Merry Christmas, Baby

After getting off work early on Christmas eve, I was so excited to experience Bobby's and my first Christmas together! I had bought a 8.5 pound honey-glazed ham the day before in order to make our own little Christmas feast... with that huge ham, there was nothing little about it (we now have 4 Tupperware containers filled with Ham)! As Bobby watched "The Christmas Story" on TV for the 2947th time, I broke out our fine China and crystal as well as some candle sticks and our fancy place mats. Yes, I even folded the napkins like fans! We listened to Nat King Cole's Christmas album, turned on our "fire" place, and enjoyed our first Christmas eve together! We even got dressed up! It was very romantic...
Killian was not to be left out. During dinner, he quietly unwrapped the foil covering the ham and snagged himself an entire slice of ham! Once we caught him, he was dashing like Rudolph across the apartment with a huge ham steak in his mouth! Although we don't have a picture of that, he did join us at the table after dinner (see below).
After exchanging gifts, we changed into sweats and snuggled up to watch "The Holiday," one of my favorite chick flicks... Bobby, you're a good sport!
We talked over dinner about how blessed we are this Christmas. Driving up to Baltimore on Christmas day was the most enjoyable ride. The roads were empty, everything was so peaceful. As we drove, all the little houses along the way had smoke out their chimney's. Maybe those folks were dressed up like Eskimo's, too... who knows? It made both of us realize that Jesus came to give everybody peace. Despite the hustle and rush right before Christmas was ceased on Christmas morning. Just as Joseph and Mary on their way to Bethlehem were caught in the hustle of traveling to their hometown along with everyone else, the whole world felt peace on Christmas morning all because of Jesus Christ. It was amazing to see our living God still give peace to this very crazy world to every home on Christmas morning. We hope that all of you had a very wonderful Christmas where ever you were and that you held the love of Christ close in your heart. Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure from our first Christmas!

Oh, Cat...

... guess we should have named him Yuengling!

Snow! Snow! Snow!

We had our first (and probably last!) snow here in Southern Maryland last week! Hard to imagine, since yesterday was 60 degrees outside! Being surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay and 2 other rivers makes it almost impossible for us to get snow down here! Regardless, that evening, Bobby and I curled up by our faux-fireplace, watched Christmas movies and ate some soup! Ahh... I love Christmas time!

And of course, the snow didn't last long, but the sunrise was beautiful the next morning!

Chestnuts Roasting

Although we don't have an open fire, nor do we have Jack Frost nipping at our noses (yet), our home is full of Christmas warmth and boughs of holly, fa la la la. In all seriousness, Bobby and I spent last Thursday evening picking out our first Christmas tree and decorating our home. As the Charlie Brown's Christmas soundtrack played softly in the background, we both sailed through our modest collection of ornaments we collected during our engagement last Christmas. Bobby did the easy parts like unwrapping the tree from the netting, sawing off the end, setting it up in the stand, filling the pot with some outrageous Christmas Tree concoction, stringing the lights, etc, while I had to do the hard job of actually putting the ornaments on! ;o)
While unwrapping all of our Christmas things, we were delighted to find that most of the Christmas things we own are pieces from both of our families. Hand-knit stockings hang from our "faux-mantle,"a tradition my Grandmother started for my family. To carry on the tradition, my sister April has taken up the task and presented Bobby with his stocking right before our wedding. We also have a "vintage" Advent Calender, found by my sister Jen. My parents have an identical calender, made by my Aunt in Chicago. A large amount of our Christmas ornaments were hand made and crafted by members of Bobby's family, Aunt Suze, Zachary Jones, and Mom Barrick. A wonderful symbol of two families joining together.
We have so much to be thankful for this Christmas. Today at church, the band started singing classic Christmas Carols. For some reason, I am very emotional at Christmas time, thinking of how a precious baby came in to this world to live, only to die an imminent death. How selfish we are this time of year, always expecting what we want, making sure we beat that super-mom into the store to get "it" first, zooming into the closest parking space while cutting someone else off. I find myself guilty of those things, but I'm always brought back to reality when I think about how unselfish God was to send us his only son. Not just a child of many, his ONLY child. Our pastor explained that gifts are often most appreciated when the recipient understands the thought and sacrifice behind the gift. So it should be with God this Christmas. I pray that you are thankful in your heart for the most spectacular gift you could ever receive - eternal life through Jesus Christ in the form of a new born baby.
For those of you who are unable to visit us or have not yet, here are some pictures of our home all decorated for Christmas!

Our Advent Calender made by Aunt Jane Nevins in Chicago

Killian likes to sniff things and eat glitter. Luck him, because right here, he's doing both!

My boys hard at work.

Our Apartment!!

Bob the Builder

...So I've learned very quickly NEVER to describe Bobby as "Bob the Builder." This past week, my tinkering husband decided to make me a coffee table! But first, a little back-story:

I come home from work on Saturday afternoon to find Bobby, fully-clad in his saw dust goggles with our coffee table (given to us from St. Agnes Rectory) clamped to the kitchen island counter... saw in hand. I'm greeted cheerfully with a "Hey Honey!" and the saw turn on and goes right through the middle of our coffee table! Nightmare. I soon discovered that he had decided to make us a TV stand so our DVD player can fit under the TV. So I spent the remaining part of the afternoon in the other room until he was finished. We now have a very sleek and modern TV stand... needless to say, it left us coffee table-less.

Which brings me up to date. Last Sunday after church, he comes home and sits right down at the computer and begins to make drawings and careful calculations and designs wonderful plans for a new coffee table! So after about 6 trips to Lowes, we finally get all of the tools and materials to make this coffee table. After about two days of sawing, drilling, chiseling, sanding and measuring, the coffee table is put together! After some more staining and glossing, the table is finished! So proud of my little builder, I give him a big hug and say, "You're my little Bob the Builder!" (For those of you who aren't understanding my story at this point, "Bob the Builder" is a children's TV show about Bob, a builder, who is friends with various other carpenter tools). To spare you the details, my comment was not taken very well and I found myself furiously baking cookies that night to redeem myself...

Here are some pictures of Bobby - NOT "Bob the Builder" while making the table!