Christmas 2011 (a long one!)

It has been a crazy but absolutely perfect couple of days. 

Our Christmas celebrations started out at Aunt Ellen's on Friday. We spent the whole day there, snacking, opening presents and having so much fun. Aunt Ellen spoils us all every year. This year she played 'My favorite things' and filled Santa Bags full with her favorite products (the best being a red cast iron skillet!). She got us all kinds of handy cleaning supplies, storage containers, and other very inventive (and useful) items. She is our Little Santa! We stayed there for a delicious dinner and then she kicked us out and told us she wanted to take down her tree:)

                                                                               

That night Philip and I celebrated our Christmas together. Neither of us had a clue what the other had gotten them and so were both so excited to give each other presents:) So he made a fire, we opened some champagne and started our celebration! Philip had the best stocking to date this year. He finally mastered the concept of a 'stocking stuffer' not 'small presents in a stocking'. i loved each and every one of them and the thought behind them. 

As I was opening the first present he gave to me, I realized that it was a regulator (for scuba diving). So I handed him a present from me- a regulator as well! except his is green, mine is pink. same brand and everything though. I opened my next gift: a back up regulator. So I gave him his next present- a back up regulator. Then he opened his BCD, and I got my BCD after that. He tricked me each time though, saying ' ok that was the last scuba gift'. Because he also got me a dive computer and a bag that fits all my gear. HOW FUNNY. we were laughing so hard. And apparently everyone else was too. The couple that owns the dive shop thought it was 'so cute' that we were both in there for each other and keeping it a surprise. My mom went in there to get Philip some stocking stuffers and they were telling her how funny we were coming in to pick things out for each other:) Our parents thought it was funny too, since they all knew too.

So now we are all set for our Bonaire trip in February! 

The next morning we went to Richmond to spend the morning with his dad, his fiance and Brian. We had such a good time relaxing, more eating:), and spending time with them. and of course they boys got to play games:)

We went to Southland's Christmas Eve Service with my parents, brother and his wife Rachel. It was so good and perfect to put us in the right frame of mind. Jon reminded us to be the church, to go out and love one person as you want to love everyone. 

After that we went to Joy's where we got more yummy food and spoiled rotten. We had such a lovely night with her. 

Christmas Day was spent in Georgetown. That morning we had Christmas with mom, dad, matt and rachel (and Jackson). That's tradition for me, so even if it means getting up at 630, we stuck to it:)

We had time to watch home videos, four wheel and cook food to take to the soup kitchen for dinner. So relaxing and enjoyable. 

My Mom has been volunteering at a soup kitchen in georgetown and volunteered us to make the food and serve it on Christmas Day, since we were free that afternoon. That place is so awesome and the people that came in to eat were even more awesome. 

From there we headed to Grandma Wilhoite's where we had dinner and presents there. We played Dirty Santa this year, where everyone got a gift card to a different store and then a little present / clue to go with the card. My brother came up with the idea to just open the clue and try to figure out what the gift card was. For example, Rachel wrapped up a ruler. the gift card was to Subway (Five Dollar Foot Long!). Joey put 20 little nails in a baggy (leading you to think Lowes or somewhere). Nope- to Sally Hansen Nail Salon! The game got a little hectic because the boys got remote control helicopters so as soon as they were charged we lost all their attention. but it was fun nonetheless:)

That night Philip and I did something we had been talking about doing since Jon challenged us at church a few weeks ago. He asked Southland to 'be the church' on Christmas Day. To serve the community in acts of kindness. And what better day than on Jesus' Birthday to show someone how much He loves them. 

So we stopped at the Waffle House we used to meet with Robert, the minister who married us, and hopefully helped make a young waitress' Christmas a little better. 

It was the perfect ending to a very wonderful Christmas. I hope each of you had a Very Merry Christmas as well. My PCD has not set in, because I have been reminded of how blessed we are. and how grateful I am to that little baby that was born in a manger.