Christmas Traditions

When I think of my childhood I remember all the normal stuff. 

The friends, going to school, falling down, building forts, etc...

But what I most remember is Christmas. 

The smells, the laugher, the fun!

My grandma and grandpa would show up a couple days early in their motorhome. 

The door would open and out would come hundreds (not really) of presents!

Plus, we got to play in the motorhome. 

We would put out cookies for santa and carrots for the reindeer. 

My sister would always come and wake me up really early in the morning so we could sneak out and see what presents we got. 

There would be glitter around the presents and we always hear bells jingling when santa was near. 

The presents from Aanta were never wrapped. We would move all the presents and count them, her idea not mine. We always had an even amount, good thinking mom and dad!

Then we would sneak back to bed and wait until we could hear our parents waking up. 

Growing up we were not allowed to wake up my dad. 

Come to find out, he hated that we didn't come and jump on the bed in excitement.

We would open presents, eat tamales and go to church. 

That is, if we didn't go to midnight mass. 

I am so excited to start traditions with Gavin & Sean

Gavin is finally old enough that he remembers and gets excited for what's to come. 

We have quite a few friends who all have kids around the same age and it makes it that much more special when the kids are all together.

Here is a list of some of the things Im wanting to do!! 

::1::

Tree Lighting Ceremony

Okay, not quiet like that... 

::2::

Gingerbread houses 

&

Anatomically correct Gingerbread men and women:)

::3::

Ice Skating!

Ready Sean??? lol!! 

::4::

Ugly Sweater Party

::5::

Elf on the Shelf

Source: lilblueboo.com via Sierra on Pinterest

::6::

Christmas Themed Movies!

::7::

Sledding in the snow!

::8:: 

Snow Angels

::9::

Midnight Mass

Which is really at 10:00pm, 9:00pm for the spanish speaking version. 

::10::

And anything else local that we can take advantage of!!

What are your traditions?? 

Of course we also eat tamales on Christmas Eve for dinner. What do you eat??

Do you put an angel or a star on top of the tree??

Colored lights or icicles on the house??

Who decorates the tree? 

Do you open a present on Christmas Eve??

I don't need any presents for Christmas, I've already got him:) 

I am so happy I have him in my life!!

I have the two best guys ever. 

And guess, what??

He loves me right back! 

Besos! 

When your birthday falls in the middle of the week you get two birthdays!!

This has been one of the best birthdays ever!

Mark it on the calendar!!!

First I get taken on a surprise trip to Portland!

Then, to the zoo!

Next, crab legs at Joe's, mmmm!

Friday night after work, Sean said he was craving Applebees. 

Which is weird, because I didn't think he like that place...

As we walk in to the restaurant, I see one of our friends, Squish. 

Sean walks right by him and Im confused. 

I turn the corner and all of our close friends are there. 

I think "Oh, how cool, we're all having dinner together" 

Then they all say Happy Birthday!

Umm, what?

For me?

I had presents and wine and presents and wine and cake and wine:)

 Oh yeah and some jello shots:)

with whip!

 Sabrina even brought in a cake with a giant 30 on fire!!

We then went bowling. 

 what?

 So, buddha looks a lil scary... 

 Sabrina, Addie, me and Andrea

 Most of the girls minus joy:(

who left because she was "tired"

lol!

Joy, before she left. :)

 The mastermind behind my birthday surprise dinner:) 

love her!

My cute guy:) 

I scored an awesome 81!

Apparently I need to practice more. 

We did know all the words to the 80's songs that were playing, awesome!

Next to the bar that smells like toilet to play pool. 

Well the boys reminisced about the good ol days and the girls played pool.

Well I just hit the balls and andrea did the math on what angles to hit the ball in or something like that. 

Then dancing and more eating, breakfast at 3am. 

Finally sleep and snuggling till very, very late in the morning. 

Almost Saturday afternoon! 

Saturday we went to rent a movie and came back with four.

1. The watch: Ehh, it was alright.

2. 50/50: This movie makes me sob, ugly cry and laugh!

3. The Amazing Spiderman: It was ok... 

4. Savages: The previews looked amazing on this one. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint! 

So good!!! A little intense at times but I kinda liked the character that Salma Hayek played!!

I made an amazing beef stroganoff for dinner and we veg'd

Cookies were involved as well! 

Sunday, was lunch with friends and Bond, James Bond.

Skyfall with friends and the rest of our town. 

The theatre was packed, I was fighting off my claustrophobia the entire time!

Next weekend I will be eating freshly caught and cooked crab, mmmmm!!! 

Please rain let up so we can go crabbing, please!!!!

Note to self:

Get lots of butter!!!!

We bought a zoo, I turned 30 and some crab legs!

Tuesday morning I received a text from my guy. 

We would be leaving town as soon as I got off work on Friday and to pack for the weekend. 

That's it. 

No details.

A complete surprise!!

I love surprises!! 

The good ones at least. 

I packed a bag for me and one for the boy. 

We were picked up at our house in Sean's truck.

Gavin being super excited that there was a dvd player in it, built in! 

I managed to pack nothing but cartoons... 

yay... 

As we drove north I still had no idea where we were going. 

I had some guesses:

We could have driven north to Roseburg and headed for the coast, 

North to Eugene and watched a Ducks Game the next day 

or

Portland.

If we were heading to Portland I knew of only one place that he would take me.

The zoo:)

We got to Portland, late and was woken up the next morning at quarter to 7.

Umm, what?? 

I was told to dress warm because we would be outside all day. 

I was 99.9% sure it was the zoo! 

Gavin was so excited to see the animals

& I was too!

Did I mention it was my birthday also??

Not any birthday, but my 30th!

Thus the surprise:) 

Have I got the best bf or what??!

We walked around the zoo, in the 40 degree weather. 

We saw bears (brown and polar), otters (fresh water and salt water) bugs, snakes, monkeys, tigers, cheetah's, giraffes, hippos, etc...

The larakeets were one of my favs.
We paid for nectar and went into the aviary. 

I thought gavin would be scared. 

He loved the birds landing on him and feeding them. 

I was a lil nervous I would get pee'd on or pooped on:/

The birds loved sean!

Our pic:)

After four hours in the cold we needed to warm up and it was too early for dinner so we headed across the parking lot to the forestry building. 

Resting, fitting in a wheel, dressing up and cutting down trees.

I was starving and a lil parched!

Next, all I've been wanting and craving are crab legs...

We ended up at Joe's Crab Shack, OMG!!!

Crab + Wine = Perfection!!

and of course, Sean had to take me to Popeye's the next day!

Im kinda wanting a Shrimp Po'Boy right now...

and the drive home! 

I am loving all of these amazing adventures were going on! 

I have Sean to thank for all of them:) 

I only write when Im happy. 

Lately, Im so happy and busy I haven't had time to write... 

Im okay with that!

Rumor has it that we're going crabbing soon... 

yay:)