Lifestyle

Fun Christmas Memories!

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Hello Monday… Wait, MONDAY?? Has Christmas really already come and gone?! SO crazy! I hope that you enjoyed this special holiday with some special family, friends, fun times and festive foods. It flew by, but fortunately I took a couple pictures to help me remember the moments. Check out some of the memories I’ve made this  season! 

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Every Christmas my family celebrates the “Eve of the Eve” on the night before Christmas Eve. It’s our own special tradition that guarantees we spend some quality time together all by ourselves. Growing up we always spend Christmas Eve at one grandparents’ house and then we travel to the other grandparents on Christmas Day. We love seeing them and all my cousins, but Eve of the Eve is just for us. We each open one present… “the first gift of Christmas” and we share a lovely meal together. 

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Don’t you just love the Nutcracker Ballet? The music is classic, the costumes are gorgeous, the dancing is graceful (and those ballerinas make it look so easy!) This is another one of our special traditions. My dad is always first in line to get good seats at the best deal. 

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We woke up to pretty packages under the tree and practical presents like toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, and dehydrated fruit snacks in our stockings. My dad still videotapes us unwrapping the gifts. We don’t actually watch the videos, but who knows? Maybe we’ll want to someday. It was great to spend time with Dad and Mum, my brother (Jared) and my sister-in-law (Allie).

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Allie got me the sweetest bracelet to add to my Alex and Ani collection, a lovely journal to record my thoughts, and the softest pair of socks ever! (Another great benefit of having a married brother?… A sister who knows me too well.)

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Christmas afternoon was SO beautiful! It was 71 degrees and sunny. I decided to take advantage of the weather and go for a walk at my local park. Sitting and talking, sitting and eating, sitting and relaxing… it was definitely time for a walk!

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Another fun tradition is Chinese food for dinner at my grandparents. This year my auntie brought some tasty Thai food, as well. My colorful plate was gluten free, dairy free, soy free, and totally yummy!

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Speaking of Thai food, I finally got my whole family to join me at my favorite Asian restaurant for some fabulous “Pho.” If you haven’t ever tried this Vietnamese broth soup with rice noodles, chicken, cilantro, green onions and bean sprouts, TRY IT! The place looks like a little ‘hole in the wall’ (and it is) but the food is authentic, fresh and delicious!!

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Well, that’s about it! I guess Christmas 2015 really has come and gone, but the moments and memories live on. Merry Merry!!!

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22 Comments

  • Reply Gretchen | Gretchruns

    I love the idea of having your own eve eve holiday! So clever and smart. Glad to see that you had such a great Christmas!

    December 28, 2015 at 2:56 pm
    • Reply Cailee

      Thanks Gretchen! It’s super fun… very festive! πŸ™‚ Happy (almost) New Years!

      December 29, 2015 at 10:38 pm
  • Reply Stephanie Leduc

    This looked like such a fun Christmas, we both saw the Nutcracker!! Isn’t just the best?! Also, it is awesome that you celebrate the eve of the eve, what a way to keep the Christmas spirit going for as long as possible!

    December 28, 2015 at 6:00 pm
    • Reply Cailee

      My family gets HYPED about the holidays… haha, we’re very festive! …and yay! So glad that you enjoyed the Nutcracker as well!

      December 29, 2015 at 10:38 pm
  • Reply Tash

    Aww looks like you had a lovely day!! I love your new notebook, I have such a weakness for pretty stationary.

    December 28, 2015 at 10:02 pm
    • Reply Cailee

      Right?! I love stationary! …and thanks! It was a great holiday season this year πŸ™‚

      December 29, 2015 at 10:37 pm
  • Reply Susie @ SuzLyfe

    I love your new bracelet and notebook! I need a new one–not that I don’t already have a bunch, haha. Alex and I went to the Nutcracker this year–his first time every seeing it–and it was magnificent. I’m trying to convince him to take me to Cinderella this coming May!

    December 28, 2015 at 10:21 pm
    • Reply Cailee

      Oh my gosh! That’ll be so fun! I bet Cinderella will be beautiful!! <3 and IKR? I'm obsessed with new journals! I actually got a couple more! Hehe, one's a planner!

      December 29, 2015 at 10:36 pm
  • Reply Tandy | Lavender and Lime

    love your journal Cailee! and your family tradition of a night before Christmas Eve to all be together is fantastic πŸ™‚

    December 29, 2015 at 7:09 am
    • Reply Cailee

      Thanks Tandy! It’s always a blast! …and I’m excited to use the new journal!!

      December 29, 2015 at 10:35 pm
  • Reply Mary Ellen @ VNutrition

    Your Christmas looked wonderful! Great traditions for your family. I watch the nutcracker on tv each year but I’d love to go see it in person. πŸ™‚

    December 29, 2015 at 3:44 pm
    • Reply Cailee

      Thanks Mary Ellen! We had a great year! …and I would definitely recommend seeing it! Such a Christmas classic πŸ™‚

      December 29, 2015 at 10:35 pm
  • Reply lucie

    Sounds like you had a fab christmas! I absolutely love your journal!

    December 31, 2015 at 2:17 pm
    • Reply Cailee

      Thanks Lucie! I love the cover… “The future is unwritten” So freeing! Def a great reminder!

      January 5, 2016 at 5:25 pm
  • Reply Rach @ This Italian Family

    I love you guys’ tradition of celebrating Christmas Eve Eve! What a fun idea! And a good way to be sure to spend time with just you guys. Sweet. πŸ™‚ Love that you took them to your favorite Pho place! That stuff is deeeelish!

    January 2, 2016 at 3:42 am
    • Reply Cailee

      Thanks Rach! It really is a fun tradition! …and IKR? It was the first time they ever went and they were already hooked!

      January 5, 2016 at 5:26 pm
  • Reply Miss Polkadot

    It’s so sweet you have your own traditions. My family is the same with not following the “typical” ones but creating own ones. Seeing the Nutcracker must be amazing.
    Like you, I needed to head out for a walk in between all the sitting and eating. It’s great to catch some fresh air.
    The journal you got is so pretty andI like that your family’s into giving practical gifts, too.

    January 4, 2016 at 11:26 pm
    • Reply Cailee

      Thanks!! …and yes! Our own traditions are so fun… and yes for really practical gifts! Can’t wait to use the journal πŸ™‚

      January 5, 2016 at 5:37 pm
  • Reply Custom-Essays-Online.com

    Wow, everything looks so beautiful and neat πŸ˜‰ Christmas always leaves th ebe st memories in our heads.

    January 5, 2016 at 12:29 pm
    • Reply Cailee

      YES! It sure does πŸ™‚

      January 5, 2016 at 5:37 pm
  • Reply Rachel @ RachelMcMichael.com

    Looks like you had a great December!! I just love Christmas, it’s all about family and friends. Love reading about your traditions!

    January 7, 2016 at 5:08 pm
    • Reply Cailee

      Thanks love! It was great… went by really fast tho! haha, gotta love fun traditions!

      January 9, 2016 at 8:48 pm

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