Christmas presents (and his dad's) are going to be here by Christmas, which is kind of a bummer.
*This year, I don't feel as though I really ever got into the Christmas spirit. I think everyone will like what we got them but I'm just not that into it, we didn't even decorate (mainly because of going to the Florida trip) and I just haven't been in a jolly mood....hmm...
*I'm really hoping to get back into the swing of going to church in 2010 because I have a lot of things to try and understand and I think working with God is a good way to help understand it.
*One of my friend's FB statuses really hit me, "In order to start your 2010 with a pure and clean heart, you must FORGIVE those who did you dirty in 2009." Not to mention that my friend is Hottie McHottie (I love you Stan!) but it's so true. I have a horrible problem with not letting things go and I really need to work on it so maybe 2010 is the year.
*I love when life turns into a small world...my good college friend called the Help Desk at her work and got my sister!
*I'm going to start the book "Lamb" while in Florida and I'm excited about that.

I hope everyone has a great and wonderful Christmas. I hope that Santa is good to you, that you enjoy time with your loved ones and that you truly celebrate the reason for the season. Happy birthday Jesus!

Ugly Sweater Party...

...Saturday night, Matt and I attended our first ever Ugly Sweater Party. Everyone had to bring a handmade decorated sweater/sweatshirt then we drew names and you had to wear that person's sweater.

Here is Matt with the sweater that Brett made. Can you tell that he's just thrilled???
Here is Rainman (real name Ryan) with the sweater that I made, with help of course from my momma.

He also had on a dickie and his button shirt was almost see through so it was great!

Here is Stevie, the hostess, and I. Her's was a Gingerbread Man then her head was the head and that's me wearing a sweater with Stevie's boyfriend on it. At the end of the night, I let Brett keep the sweater because I didn't want him hanging in my closet.

Here is all of us that participated before we headed out to the bar to show off our wonderful sweaters. Stevie made the black one and it had real lights on it that blinked.

It was lots of fun and, most importantly, I got to wear my favorite outfit of all times...jeans and a sweatshirt!!!

Welcome Baby Eva...

...on Thursday, December 17, Matt's cousin Gwen had her second baby. A little baby girl named Eva Alita! Matt and I went to see her Saturday morning and she is too flippin' cute!!! I could have cuddled with her all day!

Here is Eva Alita

Matt with his new cousin. He didn't want to hold her at first so I had to coax him into bonding with his new cousin. He was so cute and serious. He wasn't talking or looking at any of us and then suddenly he said, "Whew! That was a big fart!"

The proud parents with the new baby: Larry, Gwen and Eva

What a great Christmas present! Congrats to the parents, grandparents and big brother Devin!