So this year I was determined to perfect my "Christmas Platter" as I call it while dieting... uh yea I know ..wth? Ok, so I have never claimed to be the smartest person. I had to rely on Brad's taste buds to let me know if it was a keeper or not. Ok..Ok......I admit it...I did try tiny little bites. My Mother in Law told me long ago if you take a tiny little bite of something the calories fall out the bottom. I'ts true....I have seen them fall..(or were they crumbs?) I found a couple of keepers and hope to master fudge next year.
So besides my trial and error with baking we did do the typical holiday activities. We did however add a first which was getting a real tree. I love the smell of real trees and wanted my house to smell like Christmas. It's been so long since I have had a real tree that I forgot about how big of a mess they make with all their needles. Despite the needles I will for sure do a real tree again next year.
We also took the kids to get their pictures taken with Santa. I thought this year Abby would love sitting on his lap, but that was so polar opposite as to what her reaction really was. She screamed and cried (sorry Santa) and arched her back to slide down. He was a champ and grinned and let us take a few pic's. This years picture looked a lot like last years. I am learning that with kids not everything turns out perfect and sometimes those imperfect moments are the ones we remember most.
Christmas Eve we did our traditional activities over at Brad's parents. We do an appetizer dinner and we also act out the Christmas story. Parkie was a Sheppard and Abby was assigned Mary this year. I wish I could have recorded it on video because Abby was so sweet with her baby Jesus. She is such a little Mommy and is so gentle. We really enjoy that tradition every year.
This year Christmas Eve I papered the doorway to our sun room shut (which is where the tree was) so the kids couldn't peek at their presents. I had told Parkie I was going to do this and he was so excited about it. After they opened their stockings they were allowed to run and break through the paper. I couldn't wait for them to see their gifts. Santa was pretty generous this year so they both got one big thing they really wanted. Abby didn't want to open anymore after she noticed her vanity. Parkie couldn't believe that Santa really brought him a four wheeler. I'm thinking that Santa and Mrs. Claus (Brad and I...to avoid any misunderstanding) must of been on crack to buy a four wheeler in the winter. Oh well, I'll get......I mean... Parkie will get to ride it as soon as it warms up.
The day after Christmas we were able to go to Indiana to celebrate Christmas with my family. We all dressed in ugly Christmas sweaters to add a little humor :) My dad made a prime rib dinner for everyone and Grandma P.R. did her usual Christmas bingo. This year it felt like the perfect Christmas. I really loved spending time with both sides of the family and feel fortunate to have them all apart of my life. With that said now I feel like I can move on and say ......Happy New Year!! :)
