The Packards: Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

We were so blessed to have such a great Christmas this year. It was definitely different from those in years past, but nevertheless a good one. Most Christmases we're with our big immediate families, which is always fun, but this year we stayed in Texas and had our own Christmas. We're blessed to have great family and friends close by to help make us feel loved.

Christmas morning was glorious. We slept in, relaxed, had a nice warm fire, and opened presents. Sean (hates giving and receiving presents) is always uneasy around Christmas time. He hates all the stress of the Holidays, and isn't really into the whole "present thing". When we started discussing a gift budget this year he was excited when I suggested getting a bigger and nicer combined present, and then just getting one small surprise for each other. He told me that was the best Christmas present ever, ha ha.

After breakfast, I asked Sean if he wanted to open his stocking or presents first. He then replied, "Oh crap, stockings!" Sigh...at that point all that can be done is to laugh, so that's exactly what I did. Oh Sean, I love you still. It was comical enough to land itself as a Facebook status though. He told me next year I needed to remind him to buy things for my stocking, and I told him I thought a bright red sock with my name on it that was hanging above the fireplace for weeks would have sufficed. He thought that ALL HE HAD TO DO was get ONE present this year, so that's what he got. So, here are some pictures of Sean opening his stocking. :)

It was pretty funny, I got a lot of comments about the stocking fiasco on Facebook and in person. Apparently I'm not the only wife that has experienced stocking trauma. Somehow, we still survive!

I've been wanting a new digital camera FOREVER, and when we got our new iPhones in October I realized the camera on my phone was better than my actual digital camera. Sad times. If that wasn't a reason to get a new camera, I don't know what is. I got my camera a year before I started hygiene school...so it's 7 years old, yikes. My first digital camera I got in college I broke a year or so after I had gotten it, so I never dreamed this one would last so long.

Obviously this was our big gift that we shared. I thought it would be perfect timing to get a new camera with us going to Europe in April. Sean thought I was so lame for wrapping up the camera and putting it under the tree, but we needed something under there! I will never stop getting excited for Christmas, even when I know exactly what I'm getting.

When we went to go open presents Sean was surprised/mad that there were more than 3 presents underneath the tree. He asked me what happened, we were only supposed to get each other ONE thing and then have a combined gift?! So sue me...I returned some things a few days before Christmas and was only able to get store credit, and Sean is always needing new clothes, so technically I didn't buy anything and didn't go over our Christmas budget. :)

I mean, who doesn't love presents?

My Christmas surprise from Sean, a new watch. I've been eying white watches for years, and he noticed. I love it, well done Sean!

Sean's Christmas surprise. I was so excited about this! I had been wanting to do one of these for years! When we lived in Provo I saw one done, but they're a little pricey and of course in college we didn't have the money. I'm so happy with the way it turned out, he likes is too...I think.

After we opened presents and lounged around the house some more, we went over to the Montgomery's house for dinner. They were nice enough to invite us over to their Christmas family dinner. Sarah did a great job hosting, everything was delicious! I even took this picture with our brand new camera! I know I'm a rookie, and I have no idea what I'm doing with this nice thing, but auto sure looks a lot better than our old one!

I was sporting my new spiffy scarf that Aunt Elaine gave me for Christmas. I love it, she's basically amazing. Aunt Elaine, Sean wears the shorts Uncle Mark picked out for him almost every day. Seriously, you guys are amazing!

Gerret's parents were in town from California, and had fun catching up with Sean.

But they had even more fun catching up with this guy!

Gerret and Sarah had both their parents over, Sarah's sister, two of Sarah's brothers, and all their kids. Needless to say, it was a full house! They were so nice to have us over, I hope we didn't put a damper on their fam time. It was good to see everyone again, we feel like we're adopted family! :)

Oh yeah...it snowed on Christmas. Sean and I hate snow, and cold, and everything associated with it. Sean always says, "The only white Christmas I want to see is a white sandy beach." AMEN.

Of course, if I was a kid I probably would have thought it was fun...you know, it was Christmas and all. We watched them all freeze from the inside. :)

I was having too much fun playing with my camera inside. Come on, my old camera never could have taken pictures this clear! I'm already so glad we bought it. We left Gerret and Sarah's after the kiddos got back inside from playing in the snow. Sean said he wanted to give them their family time, but then when we got home I realized why he wanted to leave...the Lakers were on. Surprise, surprise...

After the game we stuffed our faces some more, and relaxed even more. Later that night we went over to our friends Nikki and Ben's house to play some games, and Ben and Nikki showed me how to use my camera some more!

Sean and Ben playing some games

This is my special friend Nikki, when she sees this picture she's going to kill me. It was too cute not to post. Love you Nikki!

Boys and their toys...

Austin was very excited to show us all of his new toys.

We seriously have such great friends!

Like Sean always says, the Holidays shouldn't be about the presents. It's really about counting your blessings, and sharing those with all your loved ones-family and friends. I'm truly grateful for our amazing friends and family. It's so wonderful to be loved by so many.