The most relaxing Christmas ever!

Christmas was wonderful.

Sean and I attempted to go to Christmas Eve mass, although we didn't get to the church early enough and by the time we arrived the church was full. "There is no room at the inn." We felt like Mary and Joseph. I've never heard of being turned away at church, but there is always a first for everything.

We went back to our house, watched some TV and enjoyed a delicious meal of cheese and crackers, my favorite! Right before bed I read Polar Express to Sean. It's my family's tradition to read this book every Christmas Eve. My mom has read the book to my sister's and I up until the last year we all went home, 2005. Since than, I read it allowed to Sean. I always get a slight eye-roll, but than Sean get's into the spirit and I know he secretly enjoys it.

Christmas morning we woke up early so we could attempt Christmas mass. We opted for the 8 am mass, because we knew there would be less people than at the 10:30 or 11 am mass. We also went to a different church and we had no problems at all getting in.

As soon as we got home we put the Orange Sweet Rolls into the oven. Another family tradition. The best part about Christmas being just Sean and I, we each get to eat four! I've been so good with my eating these last few weeks, so I didn't feel guilty at all over indulging in all of the holiday treats.



We than took a few pictures in front of our FREE Christmas tree and changed into some comfy clothes.

Sean poses with our reindeer (homemade by dad last year)

Got to love the self-timer!

Check out all of those presents!

Once the sweet rolls were out of the oven Sean made Mimosas and we cheered to our first Christmas as husband and wife. We are very fortunate to have good friends and family and we were spoiled tremendously. We opened gifts, and talked to all of our family and a few friends before relaxing on the couch.


We received two new Wii gifts, Wii Resorts and Wii Super Mario Bros. So of course we HAD to try both out. After playing for a bit, Sean dozed off on the couch, and I watched a little TV.

Stocking Stuffers!

Some of the many gifts we received

We were planning on going to see a movie, but we ended up staying in and watching a movie on TV.

I ended up making a small chicken roaster for dinner which made the house smell delicious.


After dinner we continued lounging around the house and than we called it a night around 10. It was such a relaxing day, and I love that we didn't have any obligations.

This morning we woke up, ran a few errands, cleaned up the house, took down our tree and finished packing for MEXICO! Our flight leaves in about 8 hours, I guess I probably should get a little sleep. I can't believe that it's here. Mexico recap to come in 2010!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and have a safe and Happy New Year!

Holiday Madness

I can't believe that it has almost been a month since I last blogged. I blame it on the holidays and the craziness of December. In general Sean and I keep our schedule fairly booked, but this month has been even busier.

I'm going to try and do a brief recap with a ton of photos, which if you're my facebook friend than you've probably already seen most of these photos.


Saturday, November 28th JoJo's Birthday at GreenLeafe

Brian and Sean

Jagerbombs in a smiley face!

Sean and I

JoJo sporting her new winter gear

More Jagerbombs

Saturday, December 5th, Schoenfeld Holiday Extravaganza

Audrey and Jonathan held a holiday party the first Saturday in December. It's always a fun time to get together with good friends and eat good food!

Part of the group: Ryan, Jonathan, Audrey, Ali, Janelle and Dan

The girls: Me, Audrey, Janelle and Jami

Beautiful ladies

Beer pong

Audrey and Jami

Happiness

Ali

Concentration

Prom pose in front of the Christmas Tree

My favorite, pick-up pose

Show us those muscles Janelle

Saturday, December 12th Sentara Sleighbell 5K

Our last 5K of the season and although it was chilly it was sunny and the race had an incredible turnout. With 451 finishers in the 5K and 94 in the 1 mile fun run the race was a success.

I hadn't been doing a lot of speed work, or running in general. My body has been tired and I've been giving it a much needed a break. I was excited to try this new race and even put the bell they had given us on my shoe so I would "jingle."

I ended up placing 2nd in my age group with a time of 22:31, 3rd place was 22:32. I didn't even realize I had someone so close behind me. Luckily I didn't let her pass me.

We had quite a few of our friends racing as well and everyone had a lot of fun.

Audrey and I after the race

Sean raced with his crazy Giants hat

Jami and Ryan won one of the raffle prizes. A DVD player! I was so jealous.

Our friend Janice organized and directed the entire race
her daughter Whitney helped out as well

Saturday, December 12th EWR Holiday Party

After the 5K we drove home showered and drove up to Annapolis for Sean's company holiday party. For the last 5 years they have held it at Lewnes Steakhouse in Annapolis. We always get to get dressed up, which I love to do.

Sean and I

What's a party unless someone gets picked up. I'm picking up Sean's partner's wife

This guy wanted me to try to pick him up, I decided not to try in heels

Sean wanted to switch rings later in the evening

Steve gets a little friendly with Jeff later in the evening

Friday, December 18th Wii Holiday Cheer at JoJo's

Friday evening our friend JoJo invited us over to her place for a little Wii action. We didn't want to miss out on the fun so of course we went. We even brought over our Mario Kart game and controllers so we could play 4 player!

