MY FAVORITE SEASON

I've got to get better about this blogging thing. I mean, it's the holidays and I should be expressing all of my joy and stress and love and stuff!!! Right?

I love the winter season. It is seriously my most favoritest time of year. (couldn't you just SING that?) Maybe it's because I was born in December, or because I was an only child, the only granddaughter, and everyone's "princess". Either way, I love it none the less. I was always spoiled with my birthday being 3 days before Christmas. Everyone always says "Poor you! Having your birthday so close to a holiday!" I'm not sure why this would be a bad thing.

This year I expressed to my loving husband that I really didn't want to celebrate my birthday with much other than dinner and a movie. Did he listen? No. We came home from our spa day to a house full of beautiful people that love me. It was so sweet, so nice, and made me see stars. And by that I mean I was so exhausted I could barely make out everyone's faces. I tried to pull it together for the hour that we had cake, but I just felt almost delusional. Like maybe a little buzzed. I was that tired. None the less it was so sweet of him to do that, and I really did enjoy the company.

Christmas eve was spent at my Mother in Law's. Ryan's sister and her husband and kids were there. It was so fun to watch the kids play together, open their presents, and just be a family. Even if Branson refused to eat anything other than chips and bread. Christmas morning we were up bright and early at 5 am. Branson is for sure part Coonradt, can't WAIT to see what Santa brought! We opened presents, he loved it and looked super cute doing it in his white and red striped xmas pj's. At 10 we went to my dads house. He and his wonderful girlfriend went ALL OUT for Branson. I was pretty sure after opening all his gifts we would have to buy a new house. Or at least add on. My dad cooked an awesome breakfast, and I was stunned. I seriously never knew my dad could cook. I didn't even know that he knew how to turn anything in the kitchen on besides the coffee pot! We had pancakes, eggs, bacon and ham. And coffee. It was soooo good. (*side note, what is it about parents that when you decide "the adults aren't going to exchange gifts" they think those rules don't apply to them???) Anyhow. We left Grumpa and Lainie's ready for a nap. We had to be back up and at em at 4 pm, for my most favoritest part of Christmas ever. Dinner at Nana and Pop's. We always have a homemade salad followed by the most AMAZING prime rib. To say Nana is a good cook is an understatement. And my mom made this chocolate moose that was delectable. We left fat and happy. And brought leftovers home so we could stay fat and happy for a few days after :) Ryan picked up Keenan from the airport Christmas night and he came home to open presents. I love it when Keenan is here. We all do. Branson is just so in awe of him, he loves his big brother so much.

So here we are, a few days later, and I'm sitting her doing whatever I can do not have to put away the decorations. It's like the magic disappears once you take the tree down, or my counter top Santa goes back in his box. I think I'll push it out until New Years. that's Ok, right?

JUST

*Ryan shaved his beard off and Branson screamed. Didn't recognize him.

*Branson is talking SOOOO much.

*No gift exchange between adults this year, *WHEW*

*Do all toddlers refuse to eat healthy food? I'm wondering how I can sneak spinach into bread and cheese...

*Here are some pictures from Hawaii (late, I know. As always)

FEELING A LITTLE....

Why is it that turning 27 seems so OLD? I'm not having a birthday this year. I'm having dinner with my hubby and calling my mom and dad to thank them for putting me here on this earth, and thats it. My friends and I are all in agreeance, 27 is old. I even told Ryan when explaining how old I really feel, "that's how old YOU were when we started dating!". I'm not sure he appreciated that or not, but it's the truth! And he seemed so much older, and so much more grown up than me at that time, only the tender age of 22. And now, here I am. I'm older, maybe grown up, and feeling it. I don't know if it's just the chaotic last year I've had but I'm REALLY feeling it. And I'm pretty sure I look it as well.