New England for Christmas!

 picture of Old Boston

I can't even begin to express to you how excited I am to head East to see my family for Christmas! My mom's side of the family has so many wonderful traditions that I get so bummed out when I miss out on them. For example:

Christmas Morning

• brunch @ my Aunt Betsy's - more relaxed and intimate time (less people)

Christmas Night

• dinner @ Noni & Gramps - EVERYONE and their mother is there (family & friends)
• lots of good food, games, and conversation
• Santa Bunny (long story but absolutely one of my favorite traditions!)
• Nativity Play (when we were young) now it's my cousin's kids if they do it

My cousins and I are all like brothers and sisters so missing out on seeing them is not fun. Now that all of us are older and most of us married it is hard for everyone to be at the same place, same time. Although, Christmas @ Noni & Gramps always seems to be that time where we "make it happen". And if we can't see each other Christmas night, we make it a point to over the break. I love that. I love my family. I love that we love so hard and so long. 

This Christmas like all the others is such a gift! I don't need anything else but my family. Thank you God for such an amazing family and the love that we share.

So we head out tomorrow night to Kansas City. The weather is supposed to be really bad so we are getting a hotel and take a shuttle bus to the airport in the morning. I'm bummed that I don't get to see Janie (supposed to stay the night tomorrow) but also glad it worked out for us to go up early to be safe. 

Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

Enjoy your family and friends but most of all thank the Lord for sending his son in such a simple but miraculous way to give us true life and love.

Pizza Time!

Kevin and I love Pizza night! 

It's so quick and easy and we really enjoying being creative with our toppings! 

Tonight Kevin made his version of a Mediterranean:

Roasted Garlic & Parmesan Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella & Feta Cheese, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, fresh Tomatoes, Calamata Olives & Spinach

it looks like someone else is feeding Kevin! haha

I made a Chicken-Spinach-Tomato:

Traditional Sauce, Mozzarella & fresh Parmesan Cheese, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, fresh Tomatoes, Spinach, and Chicken

gotta have my Root Beer when I can! YUM!

Hope you had a wonderful dinner like we did! 

Now Kevin is off to bowling with his brothers and dad and I'm going to go sew. 

Many blessings!

A Classy Llama Christmas Party!

The Feast

 David & Alex Sportin' Christmas Cheer!

Last Friday Kevin's work, Classy Llama Studios, http://classyllama.com/, had their Christmas Party. The "Classy Llama Mama's" as we like to be called pretty much planned it all while our husbands made money by entering binary code and doing other nerdy but awesome things that we don't understand! 

There were about 30 people there and we all had a blast! We ate lots of good food and couldn't stop eating Sarah Well's desserts, http://staysweetbakery.com/! We played a game where you get a sticker put on your head that says something like, " reindeer poop" or "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and you are only allowed to ask "yes" or "no" questions in order to figure out what your sticker says. Some people got their right away but others it took them a LONG time. haha.

Sweet Shawna trying so hard to guess her sticker!

 Erik was struggling as well... but all was well in the end!

 

Cutie Abbott Kids! 

Overall we had a great time being with one another! It was a party filled with friends, laughter, joy, good food, and Christmas Cheer!

Crafty Christmas!

So this Christmas in order to save some money, and because we love to be crafty, we have made all our Christmas presents and cards and even some of our decorations! I have taken on the task of making our first stockings as a married couple! This year we decided just to fill each other's stockings this year as our gift to one another. Today I actually went out and bought lots of goodies for Kevin's stocking (10 things for $10!). It was really fun. Can't wait to see what Kevin puts in mine! I think stockings are the best! 

Here are also a picture of us on our 2 year Anniversary date. Kevin took me down to Branson, MO to "the Landing" (a cute shopping center) and we went out to dinner at this amazing Greek restaurant called "The Bleu Olive". It was such good food. He also presented me with a "new" diamond engagement ring because I ended up being allergic to my old one! It is SO beautiful. I meant to take pictures of that too but it is being resized right now. Then we went and walked around the outdoor shopping center and watched a cool fountain show (with lights and Christmas music to it).