CHRISTmas

Our Christmas celebrating began Christmas Eve. Ever since my mom moved to Greenville, we no longer went to the Candle Light Service at our home church, in Kinston.  This year Brad and I really wanted to go to the Christmas Eve service that was being held at the church where we attend.  Mom, Mrs. Judy and Mr. Mike all went with us.  The service was nice because it reminds you why we celebrate this time of year.

After church, we headed to Kinston for dinner at Aunt Johni's.  I always love going to her house Christmas Eve because I really feel like it gets me in the Christmas spirit.  All of mom's side of the family is there except Aunt Gail's family...they wait and come Christmas day.

Briley & Big

Me, Brad, Johnathan, Allyson Lake & Jonathan

Whenever we left Aunt Johni's, Brad and I came home and exchanged gifts between the two of us.  You know we couldn't leave Jacques out, so we gave him a bone.  Let me just tell you, he has definitely enjoyed that thing. 

Christmas day started bright and early.  We set a goal of being at my mom's house around 8:30 to see if Santa had been.  Johnathan and Allyson Lake stayed with mom Christmas Eve, so I gave them instructions...they were not allowed to open one gift until I got there.  Now that Brad and I are married, this was my first year not spending the night with my mom on Christmas Eve.  I thought it might be a little sad, but it was definitely sweet waking up with my own family.

Santa did not disappoint.  Brad got some clothes and I got some new things for our house, such as additional chairs for our dining room table.  Johnathan and Allyson Lake got some fun things as well.  Johnathan got the one thing that he had asked for.

We have this sign in our laundry room that Mrs. Judy found somewhere, and mom could never find one for Johnathan, so she had someone on Etsy make him one.  Needless to say, he absolutely loved it.  But I believe his favorite gift of all was his...

Whenever you own your own house, Christmas time becomes a time for you to get things for your house.

Our busy day began after leaving mom's.  We then headed to Trenton to do Christmas with dad and grandma.  We had a delicious lunch and enjoyed spending time with dad's side of the family. 

Whenever we were finished there, it was time to head to MeMa's.  All of us girls on this side of the family received a monogram T-shirt for Christmas.  We wanted to make sure we got a picture of all of us.  Lindsay was with Brett's side of the family for Christmas, so she didn't make it in our picture, but she got a shirt too!

We didn't stay there long before heading back to Greenville to do dinner at Grandma Dot's, Brad's grandma.  After dinner she read a devotion to us.  What a great way to end our Christmas day.  She really did a great job reminding us all of the true meaning of Christmas.

We only had one more place to go after leaving Grandma Dot's and that was to see what Santa had left at the Bowen house.  He didn't disappoint there either.  I was so excited to see that Santa had brought me a video camera.  I can see some videos in our future.  This was the first year I went to Brad's parents for Christmas.  It was so fun, and I always laugh when all of us Bowens get together. 

Brittany's Sweater was a great reason to laugh.

All day Brad and Johnathan got a lot of things alike...that didn't end when we were at the Bowen's.  Brad and Andrew got something a like and so did Brittany and I.

Christmas was special this year as I had 2 families to celebrate with.  Brad and I both agreed it wasn't as crazy as we thought it would be visiting 5 different places in one day. 

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas.  We are truly blessed to serve an Awesome Man on this special day each year!!

Whew...that was a long post.  Thanks for sticking around till the end!!