Christmas: Part 2

One of the great things about being married is that the Christmas celebration lasts longer than one day.  On December 26th, we headed back to Brett's parents' to celebrate Christmas with them, Will, Laura, Laney, Sam, and Maggie.  Maggie and Sam were getting married in two days, so we figured it was the best time to celebrate as a whole family.

I cannot imagine what Christmases are going to be like with more than one grandchild (whenever that comes) because Laney was SPOILED this Christmas.  I have to admit, I had a lot of fun buying some cute GWU gear and winter outfits for her.  Yogi and Gail obviously enjoyed the shopping too. Sam and Maggie got her a little lady bug pillow, which Laney really liked.

We are blessed.

Uncle B and Laney

Sweet girl

Laney's new-found scrunchy nose.

Laney and Pops

Almost married in this picture!

We love our niece.

Scrunchy nose!

After the wedding, which I'll get to soon with my blog posts, I was able to see Megan and Kyle before they headed back to Connecticut.  We met at Moore Street, which is this little coffee place in beautiful Southport.  They have some amazing coffee.  I really enjoy spending time with my sweet bestie...who is now my cousin!

We gave Brett his birthday gift a little early so he could enjoy it while we had a few down days before traveling.  He found an app that will let you draw football plays and then animate them.  We couldn't get his attention for a few hours.  Such a coach.

And the last couple of pictures were before we left.  I had to put them up here because my niece is so precious.

Perfecting the scrunchy face.

One of my favorites.

Precious family

Christmas: Part 1

Finally getting to pictures from Christmas.  After Maggie and Sam's bachelorette/bachelor weekend, Brett and I drove to my parents' house.  I worked from the office for a day and then spent some time with my family and Jess, one of my best friends. 

This year, Brett and I decided to buy everyone GWU gear.  Dad got a camo hat and a long sleeve shirt, and Mom received a really nice sweatshirt.  I made Oba the annual calendar I always make her.  Mom and Dad gave Brett and me some awesome gifts. 

Growing up, I used to go through the JC Penney's winter catalog and make a table with the item, item number, page number, and price (yes I've always been Type A).  The list was pretty extensive.  However, the older I get, the more I realize how much I have been blessed with.  I more enjoy seeing other people's reactions to the gifts I give, than how many presents I receive.  It's been a process I thoroughly enjoy, and something I am glad I have transitioned too.

Love love love this girl

Normal look from Dad (with his new GWU hat)

Mom loves her GWU sweatshirt

Oba looking surprised when she opened her calendar.

One of Brett's gifts from my parents.  Duck Commander duck call. 

Trying out the 3 wood I bought Brett. 

Oba with two of her grandkids

I look like my mama.  I'm definitely ok with that.

Second Christmas

This is almost a month late but oh well.  After we went to Gail and Yogi's over Christmas, Brett and I headed up to my parents.  We were able to get there at night and woke up around 9 the next morning.  I'm definitely a person of ritual so I had to ask Mom if Santa came.  Mind you it was December 28th so of course he had come!

We had a wonderful Christmas with Mom, Dad, and Oba.  I got some great slippers for when I work.  Brett got some clothes and a bunch of disposable coffee cups. I really enjoyed watching my parents and Oba open their gifts. Seeing their surprise and joy gives me happiness.  Sierra even got some good food for Christmas.

Oba surprised she got her calendar

Sierra was ecstatic about getting soft food.

Brett with his new ECU alumni plate.

Playing his Tiger Woods game

We also celebrated Brett's birthday while we were there.  His birthday started off with some homemade fire crackers.  Seemed like the neighbors were trying to outdo Dad.  If only they knew it cannot be done.  Brett got to watch football all day.  Mom made a special dinner with our favorite dessert (1, 2, 3 cake).

"You can't see me."

Dad's faces in these are priceless.

Haha.

Thinking about what to wish for.

Showing off his new sports coat.

