Our wonderful Christmas day.

This year, Christmas was so wonderful.  I couldn't stop saying what a perfect day it was.  And Tony too kept saying what a success everything was.  I was actually really excited to see what Christmas- just us four- would be like.  It was our first time just us.  We've always either traveled to Virginia to see my family or we'd spend a large part of the day with Tony's fam in AZ.  We love seeing our family on Christmas- it's almost not the same without them around during the holidays.  But I really loved this year.  All day was spent focusing on Christ and on each other- no distractions or plans.  We woke up bright and early and got B up so he could see/open his stocking and Santa present before church.  We all did that- ate our traditional cinnamon rolls, then got ready for our 9am church.  It was a white-ish Christmas....with that famous Kentucky morning frost.  Ha.  Church was just an hour that day so we got home early enough that it still felt like "Christmas morning".  We all got back in our jammies and stayed in them for the rest of the day.  I actually really wish every Christmas could fall on a Sunday and include all that it did.  I loved it!  Our family was beyond generous and awesome- and many sent us and the boys some really amazing things.  Thank you, guys!!  And Tony was more than thoughtful with his gifts to me as well.  I actually cried a time or two.  And laughed- and cracked up- and pretty much had the best. day. ever.

Remember Halloween?  Brody's been a fan ever since.  He LOVES this mask from Grandma.  He got lots of other Darth Vader stuff in his stocking too, that he was asking for all month.

And that book was the gift that made me cry.  Tony said he spent 8 hours filling the whole thing out.  It was just a book he found at a bookstore- it has everything in it and I'm really going to cherish this gift for the rest of my life.  

Below was all the old fashioned candy I found around.  I thought it would be fun to do old fashioned stockings so the boys got original G.I. Joe dolls action figures, vintage ties, and that candy.  I couldn't make it all old fashioned... but I think they were happy about that.  They got their recees trees, and more familiar stuff.  I had my fun though.

Then this is the gift that made me crack up... my very own snuggie, FAIL book, and reading light!   Bahaha!  Yay!

For linner (early dinner, late lunch, you know..) we moved to the dining room since it's was a special occasion and all.  Not wanting to risk carpet stains however, I pulled out some old sheets for protection.  We're classy like that.

There goes Brody filling up on olives...

 Brody's new favorite face.... he does it because I crack up when he does.  He's such a pleaser (:  He also, out of nowhere, thanked me for making Christmas dinner.  Such a sweetie.  Tony cut me a HUGE slice of ham as thick as a "pork chop".  I surprisingly finished it ALL but then unsurprisingly didn't eat another meal after this.

BEHOLD:  my first ever attempt at a YULE LOG!  

Eh? Eh?  What do ya thiiiink....?

Brody said, "This cake is fuuun!"  Tony was mighty impressed- as was I.  He said it would be perfect to take to family Christmases since it looked so real/awesome.  Actually I believe his exact words were "This looks pretty amazing!"  Then later, "you did GOOD this Christmas... Remember you were all nervous."  Yes, yes I was nervous.  I've never done a Christmas dinner alone- and the Yule Log was a first too.  So I'm proud of myself.  I was mostly nervous though since the cake only had four ingredients to it.  Errr.... can that be right?  Although the taste was great- I still think I'll go for a different recipe next year, if I do one.  I'm sure there is better out there.  And I would also definitely put less cream filling.  Too rich, too rich.  Anyway, I don't think these pictures show it the greatest, so I'm sad we were the only ones to witness the log.  But nevertheless, here it is.  

Best Christmas ever!!!  How do they keep getting better, I wonder!?