Is it too Late?

Is it improper blog etiquette to blog about an event... let's say three weeks late?  Most likely, but I know you have all been DYING to know what our Christmas and New Years was all about.  Probably not... I wouldn't be. 

Anyway,  Christmas this year can be summed up with one word; Relaxing.  Seriously.  Is it even possible to have a relaxing Christmas?  One where you wake up whenever you want, lay around for a hour or two, then decided "oh we can open presents now",  then lay around for another couple of hours, finally getting up because you don't want to be too lazy and you feel bad if you're not productive.  Basically I just described to you our Christmas day. 

 

This picture totally sums up the first half of the day.

 However, our Christmas festivities did start before Christmas Day.  So in order to not make you feel like we're a bunch of bums and do nothing.  I will begin with December 18th.  

On December 18th we were invited to the Florida Governor's House for a Christmas Party.  Chris was (I say was because we were blessed with a Christmas gift in December of a full time job for Chris) working in citizen services part time and was invited to one of ten Christmas Parties help at the Governor's mansion.  It was pretty fun... a definite experience not everyone has.  Basically you stood in line for a good 20 minutes to get your picture taken with the Governor, his wife, and the Lieutenant Governor.  Then you wait in line another ten minutes to get some food and then just stand around.  Needless to say, we weren't there very long.  But we did get some good pictures!

 

It was a chilly night and my hands were cold.  (You stood outside most of the time waiting to get your picture taken since this is in the front entry) I knew I was going to have to shake their hands so once we got inside I tried rubbing them together to get them warm.  Governor Scott still commented on how cold they were.  Oh well... I tried.  They were very kind and personable.

FYI fun fact.  Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll is the first female elected at Lieutenant Governor and the first African American elected Statewide.  That's pretty awesome if you ask me.

 Chris worked with Sarah Stuckey in the same office so of course we had a to get a picture with our great friends.

 

There were I think about three big trees in the mansion... maybe two.  I know there were at least two but they were all beautiful.  The mansion is very nice inside.  My favorite find was a book called "Governor's Mansions of the South"  

 

The decor outside was also gorgeous.

See we weren't lazy the WHOLE Christmas season.  We got out and partied and even dressed up and felt pretty. 

Christmas Eve was pretty awesome.  Didn't do too much in the morning.  Chris went and played basketball up at the church and I tagged along and went running on campus.  Then in the afternoon we went over the Danny and Sara Brown's to pick them up and we all went to El Jalisco for dinner/late lunch.  Mexican food on Christmas Eve is a tradition of Danny Brown's family.  I enjoyed it very much, considering Mexican food is one of my absolute favorites.  After dinner we went to the movies and saw Lincoln.  A definite movie for you to go see.  Considering I'm a history buff I loved it but it might be a little boring for those who are in need of action.  After the movie we went back to the Brown's and had some amazing chocolate cheesecake.  We got back home, brought the guest bedroom mattress out in the living room and watched a movie.

Which brings us to Christmas Day.  I told myself I will NOT wake up before 7a.m.  Yes, I have a problem that whenever I can wake up whenever I want I STILL wake up at 5a.m.  I WAS VICTORIOUS this time.  I was happy about that.  So we woke up... and just laid and watched the Today Show.  Had cereal for breakfast and then around 8:30-9a.m. started to open presents.  My biggest present from Chris was a membership to the Leach but he also got me seasons 1 and 2 of Downton Abbey and a gift certificate to Celease's Spa... I haven't decided if I want a message, facial, or pedicure.  I have never had any so let me know what you guys think. 

I got Chris, jeans, cardigan sweater, regular pull over sweater, white shirt for church, a book, the HBO Series John Adams, and Adele's CD 21.  He was pretty excited.  I also have a problem were I'll get him something (usually movies) that I know he would really like but I would like too.  This year I wanted to get him all things just for him.  Well, the clothes yes I did well on that, however, I like John Adams too.... and the Adele CD wellllll.... let's just say I know most of the words now.

After laying around again for awhile we got up around noon and we wanted to make cookies and peppermint bark for our Home Teaching families.  We didn't have any butter or candy canes.  Off to Walgreens we went to get those two things.  After we made the treats we got dressed because yes we went to Walgreens in our PJs, and went to visit two of our families to drop off the treats.  We returned how and got everything together to take to Chris's Sister's house for dinner.  Since we were going for a very laid back stress free Christmas we decided on breakfast for dinner.  We had waffles, breakfast potatoes, bacon, eggs, juice, all that good stuff.  It was nice to not have to worry about a big elaborate dinner for once.  Chris's family really liked that too.  It was nice to just sit around and chill together. 

For New Years, Chris and I both worked on the Eve but that night we headed over to Bryce and Mandy Carrolls for a bon fire.  Bryce had been collecting Christmas trees for this bon fire and let me tell you it did not disappoint.  HUGE fire let's just say.

 

This wasn't even the first fire.  This doesn't compare to how big it was at first.  We had lots of fun.  I ate about four smores and then we went home early because we're old.  I of course fell asleep at 10p.m. and didn't give Chris and midnight kiss... oh well that's such a bad habit of mine to fall asleep so easily.  It's like you turn that TV on and I'm out!

Since this is coming so late, I have already read a lot of people's Christmas posts and I am happy everyone had a great season.  I love Christmas time and how we are able to truly reflect upon the Savior's Birth.  It's sad to see how commercial everything is now and how Christ doesn't even seem to be at the center anymore.  But I know He lives and that Christmas is much more then spending time with family and friends but remembering with our friends and familes our Savior and His love for us.