Our Christmas Eve and Christmas

Christmas Eve was unseasonably warm here in Central PA. I donned shorts and my n

new BDR short sleeved shirt or my morning 5 miler and was sweating profusely the minute I took off!

We spent the afternoon at my Grandma and Pappy's house eating fried chicken, exchanging gifts, and spending time laughing and catching up with family we only see a couple times a year. We also took the traditional family photos in front of the fireplace.

Grandma and Pappy

My brother Tyler and his daughters Ellie and Clementine.

My SIL, Debby, was sick and stayed home. We missed her!

Clementine missed her mommy too.

My mom and dad.

Paul and Grandma and Pappy's new pup, Max!

Me and Paul

Normally, Paul and I exchange our gifts on Christmas Night, but this year we decided to do it on Christmas Eve. We are going to continue the tradition because it spreads out the gift giving a little bit more.

I was so excited for him to get this Beatles piano book. I will teach him how to play the tunes, of course!

Paul got me a new ornament for our cat tree!

Puzzle!

ROUND PUZZLE!!! I didn't even ask for it. All Paul.

Paul loves Trailer Park Boys so I got him a calendar.

It's hard to tell from the picture, but that is a 15oz princess wine glass.

Want to know what was in my stocking? Kit Kats, a Coke Zero, and ICE CREAM!

Then I got out the wash basket to start loading up the gifts for the next day. Of course Christmas wanted to play!

I had check lists to make sure I didn't miss any gifts.

My Christmas Eve dinner: chips and cheese...

... and chocolate cake with the ice cream that was in my stocking!

On Christmas Morning, I got up around 6:15 and relaxed for a bit before going on a run. Paul and I left our place at 8:30 to head for my parent's house in Millersburg. We pulled up right as my brother's family did! We ate a small breakfast and then started opening presents with the kids. We took a break from presents around 11:30 when my Grandma and Pappy showed up and we had lunch- shrimp!! After lunch, we opened some more presents and then spent the afternoon just hanging out. Before Paul and I left, we stopped at my Grandma's place to say hello and give her a present. Normally she comes to my parent's house, but this year she just wanted to stay put.

Clementine!

Ellie!

I love this, she looks like my brother here.

My SIL, Debby, made my mom this sled!

My parents put up a dead tree every year because they are so cool!

Per my brother's recommendation, I got my dad a remote control helicopter for Christmas... which turned out to be a DRONE! He liked it. Here is Tyler testing it out.

Feel the Bern!

My shoulders are almost popping out of this! Better ease up on the pull ups.

My brother Tyler.

Me and Paul. We wear our pajamas every year. Those pants are new from Old Navy- $5!!!

My mom and dad.

Debby and Tyler.

"Give me all your lunch money!!!!!"

We left Millersburg around 3:30 and headed to Middletown to see Paul's family. We ate a yummy Christmas dinner complete with turkey, ham, mac and cheese, green beans, brussel sprouts, yams, and cranberry sauce! We opened presents. I couldn't wait for our niece and nephews to see what we got them! Paul's parents got me a puzzle of the Grand Canyon! It looks hard, but I'm going to DO IT.

Nephews Zay and Eden. Eden got a tablet. He clearly loves it!

Niece, Violet. "Hmmmm, what could it be!?"

The kiddos.

Do you notice Eden shows off his tablet in every picture?

Paul's mom and Swiper!

Eden!

Me and Violet. 

Funny story: I opened my phone to check a text message and 8 year old Violet says, "What's that?" I laughed so hard! "Once upon a time," I explained to my niece, "about six years ago, not everyone had a smart phone. People used flip phones and nine year olds didn't get tablets for Christmas." 

Although tablets can actually be really inexpensive these days, and my brother pointed out that when we got Walkmans for Christmas, they were probably more expensive than some of the things kids get now!

We got home after 10 o'clock. I had a headache and sore throat from laughing so hard with my our families. I think that is how you know you had a GREAT Christmas!

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!