Life is just a bowl full'a cherries….

Merry Christmas Eve! This is my second favorite day of the year. Christmas being the first.

My Christmas Eve was just a bowl full of cherries!

For breakfast at least.

Yogurt, cereal, and Christmas cookie mix!

Top 5 Favorite Things about Christmas Eve

1.) Spending time with all my favorite people.

2.) The absolute chaos at the Hagan's

3.) Everything about Justin's grandma's house

4.) My mom's holiday salad

5.) Coming home with my family and getting all excited and ready for the morning

Christmas Traditions

1.) We always open one gift on Christmas eve "from my grandma"…really my mom buys it since grandma has wayyyy too many grandkids to buy for.

2.) My sister and I used to sleep together every Christmas eve, until like 2 years ago. I loved it, she hated it. Apparently, I'm a bit of a bed hog.

3.) Always open stockings first, then presents, then breakfast. We have our priorities straight.

4.) Always have my mom's family christmas on Christmas day and the Hagan's on Christmas eve.

5.) The dogs ALWAYS open presents too. It's not an option.

I'm not kidding. They literally open them themselves.

When I went down to Indy the other day to spend time with my college girlfriends, we were watching these videos that I completely forgot about…just kidding I didn't forget….just kidding I didn't forget I just didn't want you to see them…just kidding just kidding just kidding….

Here is my Christmas present to you.

Anyway, onto my other Christmas Eve activities.

This year, J and I had four Christmases (Plural of Christmas always gets me Christmi?)

Since I was anticipating consuming a massive amount of sugar and ham in the next few days, I spent about 40 minutes with my old friend Alicia. 

She's the one in the front…look at that butt…yeah…she must work out..

She made me do an obscene amount of lunges. She’s no fun. I doubt she even celebrates Christmas. Since no weights were to be found in the house, I used two jugs of some liquid I found in the garage. I spent the majority of my workout hoping that they wouldn’t explode from all the shaking. It was probably lighter fluid. Smart Brittany. Smart.

Jugs.

Anyway, after my life was spared, I rushed off to celebrate with Justin’s family at his grandma (g-ma) and grandpa’s (bappy) house. These two are so precious and are so fond of Pepsi, they have an entire room dedicated to the brand. Do NOT. I repeat, do NOT ask for a Coke at their house. You will be kindly escorted off the premises in a prompt manner.

Could get ugly.

Much eating, present opening, and playing with Braden was in store for us there. Braden is Justin’s cousin’s son. Somehow I always end up spending more time at the kids table than I do with the adults. I just somehow relate to them better. You’re not surprised? I didn’t think so. To my defense though, Braden did request to sit by me at dinner (even though I would have requested to sit by him anyway).

Braden all tuckered out

Snuggies with Aunt Kristi

Here are some pictures from Christmas Eve celebration number one.

Two words. Shrimp ring.

Cousin bonding.

Justin’s family has a tradition of giving out 3 or 4 scratch off lottery ticket to everyone there. We always scratch them off in hopes that we’ll be the one to win big that year.

 I won a dollar and was feelin’ pretty sweet until I realized other people won $14 (cough, Anna, cough). Some people have awwwlll the luck. Oh well, Justin and I are pooling our 3 dollars together and investing in something awesome! Maybe we’ll get real crazy with a package of Warheads and see who’s taste buds are killed off first.

Christmas numero dos involved more food, even though we were stuffed from the first stop, neither of us could resist the buckeyes. Apparently Kara couldn’t either since she’s married to one. Sucker. But seriously, they were the shizz.

Get buck.

Unfortunately, we lost two members of our family and had to put our grandmas in a nursing home this year for Alzheimer’s, so this Christmas was very bittersweet. It certainly felt vacant where Denny and Chris had once been, but we certainly felt lucky that we could be there for each other on such an important holiday. My cousin Cadie (Denny’s daughter) tempered the sadness by honoring both family members with a poem entitled “These Hands” written about her dad (my uncle) that was able to describe the loss that everyone felt this year.

Cadie is an incredibly talented writer and my hope is that if you lost someone you love this year, it will help you get through it.

                                                              These Hands

These hands were once young and carefree

Now weathered, calloused, and lined

The mark of where he’s been

And the ruggedness of this life

These hands were nicked and bruised

Belonging to a disciplined, hard worker

They wringed themselves in worry

Always looking for knowledge….a seeker, a life-long learner

These hands have hugged a feeble soul

Wiped away falling tears

Pieced together a broken heart

And cast away unspoken fears

These hands were generous with their blessings

They gave freely

Never underestimated the difference they could make

To give hope, faith, and healing

These hands were courageous

They were passionate and tempered

They stood up and spoke

They sat down and surrendered

These hands rose up in praise

They made beautiful music

A unique treat for the ear

These hands brought joy and lifted spirits

These hands belonged to an entrepreneur

Always biting off more than they could chew

They proved the greatest failure is not trying

And that hard work will trump talent every time  

They never gave up, never gave in

Didn’t submit to failure

Stood by their convictions

Masters of their unsaid words…never waivered

These hands made mistakes

They begged for forgiveness openly

These hands were impossible to disappoint

Because they embraced God’s grace and mercy.   

These hands constantly searched

Scoured the bible

Looked for answers

For second chances and revival

They scratched a curious head

Constantly contemplated this world of wonders

Always questioned, but always believed

Mesmerized by the seasons of life and all the colors

And even though these hands won’t walk me down the aisle

Embrace me on my wedding day

Or hold my first born

This heart will always be full from all the work these hands have endured.              

These hands folded in prayer

Time and time again

These are the very hands that God reached out to

And led home where it all began

These hands…my father’s hands….I will hold again

Young and carefree

After making sure proper homage was paid to those whos absence was felt this year, we needed a little fun to get us through the night. Let the White Elephant begin.

Wine glasses and Pinot Grigio for the lady!!!!

Yayyy!!! No more serving wine to my guests in polka dot plastic margarita cups!

Here are some more pictures of my family.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed...but I have quite a big humongous family that inevitably keeps multiplying.

A few awesome things this year….Since my grandma moved into a nursing home this year and couldn't possibly use her 1200 boxes of ornaments on her tree in the home, we got to take a keepsake home this year!

We chose a rocking horse my dad has had since he was a baby and then a few gold plated ornaments that said "The Hagans" and the year.. we got 1973 and 1978 I think. Too cool

Also, we each got to take one of grandma and grandpa's books (mostly cooking and DIY books, although my cousin Kristi got stuck with Master's and Johnson human sexuality books….gross)…

 and a tool from the kitchen and a tool from grandpa's garage.

I got an old Betty Crocker cookbook, Plum Island, 

and a quick and easy quilt making book. Not sure I'll ever have the desire to make a quilt, but it's cool to know I could if I ever want to do so.

I imagine if I ever did quilt, I would make something like this exquisite creation.

After all the excitement, we were all exhausted and headed to the lake to meet up with Kara and Aaron who were waiting for us there.