First Christmas Morning...

M.A.R.R.I.E.D♥
&
by ourselves.

Technically, this wasn't Christmas morning.
This is actually Christmas Eve. Being we were staying the night with his parents
on Christmas night we decided to have our own time as newlyweds to open & enjoy the holiday. It was perfect. By far, the Best Christmas EVER! With my new camera {Nikon D1500 aka an early Christmas Present} I was able to
video the whole thing - which I didn't upload. However, with just my digital camera we were able to snap pictures as a keepsake in our family Christmas album that I've started this year.

Christmas Morning 2011

I couldn't sleep all night - awake as if I were a kid waiting on Santa Claus.
When 7:30am hit I turned the Keurig on, getting ready to serve my husband with coffee. I was so excited. No kidding.  Originally, I planned to make breakfast in bed... that didn't work so I  figured Mama's homemade cranberry bread with cream cheese would fill the belly.

It only took me 20 minutes to get Aaron out of bed - he couldn't understand why it was so important to get up so early.

 Ugh... It's Christmas Morning, Duh! Nobody wakes up late.

Soon enough we were in the living room ready to open. 

Being we watched National Lampoon Christmas Vacation the night before,

I turned on ELF on {his early Christmas Present- a 55'' TV} as we opened our gifts.

Apparently he was freezing & I wasn't...

Nothing like getting a pouch filled with gift cards! :)

One of my favorite gifts I got him - a new watch.

a charm bracelet♥

#truestory - I've been begging him for one for years.

When we were 16 years old, he bought me one for Valentine Day.

It had a heart charm with both our names engraved on it, that Christmas

he bought me a Cheerleader charm... I lost it soon after.

He has never let me live it down until be purchased this. :)

my favorite gift♥

It came with a charm & then he purchased three other charms.

A Christmas Tree for our First Christmas, a Camera {which he was really excited about}, & a cubed block with the letter D on all four sides for our last name.

It was perfect.

 He them told me "When I first picked out the bracelet, I then started picking out all the charms. I had like 8 and then she told me the price and I had to take a few away." I then explained to him that a Charm bracelet is collected throughout all the years - his response "Well in the commercial the whole bracelet is full. I didn't know."

I thought it was cute.

My camera bag - I was SUPER excited about.

Stocking Time
my favorite part

a new wallet {a Christmas Ritual}

I was proud of Aaron for all my stocking goodies.

However this was hilarious.

I never shared last week about me buying him {youth boxer briefs} & how

he tried putting them on.. hilarious - anyhow well now he can't make fun anymore after receiving children's Q-Tips. We laughed pretty hard about it then both tried

them. Which they were bad at all.

 After we were threw with presents we cleaned up & tucked away on the couch to finish
ELF then together we started preparing our covered dishes for our Christmas Day events.
Soon it was time to head to his Grandparents for their yearly Oyster Roast with Family & Friends.

More Christmas Re-Caps to come!

there is always one.

9:51am - text message

Wife: Christmas Eve Movie Choice: ELF, Home Alone,  The Polar Express,

or Chevy Chase Christmas Vacation? You pick.

{no response}

 12:17am - husband calls

Wife:So what movie are your picking.

Husband: Daddy wants to watch the Chevy Chase one.

{every year Aaron and his family watch the original Gringe. It's a tradition}

Wife: No, I mean for you and I on Christmas Eve? We're gonna

watch one.

Husband: {whiny} Whyyyyy we gotta watch one?

Wife: Because baby, we need to get in the Christmas Spirit?

Husband: Okay, well go to the redbox on you way home and get

a non Christmas movie & we will wear Santa hats.

Wife:Aaron.

Husband: I don't wanna watch a OLD Christmas movie?

Wife: Well, The Polar Express isn't old.

Husband: Yes it is. I saw it TV last night.

Wife: It's like a year old. We haven't seen it.

Whatcha wanna watch?

Husband: {draggy voice} whaaatever you want toooooo.