On my drive home from work, before the party, it started snowing. They were predicting 1-3 inches of snow, although we didn't think we would get anything. It was nice to see some flurries and even snow accumulating on the ground. It definitely makes it feel a lot like Christmas.

We didn't realize it was going to be a snuggie party. Apparently I need a snuggie so I'm not left out next time.

JoJo Wiis with her snuggie on

Fly, Sean, Fly!

Fly, Sonny, Fly!

Fly, Emily, Fly!

Sean was jealous of all the snuggie action going on, so he borrowed JoJo's

Checking out the snow progress, the most snow I've ever seen in Williamsburg

Us girls, JoJo, Emily and I

Emily showing off her pink snuggie

Brian and Sean stole the snuggies for awhile. Sean styling in the PINK snuggie.

Concentration! Mario Kart Time!

Tried to get a nice photo of Sean and I. Snowflake blocked half of Sean's face.

Snowball fight...

Saturday, December 19th Buffalo Wild Wings, Kona Ironman World Championship

Saturday afternoon a group of us headed to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the Kona Ironman World Championship recap. One of our local friends participated and we hoped to catch a glimpse of him. We soon found out that without sound and too many people chatting, it was much harder to pay attention and watch. We hope to find it online so we can actually watch it.

The group of us

Emily and JoJo smiling as always

Saturday, December 19th A Very Merry Christmas Party

After BWW we drove home, in the snow, since it had started to snow again and got all dressed up for Janelle and Katherine's Christmas Party. Lots of food and good friends, what more could you ask for.

Janelle and I

Us girls, Ali, Audrey, me and Jami

So much fun getting dressed up

Seriously, when Janelle pulled the snuggie out it was classic. Definitely a weekend of snuggies

My husband and I...I LOVE HIM!

Maggie and Molly were so good. They know they aren't allowed in the dining room and they stayed right at the edge of the room.

Posing by the Christmas tree...Audrey's still taller than Janelle and I, even with her shoes off

That's hot!

Smiles!

More Christmas tree photos

Prom Pictures with each other since they couldn't find their boys. They were too busy playing beer pong in the garage.

Love it! Janelle knows how to do the perfect Prom photo.

Sunday, December 20th Christmas is in the Air

Sunday was a nice relaxing day. I slept in, did a little laundry and enjoyed a nice breakfast of eggs and bacon made by my amazing husband.

I ventured out of the house shortly to visit Audrey to borrow some beach dresses/cover-ups for Mexico. Less than a week before we'll be laying on the beach!

On the way home I had to take a photo of our house with the snow. I think it looks so pretty with the ground all white, and definitely makes me excited for Christmas.

Yay snow!

Yesterday on the way home from Buffalo Wild Wings I had Sean pull into the church parking lot near our house. Last year you might remember that we got a free tree at this same church. My trick is to wait until almost all the trees are gone, and they just leave a pile for free. It's not worth it for the staff to work and sell the trees any longer so they just leave them there.

At first glance it didn't look like there were any trees left. But then I saw one, and I was so excited. Sean told me he didn't think it would fit in my car. I have a small Suburu Impreza. I told him, don't worry it'll fit, and it did. We did have to open the back window, but that wasn't a big deal.

So this afternoon I shook the tree, since it had a ton of dead needles and tried to towel off as much snow as I could. I put it in our tree stand in our front foyer surrounded by towels so it could catch the additional needles and also the snow that would melt on the tree.

By the time this evening came around, the tree was ready to be decorated. I moved it into our living room and told Sean it was time.

Sean was comfortable on the couch and he definitely wasn't interested in decorating a tree. After calling him a scrooge and explaining to him that it's no fun decorating a tree by yourself, he got up and help me trim the tree.

We even put a Fa-La-La-Lifetime movie on while decorating. The things Sean does for me.

After the decorating was complete, the angel goes on top. It always has to be last!

Thanks for helping me decorate Sean! I love it!

Ta-Da!

Stacy called me seconds after the photo above was taken and instructed me that I had to open up one of her gifts.

Stacy got Sean and I an ornament for our 1st Christmas married. It's so cute with little reindeer and has our names on the front, and year on the back. Thanks Stacers!

As you can tell we've been crazy busy, and it's not slowing down yet. Tomorrow I have my company Christmas party, during work, so that'll be a nice break in the day and than Christmas will be here in less than 5 days! I really can't believe it.

Sean and I than leave for Mexico for Jami and Ryan's wedding in less than a week. I am SO ready to be laying on the beach enjoying the sun. More to come on that trip, hopefully I'll get one more blog in before the trip.