I don’t know of many other things I enjoy more than Christmas morning! I love having my family all together, taking a break from our busy lives, and celebrating something magical.

Our celebration begins the night before when we prepare breakfast for Christmas morning. This year, we chose to go with a French Toast Casserole!

^^The finished product!

Then, of course, you have to leave out cookies for Santa and carrots or an apple for the reindeer who would travel long and far to each and every house later that night. My sisters and I write a letter to him every year too!

And Santa always writes back…apparently this year he used his iPad!

After that, we run upstairs and fall asleep as fast as we can because well…everyone knows that Santa doesn’t come until you fall asleep!

Our Christmas morning, this year, was a bit different than all of the previous years but still just as magical. Now that Emily is a married woman, we have to share her with Steve’s family on Christmas morning – our families agreed to switch off each year. Last year, Emily and Steve spent Christmas morning with us…so this year, Emily and Steve spent Christmas morning with Steve’s family. But, not having them over until Christmas afternoon does have its perks…we got to sleep in as late as we wanted! (We didn’t want to start opening presents without Emily and Steve, and being awake super early would be way too hard having to see the wrapped presents and filled stockings without being able to open them.) Then, we took our time eating breakfast, sang and danced around to Christmas music…until finally they arrived!

Then, we got straight down to business opening our stockings and then presents.

Santa was very good to me this year and I am so grateful.

Last night, we went out to dinner for Christmas Eve. But on Christmas night, we stay in for dinner and cook up a delicious meal of our own. We have also made a tradition of alternating who cooks Christmas dinner…and this year it is Steve’s family’s turn. So, I am off to get dressed!

I hope you and your family had a very happy Christmas!

Thanksgiving break came at the perfect time. School was beginning to get quite stressful with finals right around the corner, and I really missed my family a lot. This Thanksgiving, Allie and I flew up to my Grandma’s house in northern California and our parents met us there! Unfortunately for us, Emily spent her Thanksgiving with her husband’s family on Nantucket. We missed her lots and lots! But despite missing one sister, we still had a great time enjoying the company of our extended family, eating lots of yummy foods, and counting our blessings!

I hope each of you had a wonderful time with your families as well!