The Drew House

Our mantle -

which is SO not how I decorate our Christmastime mantle but I loved my

fireplace look this year. Frankie even made it in the picture!

I actually painted my mantle a different color JUST to match our new stockings.

New Ornaments

Our unity sand -

I didn't keep the entire unity sand therefore I made it into an

ornament so we could have it forever.

Last year - we stayed the night with my parents -

#plan a: Aaron was supposed to propose that morning in front of my parents.

my parents waited. waited. and waited.

mother was so sad.

#plan b: he proposed the next day by ourselves, which was the day i finally received

this ornament from my parents.

the man snowman is actually proposing to the lady snowman.

moving along.

This ornament we got on our honeymoon.

It's says 'Cayman Islands'.

I'm sad we didn't get on from Mexico {even though I did look}

but it still holds the memory.

My Daddy sent this to us this year.

Ever since I can remember he has always given us special ornaments.

This year he gave us a few.

&

he knows my love for frogs & always seems to get lucky enough to

find certain things during whatever time of year that is dealing with frogs.

He too, is a man-child. :) Gotta love em'.

They say a lady always marries her daddy.

Even though frogs make me cringe, I loved these ornaments.

next up...

a gift from one of the sweetest little girls I know.

my bestie Rachel & her daughter made these.

Not only are they snowmen  but it's her hand print.

How cute! I loved it.

I bought this one back when I went to Charleston over Thanksgiving.

There were so many to choose from but I decided on Reindeer because I want to try

to keep the reindeer's every year, even when our family expands.

Next...

it's more of a tradition.

this ornament has no meaning really.

but it's a tradition I'm following from my mom.

Anywhere we go {starting this year} I want to get an ornament.

My mothers Christmas tree tells a story & I love it.

It never gets old.

This ornament I received at our Engagement party from our friends

Jeremy & Brycelyn. When I first started planning, I was going to have peacock feather Incorporated in our scheme - Yes, I still did however they were all beige - not the really peacock feathers.

isn't it pretty?

Last but not least

Aaron Christmas tree.

I made it a tradition while we were dating to get him an ornament every year.

He has NINE. Golf, Hunting, Fishing, Bow-Hunting, Video controller, Etc.

Whatever he was really into that year - was what the ornament was.

.... and I put it in his tree along with lure rs & fish lights.

Sorry, you can't really see his ornaments but they are on there.

And now...  for the tree.

It's a HUGE deal for me to have a REAL tree.

Growing up I always had a real tree and there is nothing like the smell of

a fresh Christmas Tree.

Aaron surprised me this year by picking it out himself {i was a little bummed but also happy because we were late getting it} while I was at the Gingerbread house party.

He bought. Brought it home. Put it up & ever watered it...

waiting for me to come home. He did good.

.... and I'm just now noticing this is NOT my final tree picture.

Half of the garland is missing and all my over-sized ball ornaments are NOT on there.

But you get the picture, right?

hopefully.

Husband-8 / Wife-0

   so we all know my husband is a man-child, right?
no? play catch-up here - but don't get all sappy on me.
these days I live with two men.
yes. it's true.
my husband aka man child & frankie.

last christmas a little man dressed in a red suit appeared in my shopping cart.

he was a must have.
you're right, we don't have children - we weren't even married OR engaged.
don't judge my physco-ness.
I knew by the time we did have children this little adventure would be out of the loop and I would become very sad. We don't want that.

I love family traditions and believe in them very much.
When I brought this Elf of the Shelf home Aaron thought I was nuttso.
he shunned our elf away.
Yes... I even tried to read him the story. he wanted n.o.t.h.i.n.g to do with him.
Did I plan on playing the fun adventures with him? Not really.
But I wanted him out. So - he sat in our tree.

all season long.
he never moved.
the only time he was really even spoke of when when man-child hid my christmas present behind frankie.

Well. 2011 brought us a whole love of change.
We planned a wedding.
Got married.
Went on our first vacation {alone} together {our honeymoon}.
added new traditions
and my hubby finally found Frankie the newest best thing in our household.

