Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas!!!!

Christmas Dinner at my little apartment in Switzerland!

Matching PJ's from last year

Wow, it's been awhile since I've been able to get on and update everyone! I promise that one of these days I will be able to a. stay up to date on my blogs and b. learn how to create albums so I can show all of my fun pictures instead of just a few!

Most importantly right now though.....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just love this time of year for so many reasons! I think my favorite thing is all of the great memories and traditions I have with my family. On Christmas Eve my aunts, uncles and cousins would all come over and we'd hang out, sing songs, play games, and open presents from everyone but immediate family. Then, my sisters and I would open a present from my parents which was always matching PJ's (yes, we still get matching PJ's to this day, and sometimes they are footies, haha). We'd put our PJ's on, get all of our last minute presents wrapped and then it was time for the most important part of the night! We would all sit down to read Twas the Night Before Christmas. Usually Kiki or Courtney would read, and whoever didn't read would act it out for us, which was always comical! If you know Courtney and Kiki you'd understand! Jennifer and I would just sit and laugh. After that, we'd all pile into the same room and have a slumber party. About 20 minutes after we'd head up to bed, inevitably we would hear Santa's bells (yes, my mom would actually stand in the hallway and shake some bells to make us think Santa was close, haha). In the morning, we'd all have to sit at the top of the stairs until my parents got the camera and everything ready. Then, we'd run down the stairs and look through all of the stuff we got from Santa! I don't think anyone can forget that feeling of excitement going into see what Santa brought! We'd finish opening presents from each other and spend the rest of the day hanging out together and playing with our presents. Then, we'd all sit down for a nice Christmas Linner (Lunch/dinner).

We've kept our traditions through the years with little changes here and there. It's definitely sad in some ways that things have had to change, like the fact that this year will be the first year I have no sister's to have a slumber party with tonight!!! But the changes have come from wonderful things happening to our family.... like, nephews and nieces, and husbands that have married into the family! So, I can't really complain too much!!! :) Our family has grown a lot and we've had a ton of fun tweaking the traditions to fit our lives now!

I'm also hoping that one of these year's Scott will get to join in on the family fun! Hopefully we won't scare him away, haha.

Merry Christmas to you and your families! I hope you get to spend time with your loved ones and just enjoy the time you get together!

As another side note... Please take a second to say a little prayer for all of our soldiers who are over fighting in the war and their families. I can't imagine having to be without my loved ones at a time like this. And say a little prayer for my cousin Kelli and her husband Mark. Mark is over in Afghanistan fighting and I know he and Kelli wish they could be together and with their families!

Thanks soldiers for all that you do!!!!

Here are a couple pics from this time last year, crazy we were in Europe!

Courtney and I on the train

Skiing in Zermatt- AMAZING!

Matching PJ pic again :) With my cute little tree in the back ground

I'll put more pics of all of my family up as soon as my Mom sends me some!!! :)