A Marvelous Christmas Weekend

Merry Christmas Eve my friends!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Like I mentioned on yesterday’s post, I spent this past weekend with my family and celebrated Christmas a few days early since I’ll be working on Christmas day.

And it was a weekend FULL of marvelousness and merriment!

Starting with the Christmas tree itself…

Christmas 2012I just love how it looks once all the presents are set out!Β 

When I was a kid, I used to wake up in the middle of the night (far too early to even think about stirring the parentals) and I’d scurry out to the living room just to LOOK at the tree in all it’s Christmas wonderment. I would never even get close enough to see who’s gifts were who’s…I just wanted to soak up the vision of it all…then I would run back to my room, pull the covers up, and sleep a few more hours with the biggest, goofiest smile on my face!

Saturday afternoon was spent with my dad’s side of the family…

Dirty Santa 2012

And we had our family’s first Dirty Santa gift exchange!

I swear we’re not all a bunch of alcoholics! πŸ˜‰

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I was the first to “dirty” up the game when I stole this from my mom! She laughed when I told her I was going to drink green smoothies out of it!

Origami Money

I have to say, this was one of the most creative gifts…my sister and my dad got together and folded up 20 one dollar bills into different formsΒ of origami…my grandmother ended up with it and got a kick out of all the shapes!

Christmas 2012 Food

Then?…then there was the Finger Food Feast of 2012!

My dad did all the food shopping this year and spent so much time preparing the food and setting everything up…can you believe this wasn’t even everything he bought?!

And of COURSE I madeΒ the deviled eggs…only this time I changed up the recipe AGAIN and this one is even BETTER…recipe coming soon!

Later that night, I worked on some holiday stress-relief…

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Aka gift wrapping.

Each and every year I spend HOURS perfecting each and every package…curling and twisting ribbon until my fingers begin to cramp and my back starts to ache…and I love every minute of it!

Can you believe this was all just for my mom, dad, and sister? Yep, I spoiled them rotten this year! πŸ˜€

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Β But they spoiled me right back!

Sunday morning, we all woke up early and did our “Christmas Morning” gift exchange…

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Of course, I was wearing my new “Christmas Eve” PJ’s πŸ˜€

RR Garbage Bowl

The first gift: Rachel Ray garbage bowl…also makes a great hat…who knew?! πŸ˜‰

I also got some pretty square plates, a GINORMOUS pancake spatula, American Eagle gift cards, slippers, argyle socks, a necklace and earring set, and a pumpkin candle that I only wish was edible!

But the best gift I received?

Every year when my mom asks what we want for Christmas, I say I want a pony and my sister says she wants a unicorn…

Screen shot 2012-12-24 at 5.02.21 AM

Well, she finally broke down and bought them for us…

Horse & Unicorn

We couldn’t breath we were laughing so hard!

After I regained my composure, I headed to the kitchen to get started on breakfast…

Christmas Pancakes

How convenient:Β MY new spatula and MOM’S new frying pan!

Then, we were off to celebrate with my mom’s side of the family…

We kept it simple this year and just did lunch and spent time together instead of exchanging gifts, but then as we were heading out the door, my grandmother surprised us all with twenties.

It was definitely a jam-packed weekend…pretty sure I only averaged about 5 hours of sleep each night and then of course my workweek started last night after all of it, but if I had it to do all over, I wouldn’t change a thing!

Christmas only comes once a year.

Family time is much too precious.

And well, you can sleep when your dead! πŸ˜‰

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27 Responses to A Marvelous Christmas Weekend

  1. I always get excited when I get your post in my inbox ON THE DAY it was posted haha I’m on top of this! Merry Christmas love!

    It looks like a marvelous weekend indeed and so much fun and wonderment. I love looking at the Christmas tree with the presents laid out too, it makes it so magical and joyous. It’s too bad you’re working on Christmas but I’m glad you got to have it early anyway! Your family sounds lovely πŸ™‚

    Enjoy your pony haha

  2. Merry Christmas, Heather!

    I’m sorry you have to work on the actual Christmas but your family’s pre-Christmas celebrations look wonderful! It’s hard to say what’s most marvelous in this post. Lovely company, Dirty Santa gifts, fingerfood feast … But really, finally getting your pony must have been a highlight :D. Who says childhood dreams don’t come true? I just hope my sister will never receive the baby crocodile she’s been asking for πŸ˜‰ …

    That childhood story of you peeking at the Christmas tree at night made me laugh. I can only imagine how well you must have slept afterwards. So cute!

