Aren’t these ‘mommy-and-me’ Rifle Paper Co. Nutcracker aprons (from Hedley & Bennett) the best?! Maelle and I put them to good use decorating all our Christmas cookies!
Abigail and her family were here for Christmas this year, and the grown-up kids were able to catch a Bills game together, which was really fun.
We started Christmas morning at our house, and then headed to my in-laws’ for the rest of the day.
After all the presents had been opened, we had one final surprise for all the kids. We had them line up, and they each received a gift bag, which they opened at the same time. Each child received a Minnie or Mickey Mouse stuffed animal…and then we told them we were going to Walt Disney World! Maelle was so excited–she immediately said, “I know what that is!” The trip will be in February!
That evening, Marvin and I took some food back to our house to cook, and his Yorkshire Pudding almost lit my brand-new oven on fire…but it didn’t. I don’t have any photos (we were too busy trying to open windows!), but let’s just say there was way too much oil and way too much smoke, but at least they tasted good.
Remember that dilemma I had with my new ski jacket? Well, I’d asked my MIL for new ski gloves for Christmas, and chose the lavender color to coordinate with the jacket. However, after seeing them together, I felt like the Raspberry color (which had been the color I liked initially) would look better. (Below is a photo of my new gloves and ski jacket, with a friend’s mittens in Raspberry. The Raspberry really pops, while the Lavender just looks washed out, IMO.). So, after much discussion and debate, I was able to exchange them for the pink ones.
Despite the holiday and having family in town, Andrew and I were able to get away overnight! Andrew had some special hotel room points to use before the end of the year, and Abigail offered to have Maelle spend the night with them at my in-laws’ house before they headed home. We had dinner at Siena and stayed at the Reikert House in Snyder.
A few days later, we joined friends in Ellicottville for NYE. We took almost no pictures, but we did a beautiful ski puzzle and enjoyed watching the kids play in the snow the next morning.
We wrapped up our holiday season exchanging presents with friends a few days in the New Year. I made a peppermint cheesecake that was delicious! It was a great way to use up all those leftover candy canes…
Happy 2025 everyone!
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