I really enjoyed my time with my parents, although we missed having Chris there.  It was hard not being with them for Christmas, but that's what happens when you get married.  There are compromises.  I promise this is my last overdue Christmas blog.  Hope everyone is enjoying the new year!

My First Hickman Christmas

I know this is very, very late, but I'm just now getting a weekend to unwind since the week before Christmas.  Brett and I headed to Holden Beach for our first married Christmas.  Most people would tell you that holidays can cause a lot of stress, especially if both spouses are close to their families (like Brett and I are).  Since we did Thanksgiving with my family, we planned on spending Christmas with Brett's.  It was my first Christmas away from my parents.  The thing that made me really sad was thinking that neither Chris nor I would be there for Christmas.  There would be no waking up and Mom checking to see if Santa came or making sure that Dad was awake and out of bed.

It honestly took me a while to be okay with the idea of not spending Christmas with my family.  I had to be purposeful in putting Brett before myself, remembering he missed Thanksgiving with his family.   About a week before Christmas, I got to the point of still being sad that I wouldn't be in New Hill, but excited about getting to experience Brett's family Christmas.  I looked forward to seeing his family's traditions.

Here are a couple of Hickman traditions:

• Watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (I had never watched the whole movie in one sitting)
• Making Christmas cookies (a new tradition for the Hickman women)
• Going to the Christmas Eve Service
• Coming down in pajamas on Christmas morning
• Getting together with Gail's brother Edward and his family Christmas afternoon
• Eating massive amounts of casseroles

At the end of the day, I was thankful to be able to share Christmas with my second family.  I love them all.  Below is a picture montage of our Christmas.

The ingredients for our cookies

Maggie gets to join us next year!

Christmas at the beach

Christmas morning. Santa came!

Yes Santa left crumbs and a little bit of milk.

Christmas morning

Handing out gifts

One of Laney's many presents.

RGIII jersey for Sam. Nice work Maggie.

Brett really loved his cowboy boots

Hail to the Skins!

All the girls (including Laney). And no we didn't plan the pink.

My Christmas present!

Phyllis and Gail with their matching necklaces

Merry Christmas Y'all

Today is the day we celebrate one of the biggest events that altered our history.  Our Savior, Jesus Christ was born, the perfect gift.  Such a sacrifice to come from heaven to a lowly beginning, born in a stable.  The infinite in finite form.  The beginning of our reconciliation with God.

Let's not forget that even though we are celebrating Jesus' birth, we look to the Cross as the cornerstone of our faith.  Thank you God for your precious gift to us, Your one and only Son.

Merry Christmas to all,
The Hickmans

A Few of My Favorite...

Ornaments!  The Sunday before Thanksgiving, Brett and I put up our Christmas decorations.  I love putting up Christmas, especially the tree.  I typically put it up fairly slow because I take my time taking each ornament out of their boxes.  Each ornament has a significant meaning to me, and I love thinking back on the reason why I have the ornament.

Click here to see a few of the ornaments I posted last Christmas.  Here are some ornaments that caught my eye this year.

This is a new ornament that Gail and Yogi bought us when we went to the Biltmore.  I absolutely love the detail and the slight shimmer.  It's almost like you can see the magic that the Biltmore has at Christmas.

This is the ornament I gave Megan, Jessica, and Michelle (my three best friends) a couple of years ago.  They really are the sisters I never had.

Mom and Dad bought Brett and me this ornament last year when we went to visit Chris in Montana.  You can't really see it but one is a doe and the other is a buck.  It's special since this is our first Christmas as husband and wife.

I bought this Coca-Cola ornament in Atlanta when the Fantastic 4 (Megan, Jess, Michelle, and I) went to Jeremy and Mandy's wedding.  I can't believe it's already been almost 2.5 years!

Our wedding photographer Lauren Mann is simply wonderful.  She surprised us this week with a wedding ornament.  I have been looking for an "Our first Christmas" ornament but this one is just as good.  If you're looking for a wedding photographer in the Raleigh area, I strongly recommend you checking her out.

What are some of your favorite parts about putting up the Christmas decorations?