First Married Christmas!

We're finally home and have everything in order from our first Christmas as a married couple. It was really nice, and so busy! So much to do, so little time!! Matt and I are weak so we exchanged one gift at home and did our stockings before we headed out of town. Last year he got me a zoom lens for my camera, and this year he got me an external flash. Woo!! So I used my lens (on Friday) that I rarely get to use and took some pictures of the buffalo at the Wichita Mountains Wild Life Refuge on our way to see Grady, Erin, and new baby Ralph. 

Erin and Grady are committed to producing foods that are Sustainable to the earth and the human diet. They had a whole operation going and it's fascinating to listen to them talk about it. They both interned at Polyface Farms in Virginia (Have you seen Food Inc? The farm is featured in the documentary). This farm is where Grady and Erin met. Due to the drought and a huge fire on their farm, Grady and Erin are going to go back to Polyface for a while and pursue the work that they're passionate about. I sincerely hope that we go visit them, it sounds like an excellent opportunity!

Erin and 7 week old Ralph. It should be noted that I think Erin may be the nicest person I have ever met. Oh, you thought it was you?? Ah well, this is awkward. I'm sure you come in a close second, but seriously, this chick just beams with kindness. I wish I were more like her.

 Ralph and I are cuddling. He smells like a baby. His little chubby cheeks make my heart melt. It's so sweet.

Saturday was Christmas Eve. I'm going to let you in on a little family tradition of my family's. It's a game, that I guess is called "Christmas Eve Gift." We've played it my entire life. This is how Christmas Eve Gift goes. On Christmas Eve, if I see you first, I say "CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT!" and I then "got you" first, so you have to give me a gift on Christmas Eve. You can't get someone after they get you. You're gotten. Time to pony up a gift. And it can't be the gift that you were already going to give them for Christmas. Usually, this is a small gift. Like.. a scratch off lottery ticket. A bottle of body spray. Socks. See what I mean? Like a $1-$10 thing. It's fun. You and your family should try it. We don't own the rights to Christmas Eve Gift. It's all yours.

Well Matt decided to up the Ante this year on the Christmas Eve Gift. It was hilarious that I beat him though. I laid in bed waiting for him to get up and go to the bathroom or something. Eventually I look over and he's checking his email on his blackberry, so I lean over and whisper in his ear, "CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT!!!". He was so mad. For like half an hour. He was mad because he had been pretending to sleep for about half an hour waiting on ME to get up. So he got mad at me for doing to him what he was trying to do to me. I got a Keurig. Woo!

 And just in case you were wondering, yes those are my footie pajamas from our Christmas card this year. So what? They're so comfy!

 I got Matt a board game (it's fun!) even though he didn't win just so we could play. He got his mom so she got him socks. I'm getting the in-laws involved! Except Roger. He just ignored me when I tried to get him.

Lisa some how schemed Roger into letting her have her gift early (a lime green Kitchen Aid mixer). She's doing her "Shanna Smile". She thinks she's clever! Let me tell you a little secret about being in a picture. If you want it to come out well, you gotta smile like you mean it. Seriously. You can go ahead and do that half smile thing without showing your top teeth if you want, but don't come running to me saying you never look good in pictures. Don't shoot the messenger, I just calls em like I sees em.

So my in-laws did Christmas on Christmas Eve because we had to go to my parent's house on Christmas day.

Here's Ian admiring Auntie Shanna's handy work on his gift. Oh my Auntie Shanna, look at this bow work. Is my gift talking to me? We gotta get this thing open!

 Ian is the most serious child I know. He's so sweet though. (Ian is our nephew).

OH! And I forgot to mention my awesome Christmas sweater. I saved this from Lisa's garage sale a couple of years ago.

 Check out the detail! My mom bought me the "Santa Baby" pin.

 And here's the icing on the cake. Little hair clips. Who's got Christmas spirit? This girl.


We went to my parent's house for Christmas day. I had a picture of them and it somehow disappeared and  Blogger gives me picture issues sometimes so I can't get it back. Anyway, my aunt and my cousins came over for dinner. We haven't spent Christmas day with them in a really long time, and it was such a blessing to have us all together in one place. Ahhh- the holidays. Don't they just warm your heart?

 This is my cousin Khi. My parents got him this crazy stuffed dog that's about 8X bigger than him. He LOVED it. Loved it.

And finally here's Joe and I. He's planning to go to OSU next year, so we have to get him accustomed to our rituals. Go Pokes!

Hope your holidays were wonderful. Can't believe tomorrow is the last day of 2011. It's safe to say it was the best year of my life. For that I am very grateful and can't wait to see what 2012 holds!

Posted in: being married