Christmas Is Here!!

This past week has been crazy fun. We finally did go cut down our tree last week, that was quite interesting because it was 80 degrees outside, just a couple days after it snowed. I was sad when we left cause I wanted a real good picture of all the kids together at the Christmas tree farm and I didn't get one, one was looking away, or one was spitting up, or Cole was doing his own silly thing. So, on the way home I was sad about the picture thing and Nicky told me something that was so true. He said, "Amber, all the pictures are good because they are pictures of our kids and who they are." He said, "This is our family." He smiled real big, like he was so proud. Then I realized that every moment is not going to be picture perfect, and it is those moments that aren't that we will remember.

Nicky and I also celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary. My parents and my sister and brother in law, Danielle and Chris, kept the girls. And Jacob and Anna Claire kept Cole. So, we went out to eat at a new place, walked around Perkins Rowe, slept really late the next day and pretty much hung out by ourselves for 24 hours with no kids! It was weird and fun to be together. I don't think we have ever done that. It was very special to us- So thanks to all of our family!

My sister Jodie and her family left this morning to go back to Austin, Tx. It is so sad when they leave. We had the best time when they were here. Claudia absolutely loved playing with Maggie. She loves her Uncle Mark and Aunt Jodie so much too. She was soooo hilarious when they were here. Last night we were having dessert and Jodie wanted Mark to stop eating cake. He told Jodie to not be mean, and she said, "I am telling you because love is kind". lol. Then he said, "Love does not keep score." And then Claudia shouted out, "Amen!" It was hilarious.
So for the first time this year I cooked Christmas dinner while they were here. I made a ham, homemade macaroni, cauliflour casserole, green bean casserole, dressing, and a homemade pound cake from scratch. It was so delicous! We had a beautiful Christmas dinner and we went around the table and all said what our favorite Christmas memory was. I had two. My first was when I was a kid, about elementary school age, me and my siblings woke up Christmas morning and there were presents everywhere! So many that some were not even wrapped! I just remember us freaking out and being so excited that we didn't even know where to go first. I can still see all the board games stacked up on the couch.
My other favorite Christmas memory was me and Nicky's first year we were married. We got married on December 18th, went to the Bahamas and came home Christmas Eve. I remember we were 19 and 20 years old, both in college and had no money. We found a tree at a tree stand on the side of the road for $25, and then we went home and made ornaments out of things around the house. I still have some of those ornaments and I still put them on the tree.

I am so excited because I thought I was going to have to work Christmas morning and I don't now!! YEA!!!! So tonight we are going to my parents, Lendie and Jason and Emmy will be there, Danielle and Chris and their little bun in the oven will be there! We are gonna have so much fun. My mom is cooking and I can't wait to eat. Tomorrow we are gonna play with the kids all day with their new stuff and then we are going to the Varnados for Christmas dinner. This is my favorite time of the year ever.

I have to say- I am very very very upset about something. We ordered a wooden kitchen for the girls for Christmas from Walmart.com. We had it delivered to the store. Nicky went to pick it up and it was missing parts. They can not replace it because you can't buy it in the stores. All they could do was give us our money back and tell us to order another one online. Which will not be here in time for Christmas!

Since I didn't post on Tuesday, I will say today, I lost another 2 pounds! I was hoping for more but I am still glad. So, goodbye to 7 pounds in all! Yea!