Christmas Three Ways - Part 1

Our Christmas celebrations started on the Sunday before Christmas with a get together over at my Mom's house.  My sisters, Stephanie & Leslie, Leslie's husband, Zach and my Mom, Carol were there.  Gordon had to work...again...the company had an install that weekend & things are too tight for us for him to miss any work.

For lunch we had baked ham with all of the fixin's.  I brought homemade cranberry orange relish and whole cranberry sauce for my dish(es).  Dinner was delicious.  As a standard rule ever since we were growing up, the table must be cleared and the dishes have to be washed & dried before we can start opening presents.  Not that big of a deal nowadays that we are older, but when we were kids, it always seemed like it took forever to get those dishes done!!  And how rude of the adults to just sit there & watch us work & not even lift a finger to help....Geesh.  Those days are long gone & now my Mom has an actual dishwasher, so things go much more quickly!!!

Mom's tree

 GT couldn't wait to start opening presents, and once he did...he had a BLAST!!  My sisters (mostly) and my mom spoiled both of my kids with their very first taste of Christmas for the year.

This was his reaction almost every present...he sure knows
how to make a gift giver feel good!!

Pretty girls

The real surprise of the day came when my little sister, Leslie, opened a teddy bear that my older sister, Stephanie, had restuffed for her.  When Leslie was in college (it had to be at least 7 or so years ago now) her dog, Koda, tore all of the stuffing out of Leslie's favorite childhood teddy bear while she was at class/work one day...Leslie was devastated.  She was going to school in Rolla, MO at the time and the only thing she could do was call us (me, Mom & Steph) and cry...and cry...and cry...  We told her to gather the pieces and we would get him back together.  The "pieces of Teddy" were in my basement next to my sewing stuff for a long time after that.  It was a very intimidating project, to say the least, and while I knew that he could be put back together, I wasn't so confident that I would be the one to do it.  Cut to this year and to make an even longer story short....my Uncle George is dating this woman who...was able to fix the teddy bear!!  So for Christmas this year, Leslie unwrapped her bear.  For the second time in her life...on a Christmas...

She was THRILLED!!!

I'll have to get a picture of the teddy bear close up.  Stacie, the woman who fixed it, did an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G job.  I mean...when my grandma saw the bear for the first time after it was fixed, SHE almost cried!!!

So, needless to say, Christmas with my Mom & sisters was a success.  We've had a very eventful year between the four of us; a birth, a marriage, a divorce & a marathon...hopefully 2012 will be a little slower paced for all of us.

While we are not able to always buy gifts for the people that we love, we do try to give special gifts that are handmade or that we have put special thought into.  This year, I was struggling with what I was going to give my mom & sisters.  Until I came across this.  So, originally I was going to make one for my mom, but then I decided that my sisters would probably also like one.  Here they are with their presents.

I am very happy with the finished products and I think they were very pleased, too.  I let them each pick which wreath they wanted.  Pretty sure they are all already being proudly displayed at each of their houses, too!!  Success!

Our second round of celebration came on Christmas Eve when we met Gordon's mom, Wanda & her husband, Dr. Lowther (OK - I feel really weird here for explaining who they are to you like this...I call them - Wanda & Jer.  aka - Mimi & Papa) for dinner at Andria's Steakhouse in Chesterfield, MO.  Gordon's sister, Regina, her boyfriend, Chris & our neice and nephew, Morgan & Mason were also there.

(Ok...so...if I'm ever going to get of this posted...I'm going to have to do it in parts...You just read Part 1 - Parts 2 & 3 are a work in progress.  : )  I'll leave you with a few snapshots so you will definitely want to come back for more!!  LOL

Christmas Three Ways - Parts 2 & 3 to come...Stay tuned!!

Very Christmas From The White House

You heard me right...As GT says, "Very Christmas"

"And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord'" Luke 2:10-11

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a New Year of health, happiness and prosperity.

Love ~ Gordon, Melissa, GT & Vadyn

Fa La La La La, Man!!

I'm beyond tired today...Gordon & I were up playing "Santa's elves" all night last night and decorating the Christmas tree.  Yes, you heard right.  It's finally decorated.  I think it turned out great, if I do say so myself...what do you think?  And how awesome is my husband for helping me?!?....VERY!!

This is the same tree that Gordon had in his house growing up.
It's at least 30 years old.

This blog post is going to be kind of all over the place.  (I am going on total lack of sleep - we're talking like 3 hours, MAYBE) 

For instance.  This story & video.  Read it.  You will thank me.  It gives you a warm fuzzy feeling just in time for Christmas.

...and this guy is freaking CrAzY!!!!!  I mean...hasn't he ever heard the story of the woman who got her faced ripped off???

I couldn't help but share this story, it's another good one that should bring a smile to your face.

I've been having a lot of fun over the last week doing Christmas-y kind of stuff.  Last Saturday was spent at home with the kids baking cookies, making rice krispie treats and putting the finishing touches on our handmade gifts.  Christmas is my favorite time of year to bring out my inner crafter.  I mean - hello.  I don't think there is a better holiday to break out the glue gun & glitter.

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Speaking of having fun...I just wanted to mention how great it is being a Momma at Christmas time.  I don't think I ever remember loving Christmas this much as a child.  Seeing Christmas, mostly just through GT's eyes, has brought me a new appreciation for the holiday.  I can just imagine what it will be like when Vadyn is old enough to really enjoy it.

Sunday, the kids and I celebrated Christmas with my Mom and sisters. (Gordon was working again)  I want to share pictures and a recap of the fun from the day, but I'm planning on doing a "Christmas Three Ways" post next week, so I'll share them then.  Until then...here is a sneak peek. Just because I couldn't resist.  : )

 



Baby's First Christmas





We are looking forward to celebrating Christmas this weekend with Gordon's family - well, the part that lives here.  His mom & sister Regina's family.  Then on Sunday we have plans to spend the day at home!!!!!  We've got a TON of wrapping and crafting to do before now and then, so I've got to scoot...but MERRY MERRY!!!  I hope you all have a VERY AWESOME CHRISTMAS!!