    I hope you still have a good day at the hospital with nice colleagues and patients.

  3. Merry Christmas!! What a great family and a great bunch of gifts. I so want your sister’s unicorn. It sounds like a great time. I’m doing my second Christmas today and dinner tonight will be all finger foods too. My favorite kind. I can hardly wait.
    Try not to work too hard.

  4. I love that pony and unicorn thing!!! I used to ask for a tiger all the time. Haha!

    My mom and I are talking about you right now. She says to come on over anytime and we will cook.

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      What?!?! Heck yeah!!! I’ll be there in like….3 weeks! πŸ˜‰ I hope you have a wonderful Christmas my dear friend! And I seriously can’t wait to see you in the new year! πŸ˜€

  5. hahaha the pony/unicorn is hilarious! Glad you had a wonderful holiday πŸ˜€

  6. Lucie says:

    Oh god, that pony/unicorn thing cracks me up, so funny!! This all sounds like such a wonderful christmas weekend. Your wapping skill is amazing!!

  7. Robyn :) says:

    How fun!!!! I hope you have a blessed Christmas Day. I know you will be blessing those you care for.

  8. What a fun family weekend! The pony and unicorn story is too funny! Good memories for all of you, I’m sure. πŸ™‚ Enjoy the rest of the holiday week!

  9. Farrah says:

    Aww so much fun! I love the pony/unicorn story! Happy Holidays Heather!

  10. Merry Christmas girl! I’m glad you were still able to celebrate it with your family in spite of your work schedule. It sounds like you guys had a wonderful weekend!

    That’s too funny about the pony/unicorn story! πŸ˜€

  11. Merry Christmas friend!! I hate that you have to work Christmas Day, but I’m so glad you got to celebrate early!! You racked up girl!

  12. hahahahahah love the pony and unicorn! Every year on my birthday I ask for a pony πŸ˜›

  13. katie says:

    Merry Christmas love!!! Looks like christmas has already been so good to you! Family time is the best part πŸ˜‰

    Lots of love to you! <3

  14. Haha! Omigosh the pony thing absolutely killed me. Whenever someone asks me what I want for Christmas, I always say a pony… and I’m just waiting for the day when someone pulls something like that on me. Your mom knows where it’s at πŸ˜€ And I have to agree with you that the sight of the Christmas tree with all those presents under it is one of the most comforting sights in the world… and I’m with you on taking a ridiculously long time to wrap presents – absolutely love doing it πŸ˜€

    Merry Christmas to you and your family, Heather <3 <3

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Yeah, she really had us rolling with that this year! A few weeks ago, I was in TJ Maxx when I spotted this obscenely large stuffed horse and I sent a picture to her with a message that was like, “you know, just in case you haven’t already made arrangements, he’s waiting to be picked up at TJ Maxx! ;)” The fact that he was a mini version just made it even funnier after that!

      Merry Christmas gorgeous! I hope you ALL your Christmas wishes come true! πŸ˜€ xoxo

  15. Julie says:

    Love the garbage bowl!

  16. Wow. That does sound like a great Christmas so far.

    I love gift wrapping too actually- It’s one of my favorite part of the Holidays as well as Birthday parties. Wrapping is just so much fun!

    And it looks like you got some great gifts and had an awesome time.

    Merry Christmas!

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Thanks girlie! It really was a great weekend! And so glad I’m not alone on the whole gift wrapping thing…I know so many people who say they hate it and I have no idea why! Lol Hope you have a verrrrrrry merry Christmas, love! πŸ˜€

  17. Jessie says:

    “Santa” sure did you treat you well this year =) =)

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  19. I am in awe of your wrapping skills…I am a complete failure at wrapping. Oh well, usually whatever I have put inside makes up for it. πŸ™‚

    That all looks like SO much fun. I saw those Mason jar glasses when I was in Georgia and almost bought one that had a straw attached (!). I was nervous about bringing them home on the plane, though. [And also found a sweater I wanted more…]

  20. Ang says:

    What a wonderful holiday! I have that same garbage bowl. πŸ™‚

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