Christmas week was very busy for me, and if I hadn't stopped treatments (just for the holidays), I'd never been able to do half the things on my list. I prayed for God to help me accomplish everything on my list, and He most mercifully did! I did have a few days out of the week where I felt very sick, but thankfully, those were on the days that I didn't have as much to do. I wanted to feel good on the days where I got to go to Christmas parties. I've missed many Christmas parties over the years, but this year, I didn't miss any! Praise God! I count it a huge privialage and blessing to fellowship with others!
Every year, we celebrate Christmas Eve with my mother's side of the family. This year, we decided to have the party at our house. Me and my sister took on the fun task of cooking the appetizers and decorating everything. I think everyone underestimated what me and my sister pulled off in a timely fashion (5 min before everyone arrived)! ;)
I made this really fun wreath appetizer.
We put decorations in the most random places...
What's Christmas without a feast?
Candy cane brownies
I made sure and put something healthy on the table...minus the high fructose corn syrup chocolate dip of course;)
Peppermint cream cheese oreo truffles:)
Ham
My absolute favorite- Egg Nog! I'm dairy free, so I couldn't drink any, but next year I'm going to experiment with coconut milk, coconut cream, and cage free eggs...yum! I put the egg nog inside our Advent wreath for a unique decoration.
Wine makes glad the heart of men...
"Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful!"
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
The reason for the season...although, I'm still not convinced Dec 25th is Christ's actual birthday...one will never know...
Due to food intolerances and health consciousness, my plate looked a bit different than everyone else's. We have green beans wrapped in turkey bacon, homemade oatmeal meatballs, a fruit kabob without the choco sauce, and a raw/organic strawberry cream pie, yum!
Bon Appetit!
Sisters...<3
Glad Cody is part of the family now!
Classic Nick! Picking all of the veggies off...
Me and mom<3
Dad and daughter
Surprisingly, it only took two takes to get this pic right. I think it's a new record!
The very fast reading of the Christmas story;)
I bought this giant coffee cup and hand painted the Florida Gator symbol for Nick for two reason. 1) he has an irrational love of coffee. 2) he plans his weekends around Florida gator games:)
Bet he wasn't expecting this for Chrismas:)
My Aunt really wanted this handmade, life like (creepy looking), baby monkey for Christmas. Instead of buying one, my dad put together this pic for her as a joke.
It was hysterical!
Hello Kitty robe? Why I wanted one, especially because I'm far too old, is that I will always be like my dad, a kid at heart! I believe it to be a great way to live out one's life;)
Looking for his treat! Now, whenever he sees a gift bag, he automatically thinks it is a treat for him!
I decided to liven up our Christmas Even party this year by playing pass the present!
A merry heart is medicine to the soul.
Blakely ripped through that duck tape like there was no tomorrow! I think I'm going to have to wrap the presents even harder next year.
If you aren't familiar with the game, you wrap a small gift inside a box. Wrap the box many times with wrapping paper, duck tape, string, ect, making it very hard to get to the present. As the Christmas music plays, everyone passes the present around the room. When the music stops, whoever has the present in their hand has to TRY and unwrap the present. When the music starts back up, they must stop unwrapping and keep passing, and so on. Whoever gets to the present and holds it up in the air before the music starts playing, gets to keep the gift. We did two gifts, and one contained scratch off tickets, and the other contained a Target gift card. It's a really fun game!
I'm thankful for the holiday season to fellowship with family and friends. That is a gift in itself. Hope everyone had a very blessed Christmas!
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