Saturday, December 29, 2012

Christmas 2012

Our first North Carolina Christmas turned out to be pretty good. We missed being with family, but wanted to spend our first year in our new home. I wanted to continue as well as start traditions. Now that things are winding down, I am remembering a few details I forgot. Oh well. There is always next year. A few days before Christmas we made Graham cracker houses.
One tradition I am continuing is making a breakfast casserole that we have enjoyed on the Brooks side all our married life and who knows how long before that. We just call it Christmas casserole. A new tradition I added to the old is to make fresh giant cinnamon rolls the night before. I use a recipe that mixes the dough in the bread machine. Another new tradition is I bought 6 stockings and filled them with candy and goodies for the family. The boys grandma would do stocking when they were little, but we didn't do them ourselves until this year. It was fun that even Bri was surprised! The Friday before Christmas we celebrated with a couple from church. We have adopted each other and are so thankful to have them in our lives. They came over for dinner and Bri grilled out steaks, I made garlic butter shrimp, cheddar biscuits, bacon and onion green beans, baked sweet potatoes, and mashed potatoes and gravy. Dessert was maple pecan pie and chocolate pie. After dinner we open gifts. We gave him a history book and her a watch. They gave each of the boys a $2 bill and gold coin. Bri got a very sweet sentimental ornament in memory of his Mom. I received a set of 8 ramikins and 2 pie plated. The biggest gift was a Wii for the family.
Christmas morning we had breakfast and read the Christmas story form Luke 2. Then we opened gifts. The boys and I went in together and got Bri a coffee maker.
Caleb and Jacob each got pocket knives. Jacob got an Ultimate frisbee. Caleb got a game for the Wii. Nathan got more Legos and a Cars book, and walkie talkies.Luke got a tablet. I got a book written by our midwife about her life story, and some chocolates.