Our First Married Christmas

Does anyone else feel like Christmas went by extremely fast this year? I guess I say that every year, but I can’t believe that it’s over. To make it last a little longer, I will be watching Christmas movies until after New Year’s — they’re still showing them on TV, after all .

Our celebration began on Christmas Eve, possibly my favorite part of our Christmas celebration. Every year, we go to church with my family and then out to dinner, and this year was no different.

Please ignore the mirror — I just cleaned it, so I don’t know how it got so streaky.

One of my favorite parts about Christmas Eve is getting all dressed up, because it’s one of the only times during the year that I have an excuse to get all dressed up. Jordan and I met my family at church for 4:00 mass, and then we all went to Outback Steakhouse for dinner afterwards (our tradition). After dinner, we went over to my parents’ house to open our Christmas pajamas (another tradition), and then we went to Jordan’s aunt’s house for dessert. Our night wasn’t over yet, though, because after going to his aunt’s house, we went back to my in-laws’ (that still feels weird to say) house to open presents. When we got home around 11:30, I immediately got into my pajamas and went to bed. It was a fun night, but exhausting!

Christmas jammies

On Christmas morning, I woke up at 7:30 to put my presents out for Jordan, and then I made some gingerbread muffins so we could snack on something while we opened presents. I also made my veggie tray and dip for later in the day. It was supposed to look like a Christmas tree, but the vegetables moved around a little. Oh well, I tried .

Around 9:00, I woke Jordan up, and we opened our stockings and presents while snacking on muffins, coffee and hot chocolate. We took our time opening one present at a time — it was nice to have a quiet morning at home before going out for the day.

After having our first Christmas in our apartment, we packed up the car and went to my parents’ house to celebrate Christmas Day with my family. We ate our traditional Christmas morning brunch (breakfast burritos and coffee cake), and then we opened presents.

Matching aprons

Remember how I told you guys that I was making something special? Well, my parents (and Jordan’s too) loved it!

the one I made for my parents

Both sets of parents asked if I ordered it online, but I didn’t! I made it following this tutorial, courtesy of Pinterest, of course. Jordan also helped me cut and staple gun the ribbon, so it really was from both of us .

After opening our presents, we burned off Christmas brunch with a couple of hours of Just Dance 3. We didn’t even mean to play for that long, but it gets addicting.

After spending time with my family, it was time to pack everything up and spend the evening with Jordan’s family. We snacked on appetizers, watched ‘A Christmas Carol,’ and participated in a White Elephant gift exchange. Check out the first gift that I opened, before someone traded with me.

Solo cup wine glasses! A Pinterest idea, of course. I ended up taking home a Lionel Richie CD, something I’ll listen to!

Jordan came home with my White Elephant gift, a Disney themed milk & cookies set. I don’t know if he’ll use it, but I know someone else who will .

After opening presents, we ate some dessert and socialized until I could socialize no more. By the time we got home, it was close to midnight (way past my bedtime), and I was so tired.

It was our fourth Christmas together, but a great first married Christmas, and I can’t wait for many more .

If you celebrate, did you have a good Christmas?

What are your favorite traditions?