best Christmas ever:)

This year was by far the best Christmas either of us has had. Our first married Christmas was so special and full of so many blessings. I hope each one of you had just as wonderful as Christmas as we did.
Aunt Annie's Christmas Eve brunch was scrumptious as usual. We got to visit with Annie's side of the family, and they are always so fun. The meal ended with all of the boys creating different dares involving orange crush, milk and jalapeno peppers. The peppers were dared to go into orifices I wont even tell you about. But of course my husband fit right in:) Aunt Ellen's was of course so much fun. Aunt Ellen played 'Oprah' and handed out blue ray players to EVERYONE. it was so funny. Philip is working on getting ours hooked up right now. Aunt Ellen always spoils us (and yes her tree was still up yesterday!). It was so good to get to spend time with all of the Budde family that we don't get to see very often. Lindsey and Jeff are growing up so fast! Unfortunately Neil and Dale had to leave early that morning but we got to have Christmas with them the night before (Grandma B made a fancy Christmas dinner for all us)

Stockings from Grandma Santa Budde

Jeff's toy ( you see who really played with it!)

Christmas with Joy was so so much fun. She made delicious appetizers (that I need to get the recipe for) and had a cozy fire going. We ate up and then sat around the tree and fire while Philip played elf passing out gifts. Poor Joy has always had to buy for boys all her life, and now she gets to have some real fun and get girl stuff! My favorite is a up-scale snuggie that zips and buttons. I have worn it non stop. just ask Philip's brother Brian.
Philip and I had our own Christmas that night. and I was so excited I could hardly stand it. I got him scuba diving lessons and have been having to keep it a secret for months. but not just keeping the secret, but working with his chief to get his schedule worked around the lessons. it has stressed me out! but he loves it and we are going to go get him fitted for fins and a mask as soon as we can :) He got me all kinds of awesome rock climbing gear! I can not wait for it to get warm so I can try it all out. I am so prepared for our next hiking trip:)

our stockings

We got up a littler earlier than normal on Christmas Day and headed to gtown. Jackson got to come (because Dad said he could). Mom had some yum yummy breakfast foods. The 6 of us opened our stockings all together while we ate breakfast and woke up. Matt had two perfect presents for Dad in his stocking: a titanium spork and gadgets that hooked onto the end of sticks for when we have weenie roasts. If you have ever been to a Wilhoite weenie roast you KNOW how awesome these are. We had another secret that was eating away at me too. The 4 of us, for Christmas and retirement, got Mom and Dad a cruise! I made a little scrapbooked booklet and wrapped it up. We saved it for the very end and then Mom and Dad opened it. They were so surprised! Mom cried and couldnt even see the pictures of what countries they were going to!It was so fun and noone deserves it more than my parents. They have both worked so hard and given so much.

taken on Matts iphone, sorry I was too excited to use a camera!

I told you that celebrating with Dana and Brian would include toys! Dana's girlfriend Kelly even got in on it! she got us and Brian a fun game each! And Dana got the boys remote control cars that they played with all around the house. Then we hung out and played Brian's x-box kinect for hours. Boys and their toys:)
Wilhoite Christmas was different this year too. Usually the cousins trade names. But this year, JC had the idea to use that money and all of us chip and get Auntie Jo a present. She does so much for Grandma and each one of us. We wanted to give her something to show her how much it means to us. Well, after much thought, we decided to get her an iPad (great idea Dad!). So the 'adults' decided to go with our idea and chip in their money too. So instead of any of us trading names, we went with a 'white elephant' christmas this year. And Auntie Jo had no idea that one of the presents under the tree was her iPad! so we rigged it so that she got the second to last number. If she stole from someone, Matt would be last and steal from her, hoping she would open one of the last presents under the tree. Well it worked out perfect! she didnt steal, but went right for the present that was her iPad! she opened it and was so shocked! I got the perfect picture:)

we got it engraved with ' Auntie Jo, for everything that you do'

Unfortunately JC got called into work and missed it. Hence probably why it actually went smoothly:) But he was sorely missed and it was not the same without him. tiffany, Kevin, Johnny, Amy, Curt and Rita, you were all missed as well. but they were all there in spirit. here are some more pictures from the white elephant exchange

OH I almost forgot. I got Anna Jo a tshirt made. It's a long story Ill have to tell at another time, but it involved a road trip to HHI, a McDonalds fish sandwich, and lots of profanity.

Like I said it was the best Christmas Philip or I have had so far. Last night when we got into bed, we were both so content and happy. We are so glad we got to spend time with each of our family members. And that it was filled with so much love. We are so blessed and couldn't have asked for a better Christmas. Thank you to each one of you that made it so special.

playing with the functions on our new indestructible camera:)