Friday Favorites: Christmas 2022

 We had a wonderful Christmas and best of all everyone stayed healthy through (most!) of our parties and celebrations too.  

Our Christmas celebrations started Sunday December 18th with my father in law.  We had brunch and then my stepmother in law had all the kids grab a grab bag (each bag had a mug filled with candy inside and there was a prize for those that could figure out what the initials on the mug meant).  She always does something fun like this to start the party-- last year it was a saran ball with money and gift cards, the year before they had a scavenger hunt to find their own grab bag.  

it stood for "from Grammy with love" 

Then it was time for the "real" gifts.  The kids all rolled dice to see who got to open gifts first and then opened their gifts in turn one at a time so everyone could see and oooh and aah.  They each go grab their own gift-- my mother in law started using our photos as gifts tags when the kids were all really little and it's such a fun and cute tradition and makes it very easy to spot which gifts are which under the tree. Then each of us adults get a couples' gift.

Ian's gift was behind the tree since he's over so often-- we were all laughing that he's taller than the tree!

We ended the party with a few photos; 2 of the grandkids were missing.  Both Alec and one of his cousins were home sick. BUT it was wonderful to have a family photo after 2 years of not having the family together.

Christmas eve we went to my mother's house.  Thankfully everyone was healthy by then and the weather was clear.  We enjoyed our pizza and snacks and visited for a while before getting down to opening presents.  My mother and step-father work together to hand out gifts; usually one at a time so we all see what each person is getting.  My sister in law makes these incredible money gift displays for the boys and changes it up each year.  My youngest sister calls from North Carolina and we facetime with her while opening gifts; passing the phone all around.  It's a bit crazy and busy but lots of fun.

I wore my favorite new sweater from Express; it has a pretty rhinestone and pearl bow in the back

Poor Ian was exhausted after working outside in the freezing cold all day

A tissue box of ones; filled with a "roll" of ones

A money pizza

A money bouquet

Once we were done with gifts we played a few saran wrap ball games; we make 2 each year- one for the kids and one for the adults.  This year I won!!

Christmas with teens can be a bit weird since they like to sleep in and I'm up nice and early.  My husband and I enjoyed a quiet morning in front of the tree with the fire going re-watching the Guardians of the Galaxy Christmas special.

Once the boys were finally awake we opened gifts and I asked my husband to play Santa this year. 

My husband surprised me by buying me a bracelet; first time I've ever gotten jewelry as a gift from him! It's so pretty too and matches my heart shaped wedding/ engagement set.

Alec made some really delicious strawberry jam filled croissants with white chocolate drizzle that were a huge hit at our Christmas Brunch.  We had SO much yummy food!

Bakery muffins, fruit salad, Alec's croissants, my sister in law made apple French toast, we had scrambled eggs and bacon too

My mother in law brought her gifts over and we opened those; she made boxes for everyone filled with both big and small gifts (sort of like presents and stockings combined). And we opened them in front of the fire.  

After a quick nap in front of the TV we headed over to my mother in law's around 4:30 for dinner-- she made a huge spread with ham, turkey tenderloin, corn, carrots, broccoli, scalloped potatoes, mashed potatoes, etc.... it was SO MUCH food and it was all delicious!  We had a variety of desserts too and ended our night with a rousing game of Pitch (well, more like 4 or 5 games of Pitch).  But I left my camera at home so no photos from this party!  

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