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Christmas '08 in Pictures!

The Christmas celebrations are in the books and one of the best things about this year's holiday was that it seemed very simple and joyful. There was almost no stress going from one place to the next; no fussing and fighting; gifts that everyone seemed to really love; and just a lot of simple joys in seeing everyone (and you all know that many times the holidays are NOT like that!).

So, I present to you a major photo overload recap of our Christmas. Grab you a cold drink and sit down for a spell, because you're going to be here for a while! LOL

Our celebrations involved a lot of fun stuff, like telling the Christmas Story in dramatic form...


Playing new card games with cousins right away...

Wrestling with more cousins...

And taking a much-needed nap between destinations...

And then, of course, the main event was gifts! (Sometimes I have to remind myself what it was like to be a child surrounded by adults who wanted to sit there and eat and chat and do anything except unwrap gifts. I used to hate that! I'd sit there impatiently, twiddling my thumbs, internally begging the grown-ups to plleeeeeaaasssse get into the living room so we could open our gifts!)

I loved some of the really unique gifts that the girls got, like these vintage dolls that my grandmother had sent from Texas to the girls (Grandma has always collected dolls and she thinks that these are from the late 60s)...

And the cash gift from Gary's Mom made into a rose. The girls thought it was great (it was cash, after all!)...


And, oh my, more gifts...



On Christmas Eve, after the girls are tucked into bed (or, in this case, all passed out on Sydney's floor for a Christmas Sleepover!), Gary and I exchange our gifts with each other.

I think I did a good job with Gary's gifts! I had him all sorts of smaller goodies (several books he wanted, "House" on DVD, etc.), but then his bigger gift totally surprised him. He'd been saying how he wished he could play his old albums, so I found this really cool, retro-looking record player that also has a CD player, radio, and MP3 hookup. By Christmas Day afternoon, we were boogeying (is that a word?) to our old Air Supply and Abba albums and our old 45s of "Pop Music," "That's Rock n Roll" (by Shaun Cassidy! LOL), and assorted Prince songs. It was like Flashbacks with the Wrays. Too much fun!

The girls were so excited about their gifts for me! They told me that they "went together" and they really conspired a lot building up to it. All I have to say about it is that they KNOW ME WELL. They got me the coolest things to make cupcakes. Giant cupcake pans, mini cupcake pans, a book about cupcakes, and a cool mini cupcake display. I can't wait to make some cupcakes (I'm thinking there will be some big ones, some little ones, and some festive ones all displayed in the fun holder, all for New Year's!)...

And Gary treated me great, as he always does! He got me some of the things I requested and then surprised me with some really sweet gifts.

I am smelling GOOD now, with my requested Harjuku "Love" perfume and with the unexpected "Candy Apple" lotion and bubble bath from Bath & Body Works (if you haven't discovered this scent yet, you might want to go get you some before the holiday season is over. It's only sold during the holidays, and it is UNbelievably good!)

DVDS...

A cappucino machine...

And the most original gift of all. These were made by an artist friend of ours and are so cool! If you look very closely at the first one, you can see "Cheryl" etched into the design. The three he gave me say "Cheryl," "Gary," and "Wray." Now I've got to find the perfect place to display them!


(Best gifts not photographed? The 400-count sateen sheet set--Divine!!--the Dallas Cowboys tee--although I'm seriously put out with my Boys after they sucked it up tonight in their game--, a chenille bathrobe, a crystal wine stopper with a "W" inside of it, several new books, a Snowman cookie jar, some new stemware. I feel pampered, to say the least!)

But, really, the best part of Christmas is being with family and friends. Taking stock of how much you have to be grateful for. Feeling joyful that you can be with these cool people. (And, yeah, taking pictures of them all!)





(But, wait...
Maybe the best part of this Christmas was Gary playing with the Wii after Santa delivered it, but before the girls even imagined waking up. Around 4 in the morning...LOL...


I hope that all of you had a WONDERFUL Christmas. I'm still totally enjoying taking it easy and am being sorta lazy when it comes to my blog-hopping. But I'm going to try and stop by and see all of you very soon!

Bunches of hugs to all of you!