Seriously. he is having SO.MUCH.FUN.
too much fun.
I married a man trapped in the body of a boy.
Oh but I love his humor & joy.

In the middle of the Giants VS Cowboys football game this past Monday night -
You found Aaron on the couch biting nails hoping his fantasy team would pull through
and ME  getting my house back in order doing everything but nothing.
Occasionally I'd join my hubby & then back up for more.

He was screaming for attention.
go ahead. call me a bad wife because i shrugged him off.
I couldn't sit for that game. {is fantasy football over yet?}

GET.BACK.ON.TRACK.JESSICA!
My A.D.D. gets the best of me.

moving along.
every time I would walk through our living room I'd hear....
"Where's he at? Where's he at?" in his creepy I just did something funny voice.
at first I had no clue what he was talking about until I looked around and saw this....

Frankie peeking at me.

I laughed and went about my way.

Later I sat on the couch and realized this was just the beginning...

"Where's he at? Where's he at?"

 

frankie looking down at me sitting on the couch.

moments later...

"Where's he at? Where's he at?"

I began to start looking for Frankie every time I walked in the room.

so here - enjoy his different hiding places...

I did.

{excuse the blur on this one?}

Is he gonna be a fun daddy or what?

this morning when I went to look for Frankie to pose him back in his hiding spots for pictures, I couldn't find him. I started to call Aaron but realized he left his phone at home.

finally, after 5 whole minutes of looking around...

i found him.

He was staring at me the whole time!

Life is so entertaining living with a man-child.

He keeps the smiles rolling.

Celebrity Christmas {Re-CAP!}

Celebrity Christmas Party

 2011

hosted by: US

Its become a tradition {for the past two years} we have a Christmas Party.

The first year is was Tacky Sweater & Christmas 2010 it was

Santa's Little Helpers aka Tacky Christmas.

Both were GREAT turn outs.

This year I thought it would be fun to change it up -

Remember this post where I explained giving everyone different options

Well Celebrity Christmas won.

At first I thought - YIKES! This is gonna be hard!

Then I thought - How can I make it NOT halloween.

Well... it was definitely a costume party .... at Christmas time.

Take a look.

When I think of celebrity - I think {Red Carpet}

So I set up an area in my back room where everyone could capture their

"Red Carpet Pose"

This is our friends Kristie {she blogs} & Michael - who were....

Duh - Paula Abdul & Simon Cowell off of X- Factor

& then Aaron and myself.

Who are we? Uhhh ...

Duh....

Lady Gaga & Lil Wayne.

 

Paula & Simon arrived before anyone else, therefore we were able to really

take advantage.

See my Santa hat?

hands down best part of my outfit.

Check out Lady Gagas Red Carpet pose ----

Oh yes. I'm amazing.

I'm gonna MARRY ... the night!

How about Lil Wayne?

Okay, Lil Wayne loved himself a LITTLE too much on this night.

He had poses coming out let and right.

his 'grill'

my favorite picture...

He was wearing Christmas Boxers!

Yay!

Yes. That Lil Wayne is the SAME.GUY.I'M.MARRIED.TO!

hilarious.

Why LiL Wayne?

because my Man-Child loves to make it rain.

no- HA! I'm kidding...

On a serious note, he loves Lil Waynes song

'Howdda Loooove' - and sings is every.single.day.

but only those two words.

For those who thought Miranda & Blake should have been our

celebrities... he said Blake is great, but lame as a costume.

I thought different too.

Enough of us.

Moving along...

Do THESE two characters look familiar?

the correct answer is my sister & brother in law.. yes

but on THIS night they were

Troy & Elizabeth

CHOOT'EM!

Com'on...

Swamp People folks!!!!

How about some....

Katy Perry {with her new hair}. Duh!

Rachel even drew on her tattoo... how fun!

We had TWO

Peggy & Al Bundys

Danielle & Nic

& then Brittany & Gary also...

Loved the Peggy & Al celebrities!

LAST YEARS WINNERS

were Candice & Daniel...

