Christmas 2014

Christmas was fantastic this year. It was our second year with our little family traditions and everything was so special. 

We spent Christmas eve with Kyle's family, and they were kind enough to let us host! It was great to have them up for Christmas eve dinner and gifts. We started out the evening exchanging gifts with our secret santas. We now do this with both families which is great. You are able to save a bit of money while still getting something meaningful. For dinner I made a slow roasted pork roast with this dry rub, brown sugar and green beans, and smashed potatoes.  Everything turned out really well. The dry rub recipe was more than enough for a single dinner so I will be making this one again. 

After dinner, we took a walk around the city to see the Christmas lights. There is a street a block from our house that goes bananas with the lights. It was a very festive way to end a wonderful night.

Once everyone had headed home, Kyle and I opened our 'Christmas Eve PJs'. A silly tradition probably better suited for people with children, but whatever. We like it. This year we got onesies.

Pierce does not enjoy picture time

Christmas morning we had a Sunday Brunch Casserole, mimosas and coffee while opening our stockings and gifts to one another. Kyle, er Santa was very good to me this year. 

Around lunchtime we headed down to my parents house for Christmas dinner and gifts. Zoe was itching to open her stocking and all of the gifts, but she used all of her 7 year old patience and waited for us. First we opened gifts and stockings. We all watch Zoe open all of hers and then take turns for the rest of us. 

Leveraging our new phone camera remote!

Before dinner we headed over to Longwood Gardens to see their light display. It is always stunning and I highly recommend it if you've never been.

Christmas Dinner was fantastic. My dad is an amazing chef and he always cooks up something fabulous. Everyone decided that a slumber party was in order and we settle in the living room for a family viewing of my dad's favorite movie: Love Actually!

For Zoe this year we gave her tickets to see Frozen on Ice. She LOVED it and we had so much fun taking her.

We didn't have too much time to relax after the hectic Christmas holiday before we were preparing for the next. Up next: New Years Eve!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday!
xo
Alison

Merry Christmas - Christmas Card!

Design by Minted

Wishing you a wonderful holiday and a happy new year!

xo
Alison



And just because, our card from last year.

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Snow and An Almost Birthday

Finally home after a very busy weekend, and thought I'd do a quick post since we've got quite a busy week ahead and I may not get the opportunity. Two holiday parties, a movie premiere, housewarming party, a birthday redo and a sick husband! 

This weekend we had Kyle's sisters birthday on Saturday where we played laser tag (so fun) and had a nice dinner out and then my father's birthday on Sunday. Shortly after leaving the city on Sunday to head to my parents house we were caught in a crazy blizzard! In a matter of minutes the roads were treacherous and unfortunately we ended up getting in a bit of an accident. Everyone was OK, but unfortunately our car was not. We've spent most of Monday trying to get the car situation sorted out and figuring out how to get through the busy week without it. We've talked about getting rid of our car since living in the city we don't use it very often in favor of walking and public transit. Well, this experience has proved how difficult it is to get to and from the burbs without it - not fun.

Unfortunately, the weather and accident meant we had to put my dad's birthday celebration off until next Sunday. Hey, an extension of birthday season and more birthday cake isn't necessarily a bad thing!

I've already a shared a look into my Christmas obsession, but this weekend we discovered the source of my love for the holiday. My mom's decorating this year put ours to shame! She had a mini tree in every single bedroom and the whole house just felt so cozy and festive. With her permission, I wanted to share some pictures of her amazing decorations.

Starting to get pretty slick

Concentrating... right before the accident...

Seems like quite the obstacle

At least it's pretty

Using this opportunity to watch football and catch up on Christmas cards

This is the same design as the snowman we have at our apartment

I love that tree skirt!!

All of her glass ornaments are so unique and they all go together

All of her glass ornaments are so unique and they all go together

Even the moon gets festive =)

My mom makes all of our stockings and each one is different

Beautiful, right? Hopefully my dad's birthday celebration goes a bit more smoothly this week - accident free would be great!

xo

Alison

Our First Christmas

Hi everyone!

This is Kyle and my first Christmas as a married couple and we could not be more excited. We get super into Christmas, and would decorate right after Halloween if it was more socially acceptable. This year, we're making a point to start our family traditions. Just little things that we want to keep up as we grow our family. For instance:

• Christmas morning at our own house: We tend to spend Christmas between our two parents house, but this year we are going make a point to wake up on Christmas morning at our own house just the two of us. We'll have breakfast, open stockings and gifts and then get a move on to one of our families for Christmas dinner.
• One gift on Christmas Eve: My family always did this growing up and I loved this tradition. Typically the gift was new PJs and I may or may not be doing that this year ;-).
• Decorating the day after Thanksgiving: Check! We couldn't have waiting a day longer anyway.
• Christmas morning breakfast: Egg casserole, cinnamon roll monkey bread and cranberry Christmas mimosas.

To start off our traditions this year, I have ordered us new Christmas stockings from Garnet Hill. They should be arriving soon - I can't wait!

Link

We picked up our Christmas tree and garland the day after Thanksgiving and immediately got to decorating. We've have a ton of little Christmas decorations we've acquired over the year, but unfortunately my wall hanging advent calendar was ruined during a party last year. Still searching for the perfect advent calendar to replace it. So here is the almost finished product.

We went for a 10ft tree this year after learning our lesson with a 15ft monstrosity a few years back

A few of my favorite ornaments. Top left is a Hogwart's ornament that my Aunt Lorraine and Uncle Michael gave us at the rehearsal dinner.

Kyle's mini-tree (~2.5 feet)

I've had those stockings since I was in college! My roommates and I would decorate our apartment for Chirstmas each year and we got these stockings for probably a dollar at Walmart. Our 'tree' was an inflatable palm tree decorated with beer cans and bras. Ha! Keeping it classy. Fair to say it was time for a stocking upgrade. 

The garland from my tutorial

I'm sure you're not surprised Harry Potter is on the TV

Notice the Quidditch Pitch from the Bridal Shower?

I think it's a moose, Kyle thinks it's a reindeer.

A craft project from a few years back.

Our Christmas morning mugs

The bouquet Kyle sent to celebrate the beginning of our first married Christmas

I've already done a majority of my Christmas shopping, but we can't accept deliveries at our apartment so I have packages shipped to my parents. I can't wait to pick them up when we're over there this weekend to celebrate my dad's birthday. A tree always looks better with wrapped presents underneath, don't you think?

Merry Christmas!

xo
Alison