Merry Christmas!!!

This was our Christmas card picture!

(With a little formatting help from Christy! THANKS!!!)

Last night we went to midnight mass at one of the church’s downtown. It was a beautiful cathedral like church with a warm and inviting pink ceiling with gold accents. Chris said that they had recently refurbished all the artwork and statues, which were so pretty in soft pastel colors. I’ve never been to a midnight mass before, so I think I expected candles and other different sorts of things, but was surprised to find it almost exactly like a normal Sunday mass. Carols were added as the hymns, and the place was packed. It was nice, but I must admit, it was hard to stay awake in the warm and quiet room. By the time we got home it was well past 2 a.m., so we were both wiped out and ready for a good nights sleep.

In an effort to make the day feel more festive, I thought I’d start off by making gingerbread waffles, eggs, and bacon for breakfast. The waffles were delicious with some cinnamon whipped cream and maybe even a touch of chocolate syrup. After breakfast, we both opened our one present left (both were books) and started working on a puzzle while watching some movies. We really didn’t have much planned for the day, but made due with a movie (A Christmas Story, of course,) warm fire, puzzle, and each others company.

The Loot List (so far):
-A Knitting Journal from Gretchen & Kevin
-The Great Santa Search by Jeff Guinn, Target Gift Card from Galen
-Lovely placemats from Bridget & Brandon
-A print of Winnie the Pooh Fall Colors from Bonnie
-Pilates mat, box of chocolates, bike shorts and socks from Chris
-Sleeping bags from ourselves

We finished the puzzle around 4:30 p.m., and decided to start Christmas dinner. Since finding out we wouldn’t be going home, I was determined to bring some of our family favorites to us. We had ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, and rolls to compliment Aunt Karen’s Baked Beans and a delicious homemade pecan pie. Though it wasn’t the same as having dinner with our families, it was still nice to know they were eating some of the same exact things.

Just before going to sleep I’m going to give Chris the last present that I have hidden away for him. Several weeks ago, we went to Wilson’s leather to look at a jacket for him. Well, we found one that he really liked in his size, but decided to think about it over night. He forgot all about it, and when he called a couple weeks later found that they did not have his size anymore. In fact, the only store in Colorado that did was the Cherry Creak Mall store. After making a number of calls and trying to buy it online failed, he had just about given up. What he doesn’t know, though, is that I bought it the next day and have hidden it away. He continues, even today, to call around and see if other stores might have it. I can’t wait to see his eyes light up and wonder how I had managed it! So, I better get ready, Merry Christmas and I hope you have big plans for the New Year.