Blog #148: Christmas and things.

Hi.

It's only been 2 days! That's way better than two months and I am going to buy myself a present to celebrate.

Just kidding. I've had plenty of presents the past couple weeks days. I've given myself quite a special Christmas. Once you're a grown up that's kind of on you to spoil yourself a little bit, though I had some help from the boyfriend and my family and as always, my boss. This was my first Christmas that I've ever spent away from my mom. I was a little sad about it, but was welcomed into my boyfriend's family Christmas and had a great time visiting with his family and only being slightly hyper competitive while playing Pitch.

I mostly just wanted to show you some of the fun we've been having the past week or so. Boyfriend & I had our Christmas night out and gift exchange on the 19th so that we could do something just the two of us. We exchanged gifts, had dinner at Pierponts, then watched some Parks and Rec to close out the evening. It was wonderful. As I said Monday, he got me a handy dandy digital camera. In addition to that I got some tokens to Quay Coffee and an adorable print of a picture of us in NYC. I got him a Coach messenger bag filled with electrical tape, scissors, and pita chips. I guess you can say that our first gift exchange was a raging success.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Tree at Union Station

Yum.

Reaction when someone is having more fun with my present than me.

Pretty.

Union Station

 Christmas Eve festivities involved a birthday lunch for his mom at Chapell's in North Kansas City, some last minute shopping at Zona Rosa (I only lost him once.), a race against the clock at Hyvee before they closed for the night, and then snacks and punch at my dad & stepmom's house in Gardner. We got all kinds of goodies there and finished off the evening sipping wine and watching Christmas Vacation - a movie which will never get old for me.

Christmas morning! I made Chris Cakes pancakes (I tinkered a bit with the recipe so we called them "Riss Cakes") with a homemade syrup that would make Buddy the Elf proud. Then, we made a quick stop to spread some Christmas cheer to my sister before it was off to BF's parents' in Kearney. I MAY have gorged myself on crackers and spreads and turkey and rolls and potatoes and ice cream cake but you'll never prove it. We had a delightful time and I'm so grateful that I could be included.

Unfortunately, only sporadic portions of the festivities were photographically documented due to my creative "storing" location for my camera and charger. It's in a different place every time. The adventure happens when I try to remember where I put it.

presents!

We enjoyed fiddling with the settings on the camera to get some pretty colorful pictures.

Boyfriend always pointing camera at me.

retaliation.

Someone likes tools.

wonderment.

More to come after the New Year's weekend extravaganza in Austin! Our flight leaves at 6am Friday which though I'm pretty sure is illegal at least puts us in Austin early enough to count Friday as a whole day. But 6am? Who's idea was that? (I think it was mine.)