The Blessed Bryants: The Most Exciting Christmas Ever....

That's what Ashlyn said about our Christmas this year!! We did have a great one...except for the nasty stomach bug that decided to make it's way into Ashlyn's tummy while we were at my Grandmother's house celebrating with my Dad's side of the family. She was very sick for about 8 hours and then had all her energy back within 2 days.

Each year we spend Christmas Eve with Chad's mom. We went over and had dinner with her and had a great time! We did things a little different this year. Normally we have ham and all the "fixin's" but this year we had some wonderful steak, baked potatoes, salad, and bread. It was a nice change!

Christmas day we were up by 7:00 and seeing what Santa left for Ashlyn. She didn't want a whole lot this year so Santa had it easy. She was thrilled to see the 3 things she asked for sitting out when she walked into the den with very sleepy eyes! Morgan and Madyson hit the jackpot this year too. They are at the age where they want lots of clothes and then a few things on the side. They better not complain for a while that they "have NOTHING to wear"!!

Chad and I had a great day too! We really love watching the girls get excited about everything they get and I think we both could care less if we get anything. BUT...we did get some nice stuff and were happy because of it! :-) Chad needed some new clothes so I got him a good many things. I also gave him Madden 09 for the Wii so he'd have something to have fun with. He bought me a new wardrobe which I knew about since I went and picked everything out. He did surprise me though with a gift certificate to take a stone, that was left to me by my grandmother, to a jewelry store and have it set. I was so excited and can't wait to take it. My grandmother, Nanoo, was so special to me and it's going to be extra special to wear a ring with her stone in it!

Later that day we went to my sister Amy's for a late lunch. That's always one of my favorites because we normally have soup and little finger foods to go with it. This year she made a wonderful Shrimp Chowder and Vegetable Soup. My mom made Poppy Seed Ham Rolls and wonderful Venezuelan Empanadas. I made a Red Velvet Cheesecake (click for recipe) and some sugar cookies. We always eat very well when we get together! :-) The cousins always have so much fun together. This year the big girls put on a show about the birth of Jesus and the little girls followed with their own show....or should I say shows. They did 4 or 5. My favorite was one they did about Santa and they creatively used a big box and Santa's sleigh and a gigantic dog as the reindeer.

Now, for the most exciting thing of the whole day. Chad and I had been having to talk in code OR in Spanish for the last few weeks. We had been planning something BIG for the girls. I just knew I was going to slip and tell them because I was about to bust with excitement but I did good and held it in! We were finally able to tell them that WE'RE GOING ON A DISNEY CRUISE!!! We are all so excited because this is the first cruise any of us has ever been on. My sister, Katie and Chad's mom are also going with us. We will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida on April 2nd to the Bahamas. We'll spend the first day in Nassau and then spend the next day at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. We'll return on Sunday, April 5th.

So...I think Ashlyn was right. This was the most exciting Christmas ever.

My Grandma and niece, Quinn