They didn't win this year, SHE was right on top!

Snookie & Larry the Cable Guy.

Daniel didn't have to do much to play his part -

Candice was awesome!

However, please understand she was a BEDTIME snookie.

The NEXT celebrity isn't so much the 'red carpet' girl & also not pregnant

with twin girls in real life like Shanna is....

Can you guess?

It's FLO-

Progressive Insurance!

Doesn't she look JUST.LIKE.HER?

Next up, our friend Nathan

he wasn't willing to sing 'Ain't Nothing but a Hound Dog'

for me - however I did get him to pose on the red carpet with

Lady Gaga!

Meet Elvis!

{horrible picture of GAGA}

Now - since we are in the Elvis days...

take your brain just a little further back..........

Who are these people?

You got it.

Audrey Hepburn &....

Charlie Chaplin.

Now...

when my friend Heather told me who they were gonna be

I about died because really... they do look like these two people

with or WITHOUT their wedding day look.

No she didn't have a big white poofy gown...

but she is still in white -

Nick Lacey & Vanessa

Before I introduce you to our last red carpet celebrity

AKA 2011 Winners -

go ahead and save your energy & words.

Aaron and I were NOT in the competition -

We are the hosts - we do NOT win our own goodies.

I say this because NOBODY agreed with me at the party.

They wanted Aaron to win.

This years winners were...

DUN DUN DUN

Katy Perry & Russell Brand

They won a $25 gift card to Chili's

& for those who didn't dress up {Jon aka Flo's husband}

they received....

Now that I've explained who we ALL were & other random details...

let's have some fun with entertainment; games!

Remember ... Okay, I don't expect you to but we played the Question Game last year.
SO.MUCH.FUN!rules: everyone writes a question down on a piece of paper {any question}then you draw a question out {can't be your own} and write your answer down.Sit in a circle & a random person starts... when person A asks their question person B answers it with their answer.then person B asks their questions and person C answers it with the answer they wrote down... and it goes on and on - it becomes quite hilarious. then we played 'Dirty Santa'.One gift per invitation brought a $15 gift and ...you know this game.
 Lil Wayne trying to get Katy Perry to take the cheese plate...it didn't work out so well.
 
Below is Jeremy & Brycelynaka a modern day Faith & Tim..They never made it to the Red Carpet...{where's frankie? our elf on the shelf?} 

 see our TV? See where we had 'Christmas Music' Playing? Okay well it didn't work out so because...my husband irritated me to the TAR because he kept playing 'Howdda LOOOOVE'SO LOUD and Proud. He flew to the naughty list that night.But.. at least he was playing his part.
Snookie traded her 'risque' gift for a cookie maker. Another game thing I did wasinstead of ALL the goodies going to the winner I decided this yearto make a raffle drawing. As soon as our guests walked in our home they were asked to draw on of these... 

they tore one off & the other in a mason jar.

Throughout the night I drew {5} different celebrity names

& whoever had that name won a present.

I'm so upset because I didn't get one - NOT ONE picture of all food I prepared & Holiday decor... my favorite part of hosting a party. This is not like me to forget such an importantpart. I worked ALL.WEEK.LONG on baking and preparing the food. But I did snap a picture with my phone days before the big night {after preparing them} of my CUTE cute for everyone to drink out of... {orignally bought these for our wedding party to have, only they were decorated differently. HAD to get use out of them.}

I may have forgotten about taking pictures of  all my food but... I didn't forget about entertainment for our guests, which is most important. I got boo-hoodles  of 'photo booth pictures'.Something I added this year. 

  

 {i have no idea what im doing} 

The Lips, Moustaches, & Microphoneswere a few of the handmade items I made for our bridal partypictures come the wedding day... however they were forgotten about.Soooo... I refused to NOT let them go to waste.  The photo booth was a wonderful turn out.Everyone LOVED it. ------------------------------------------------------- Ohhh.. I did happen to snap a picture with my phone a few days before the party of another NEW thing I added this year...ToGo boxes....

How fun????