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!?

We celebrated.

I think one of the only things we know to do to celebrate news such as this is to eat.  So eat we did!  But of course, with so many new adventures coming up next year (big move, 'nother baby) we decided to go cheap and get wings at B-dubs on Tuesday, when the wings are on special.  I wouldn't have blogged about it but when I thought about it, my memories of celebrating the first two kids pregnancies is super fuzzy.  So it'll be nice to remember what we did.
It snowed that morning and it was beautiful... the pictures don't hardly do it justice. I wish it would stick one of these times...

I kept a secret from my husband...

A secret I didn't think I could!  I found out Monday the 19th and up until mid-morning on Christmas I was dying to share something with him.  I really wanted to wait until Christmas though, and I really wanted it to be an absolute surprise.  But I'm horrible at surprising my husband...and news like this is too exciting not to shout from the rooftops.  Plus, he's too smart for my own good so I wasn't sure I'd make it the whole week without spilling the beans.
But I had it planned out...

I made a special gift and inside was this:

These paper things have been a little part of our marriage since the beginning... I've made these here and there; usually with cute love notes inside.  Sometimes reverting to junior high is a fun way to express your love the best... or to tell someone something.

They played it once, guessing "Hyrum" then a number then another number... "Go again!"

So then they guessed "Tony" and a number then another number (Brody guessed five) and Tony read: "We're a family of five....

He thought for a split moment..
"YOU'RE PREGNANT?!!!  REALLY?!!"
We both laughed and hugged and kissed and it was perfect.  He said, "best present today!"  He asked how I didn't tell him sooner; he found out right away with the boys (I've been asking myself the same!).   He also asked why I took pictures instead of videoed it.  I meant to!  Arg!  Oh well...I'm so happy!  I still can't believe I was able to keep that to myself for a week- and that Tony was completely surprised.  But most of all, I can't believe how lucky I am that number three is on the way!

Merry Christmas from us to you.

Early this month we took some quick pictures for our family Christmas cards.  I just set up the tripod and used my remote, like always.  I only sent Christmas cards to family this year.  I usually do it that way since there is SO much family to get them off to.  You understand, right?  Here's what I sent out- Merry Christmas to you, too!

I thought I'd share some outtakes...

Around the house at Christmas time

It's been fun to slowly add to my Christmas decor little by little over the last 6 Christmas seasons that Tony and I have been married.  Here is a little of what I've done around the house with it all.  I love this time of year.  It's going to feel so bare when I take all this down in a couple weeks.  COUPLE WEEKS!?  Seems cruel.

The pillow & carousel are from my first Christmas & the three below those are from Tony's first few Christmases.  These are special!  I made handprint ornaments for the boys this year, too.  Those were done just like my Santa Tags.

Remember when I made this garland?  I made the holly garland to go with it too.  I love the way they look hung together.

My mom used to display our Christmas cards this way, so I've continued it.  I really like the clothes pin wreath idea that I've seen around to display them but for as large as cards are, this is the only way I'll be doing it for now.

There are more little things around the house but this post is long enough!  I just love all the little things my mom passed down to me or that I had as a kid.  And Tony's parents sent us some of his ornaments from his first few Christmases so that was wonderful!  For a while most everything was either mine or the kids.  I've really enjoyed making new things for the holidays this year, too.