Saturday, December 30, 2017

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve fell on a Sunday this year, which was nice, other than me being utterly confused about the day/date all week long. The children's' service at church was during the 10:30 service, so they tied the pageant in with the regular service. I thought they did a wonderful job with it!

Up and ready to go by 10am on Christmas Eve:


 Bruce really thought he was getting to go too.... he wasn't.




We had some sweet stars in church:
 And Cal was quite the angel.




We went home after church and spent the day as little elves, then went over to my parents house for dinner and drinks and special visitors....

The Williamson fam:

This was so neat- Cal took over duties of reading Twas the night before Christmas to the family. I totally started to tear up, because this isn't a simple book to read (but then I caught Andy trying to steal a present and it made me crack up....)




Then, oh my WORD, Santa showed up!

Cal hopped up there first. 
 Then both boys...




Then Nug...

Andy followed Santa to the door and whispered in his ear, which we found out later he said, "Manning was really a great elf this year, can he come back again next year?"

Santa brought Cal that big mouth game.... where you put the huge plastic thing in it and try to say things. I tried it. It isn't cute. Or easy. Or flattering.

Next we moved in to the living room for carols...



Got a picture of Calvin Edwin II, III and IV.

Then Andy freaked the freak out that we were going to miss Santa. I mean bawling. He was so upset that he would come while we were gone and he would skip our house. I don't think he has ever gone to bed so quickly in his life.

As soon as both were asleep, Santa came, left boot marks and delivered his loot. 

It was a BIKE Christmas!





 

Friday, December 29, 2017

Merry and Bright!

We had a fun (and busy!) holiday season! Now that things are slowing down, I am taking a quick minute to document all we had going on. Lots of fun parties, tacky sweater-ness and socializing with sweet friends... a busy and glutenous month! I am ready to go on a diet ASAP. But not til next week.

Some of our friends moved into a new house at the start of December-- but before their furniture was moved, they did what any respectable adult would do: they threw a frat party. We are talking red solo cups, kegs, beer pong, zero furniture... just like in college. I even donned my old college shirt. Because, why not.


It was a FUN night with a lot of dancing and laughing. I loved it. 

Stacey got some new kicks she broke out for the occasion. 


 I think he looks like Luke from Gilmore Girls-- I have only watched an episode or two, but I see it!

 Throw your shark fins up!


Pippa wore a college sweatshirt too- loved it. 

The following night, we had a tacky sweater party. Actually, the invitation was for a "Griswold Christmas" party. We were to either dress as a character from the movie, wear a tacky Christmas sweater, or dress as a favorite Christmas song. I went for the tacky sweater (it lit up!).

 These two did their favorite Christmas song (and she never broke character the whole night- it was hysterical). (Do you know their song????)




 Eddie had to borrow a sweater- and one of my mom's old vests did the trick- hahahaha


Walking up to the house- these people do not play when it comes to Christmas!





Feeling the Christmas spirit.....


Loved Todd and Margot too!



A sign of a good night!

Another night we had a rotating dinner with some friends in our neighborhood. It was such a fun night! We had apps at one house, then switched to dinner at another house, then finished at another house for dessert.  Each house had two "teams" or couples helping host it. We finished the night with a dirty santa gift exchange- and it was dirty enough that I will not be sharing those pictures- hahaha... I gave the gift below, a twerking snowman... and it was pretty funny....
 The men of the group:


 And the ladies:

 And the group:

 I ended up going home with a Grinch costume and I couldn't love it more. hahahahaha Obviously, I had to put it on immediately.....

 And then played a fierce game of beer pong while in said costume.






 There is a group of us who have hosted a girls' party every year- we took last year off, but were back at it this year. It was held at my house this year, which was a lot of work, but a whole lot of fun. Here are the hostesses!

Another night, we had a "Murder at the Tacky Christmas Sweater" party. Oh my word, this was funny. Each person was assigned a character- they were to come to the party as their character would come to a tacky Christmas sweater party.... I was Max Maximus, a UK rockstar who would do anything to get attention.



Eddie was Sam Sugarplum, a trend-setting movie star. 

The cast of characters was ridiculously funny- everyone got really into it, which made it even more fun. 

A DJ and a elementary school principal....



yup..........

The whoooooole cast of characters:



 If you've never been to one of these parties, everyone gets little clues throughout the night about their character and other characters, in order to help you try to figure out who the murderer was.


Our final night out was for our annual cocktails at the Carolina Inn...! I love this night so much. It is massive and loud, but so so fun. Every year, I manage to take pictures in the mirror of the bathroom- it is a really good mirror. :)


One final date night with my favorite guy:



Allllll the ladies- well, some of them....

A bar shot!

Some of my faves....



 It was a busy, busy month! PHEW! I am excited for January to find some health again. More working out, less junk food. But hopefully still lots of fun times with friends!

Cheers to 2018!


 
 
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