Merry Christmas everyone!
I hope however you and your family spent this holiday season, it was full of love, peace, and prosperity.
Christmas 2011 was definitely one to remember.
It always starts on Christmas eve for Toly and me. We’ve started a tradition for as long as I can remember to celebrate “our” Christmas the night before. This year was particularly special to the both of us because it was the first Christmas in our new home.
The tradition has always gone as this. We make a special dinner together, we open presents from each other and we watch “It’s a Wonderful Life.” One of these years I will actually make it through the entire movie too.
After church, we got home and got started on dinner.
I let Toly choose the menu and he picked pasta with a bolognese sauce.
I made mine a vegetable bolognese and we served the sauce over whole wheat gnocchi.
Toly’s was a traditional meat sauce with bacon, ground beef and lots of red wine. He LOVES this dish.
Even though we exchanged presents a few weeks early this year, I still had a few things for him to open.
We ended our tradition with our annual viewing of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I made it more than halfway through this year!
This morning we woke up and got ready for the festivities. Every year, we’ve done Christmas morning at my parent’s house but this year, I got tricked volunteered to have it in our new home.
Within 5 minutes of everyone arriving, the house was filled with presents….
And food….
We have always done a huge brunch and this year, I had a blast putting together some of my favorite breakfast foods.
Baked Cranberry Walnut French Toast Casserole
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
Cranberry Orange Scones
There was so much more including eggs, a hash brown casserole, breads, fruit, bacon and sausage.
When our bellies were full, we moved on to our cardio for the day, opening presents.
Remember that list I made a few weeks ago? Well, I got nearly everything I asked for including this beautiful baby!
It’s gorgeous!
Although a little crazy with 20+ people here today, it was truly a wonderful Christmas.
May all of your days be merry and bright!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!
{ 11 comments }
It looks like you had such a lovely Christmas celebration! Your brunch spread is absolutely gorgeous. And I’m in love with that bag! <3
What a wonderful christmas/christmas eve!! The brunch spread looks so good! Glad santa was good to you
Aww what a great Christmas!! Lovely pics
I’m really glad everything worked out for you and went smoothly on Christmas! Hosting a family get together is SO stressful sometimes. You don’t mean for it to be, but you don’t want anyone to be disappointed/uncomfortable. Being with family though, is the most important part! Plus, that casserole looks AH-mazing and I’m pretty sure anywhere with THAT to eat would be a comfortable place for anyone
Glad to hear you had a great Christmas!
Looks like you had a wonderful Christmas!
It was a wonderful day, honey and you were the perfect hostess. Hope it wasn’t too stressful for you. Thank you for sharing your lovely home. Love Mom
Love you mom!
merry CHRISTmas lauren!
ever since i saw your facebook post about all the goodies you were making, i was excited to see this blogged about! (:
xo.
Merry Christmas to you too hun! I adore your Christmas pics this year. Too cute!
happy holidays, love! i am so happy we got to meet this year and i can’t wait to see you again! love you!
<3 you too girl! Can't wait until May!
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