ornament craft exchange.

what a wonderful christmasy day today was! jason (boo's brother) and emilee came over and we went out to lunch, then drew names for an ornament exchange. we decided that we wanted to actually make our ornaments, so after lunch, we headed over to hobby lobby and schemed and shopped for supplies for about an hour, then came home to make our ornament for the person we drew! it was so incredibly fun. 

it just so happened that brian and i drew each other and jason and emilee drew each other. i made boo a UK basketball ornament:

boo made me a huge letter "C" with a snow-globe in the middle...it is very princessy and i am very impressed by his creativity :)

jason made emilee a snowman...it looked like something store bought, it was that good!

emilee's ornament for jason was so thoughtful. it looked like a big present and it had ten reasons why she loves jason inside. 

hanging our ornaments on the tree.

how cute :)

maybe we've started a tradition?

five days.

i am loving this week! our savior/bridegroom/best friend's birthday is in five days!

 this year we are spending christmas eve & christmas morning with my side of the family and then driving to kenucky, christmas afternoon, to have christmas dinner with brian's side of the family. we started a tradition last year where we each contribute something to christmas eve dinner, which we eat after our church's christmas eve service. my dad always makes steak, and the rest of the family has to draw between an appetizer, two side items, a salad, and a dessert. we drew tonight and brian and i will be making a side item. we dont know what we'll make yet, but we are thinking! 

since this is brian and i's first christmas as husband and wife, we want to have something special for just the two of us. so on christmas eve, we will wake up, in our own house, and i will make a spectacular breakfast. im thinking of taking a stab at this cinnamon baked french toast, courtesy of the pioneer woman. 

yessss, doesn't that look incredible? after breakfast, we'll exchange gifts and stockings and hang around for a little before we go to my parents. my aunt and cousins from denver will be here to celebrate with my family as well! it is always such a treat to see them. 

i received my first christmas gift a little early...saw yesterday that i got all a's this semester! (one was technically an a- which is weighted differently, but it's still an a in my book!)   

we have been singing christmas songs for worship during church and veritas the past few weeks and i love it. some of the lyrics are powerful. i love this part in o holy night:

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

i love that. jesus, your birth changed everything. 

and here's a sweet little picture from our most recent date night out. awww :)