Changing Traditions

Our family Christmas traditions seem to be changing yearly since Matt and I got married. I guess it all part of growing up, being a part of a new family and welcoming new members into your family. I will admit, its hard and sometimes, I hate that things have to change, but it's kind of fun right now with each year being a little different. However, one thing remains constant: we are on the road A LOT.

My brother's and I Christmas Eve.

Christmas Celebration at the Roman's.

Matt's family tradition is a Christmas Eve party at his parents home with family friends. After a few years of missing the party, rushing back to make the part etc., his mom moved it to the 23rd. However this year, it was on the 22nd. So our Christmas celebration started on Sunday evening at Matt's parents house. The party was a fun time with great food and nice people.

Christmas PJ's (I look thrilled).

Monday, Matt had to work so I finished some last minute Christmas preparations and started packing for my parent's house. The evening of the 23rd we went back to Matt's parents house for dinner and to celebrate Christmas with his grandparents, parents and sister and boyfriend. Since Matt's parents were leaving early in the morning to go to Florida, we opened gifts that evening in our Christmas PJ's :)

Tuesday, Christmas Eve, we got up and hit the road for my parents house. I helped mom in the kitchen the majority of the afternoon. My brothers and sister-in-law arrived later that afternoon. We hung out for a while before getting ready for mass. After mass we had a wonderful meal and celebrated Christmas with Billy and Megan before they went back home for the evening.

Festive beverages for the road.

Christmas morning, Matt was not up at 5:00 a.m. as promised - it was 6:45 a.m. which is much earlier than I would have preferred! By 7:30 a.m. they finally got mom and I out of bed. We opened gifts with my parents and Doug then got ready to go to Billy's house for lunch. We had a variety of chili at Billy's and enjoyed the company of his in-laws as well as each other again. Matt and I headed out around 2:30 p.m. to be at Nanny and Pappy's (Matt's grandparents) for their Christmas celebration.

Matt, Mandi, Brian and I at Nanny and Pappy's Christmas.

We finally returned home around 8:30 Christmas evening and we were so exhausted we pretty much went straight to bed! The next morning, we took out time getting up and packing to head to Nashville for Kibby Christmas. From our house, Nashville is only a four hour drive, and you gain an hour going down since they are on Central Time. We arrived at 604 and enjoyed visiting with everyone Thursday night. Friday we did a little shopping and then met up with everyone for more family time and the ever loved LCR. We left early Saturday morning so we could be back in Terre Haute in time for the ISU Men's basketball game. I have to admit, I was really excited to be back home for a few days before going back to work!