Starting out our stream of parties was with Doug's immediate family. We had a blast making gingerbread houses, playing the cereal exchange game, and even had a visit from Santa Clause. Mine and Doug's gingerbread house ended up looking like a domed cathedral or something, but we had fun just the same.
Christmas Eve was spent with my extended family at the traditional party at my Aunt Diane's home. I absolutely love this holiday...it is something I look forward to every year. Like always we enjoyed wonderful Mexican food while the cousins all watched Home Alone upstairs. We then played the bells, listened to my Aunt Sue read the Polar Express, and read the Christmas Story from the Bible (me and Doug actually got to be the readers, which was really fun). This is also the night that we celebrate Christmas with my Grandpa Al and Susan, since Christmas Day is spent with her family. They gave us movie tickets and a bunch of candy which we loved. After exchanging gifts with Annalece in our girl present tradition Doug and I headed off to spend the rest of the night with his family.
In line with Doug's usual Christmas tradition, we slept over at his Grandma Higginson's house along with the rest of his family. Before going to bed we joined the family in watching Santa Clause: The Movie, which Doug gave to me as an early Christmas gift - it's one of his family's favorite to watch on Christmas Eve. When we woke up in the morning we walked into the front room with so many presents it covered the whole room. It was fun spending Christmas morning with Doug's family for the first time. It took forever for everyone to open all of their gifts because there was just so many of them! We ate their famous Christmas morning breakfast (egg mcmuffins and waffles) before heading to my parent's house. It was so fun because we got to have two Christmas mornings and I just loved it. It will never get old seeing Landon on Christmas morning. He will keep the spirit of Christmas alive forever which is so fun.
The last of the big Christmas celebrations was at my Aunt Sue's house for dinner Christmas night. This party is always bittersweet because we all know that this is the last of the season! This year my Aunt Lecia and Joyce gave us all dollar-store presents representing each of our personalities. Doug received a jar of nuts and bolts (hit on the button!) and I got a spatula (resembling my homemaking skills) along with $50 each. They are so amazing to go through all of that effort for each niece and nephew and we are so grateful!
Christmas Presents:
Erin to Doug: Coke quilt (I had my hands full hiding this from Doug in our little condo and making a picture quilt of James' sports the same year!), engraved tape measure, Presidents of the Church book.
Mom to us: Lehi in the Wilderness book (which Doug wanted so bad), LDS Library 2005 & 2006 upgrade, Footloose movie, Invincible movie.
Doug to Erin: Down comforter, Cars movie, The Grinch movie, Fridge picture frames (which I had been looking for forever - I was so glad he found them), Friends season 5 DVD's.
Jill to us: Camera, pajamas, clothes.
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