My first Southern California Christmas

Me and Sean Christmas Day at his family's house.

This Christmas was the first Christmas holiday in 5 years that I did not travel home to Merced. Reason? A combination of the fact that traveling on the holiday weekend sucks and that Sean and I are going to San Francisco next weekend to celebrate New Years. It just felt right to be in my little home, with my babies, my cute little tree, and my sweetheart.

On Christmas Eve I felt a ping of sadness as I realized (thanks to facebook) that the whole family was together eating tamales and hanging out without me. Boo. But it was remedied by the 11pm Christmas Eve service with Halogen. Seeing my church family on the eve of Jesus's birth was great. I am always melancholy being away from them on the special celebration so it helped make up for the fact that I was homesick earlier.

We enjoyed a few days of hanging out with friends here prior to the holiday as well. Playing German Shepherd-Opoly with Christa and Greg was a great memory. The game was their Christmas gift and ended up being really fun! 

Those two little dogs sure did love having presents in the stocking come Christmas morning. Daisy did not put her new piggy squeaking toy down (she still hasn't). She played, and played, and played ALL DAY! Pnut wasn't as concerned with the stocking toys as he was the bacon chocolate bar that Sean left in my stocking. LOL. Pnut...he's so funny.

"I'm still not putting this pig down" Here is a video of her enjoying her present. Hilarious!

"I'm so sleepy now after all the playing. I have stolen my brother's toy goose too and am using it all as a pillow"

My sweetheart gave me so many awesome gifts. This ring is one of my favorites. Isn't it soooo me? Marcasite. Love it. I also got a few more rings, a necklace, a super fuzzy robe, wool slippers, a Marilyn Monroe book and box movie set, some candies, a book of off the beaten path locations to check out in the United States, and in the card he gave me he said it was redeemable for one flight to anywhere in the U.S. (hence the book). So that was super sweet!! I don't know where we will go but I am leaning toward Colorado (MicroBrew festival time!). I gave him a black leather travel tote (duffle bag) with matching toiletries bag, a golf vest he wanted and a blueray DVD of Kick Ass.
Then, we quickly headed over to his parents house and spent the entire day over there.

This is how they do Christmas. haha. This is a shot of some of their gifts to each other. 

Here is a family portrait I was able to capture with my film Minolta.

His brother-in-law playing pool.

Oh it was sooo nice to have some time with baby Mackenzie. She is a doll and I had so much fun loving her and putting her to sleep. Every time she laid in my arms she was outski. Everyone commented on how comfortable she was with me and that I am a natural. It made me feel soooo good to hear. I love me some baby love. Here are some more I got of little Mac.

Cousins.

Seans Sister and her husband Stefan. They are so freaking awesome. I adore them.

Mac and her Uncle Sean

Seans nephew Matthew.

Snowmans!

"No more pictures please!" haha.

All in all it was great. I love Sean's family. They are a blast, make me feel right at home, and are my kind of people. I am looking forward to spending time with mine this next weekend though cause Christmas just isn't complete until I've spent time with them too.

Merry Christmas!