Christmas 2009

This year has gone by so quickly!  We spent Christmas this year in Sweet Home.  We headed in on Christmas Eve and went to church at 5pm.  Mom really wanted to go to at 10pm but Zack and I didn't want to fall asleep.  Attending church in Sweet Home is probably one of my least favorite things.  I never like the homily or the singing.  It makes me feel bad to dislike mass but I don't know what I could do to enjoy it more.  I guess I need to start focusing on just being there with family.  I like to attend Prince of Peace here in Houston but my all time favorite is St Michael.  We don't ever go there anymore since it's in the Galleria area.

Back to the subject of Christmas in Sweet Home.  On Christmas morning, we got up and headed to Mamo's house for the annual Janak family get together.  This year is probably the last or second to last time we'll attempt this event.  Many of the family members don't attend anymore and we end up with WAY too much food.  Mamo thinks she has to make enough food for 50 people when we only need for 20.  Below is a photo of some of the food.

After we eat, there is always the debate of taking leftovers.  I don't usually want any since everything is loaded with salt and butter.  I did take some fried chicken.  You can't beat my Uncle Ronnie's fried chicken!

We then sat down in the living room so Mamo could open her Christmas gifts.  We gave here a gift certificate to her favorite lunch spot.  Heather got her some gloves that ended up being a little too small.  Jamie gave her some silver shoes.  Apparently, Mamo has been asking for silver shoes to wear to Jamie's wedding.  She was very excited about these shoes!

Christmas night we opened our presents at Mom and Dad's house.  It was great!  Zack gave me a beautiful pair of pearl earrings and a cross necklace.    I had mentioned probably 6-9 months ago that I'd like a pair of pearl earring and he remembered.  I have a great husband!  He also gave me a sweater and Star Trek DVD.  I got Christmas dishes from Mom and Dad.  They are so cute!  Heather & Casey gave me an iTunes gift card and Russ gave me the Twilight series.

A platter showing my cute Christmas dish design.

Not the greatest pic but I had my new earrings on.

Zack didn't get anything too lavish since he got the piano not to long ago.  I gave him a few sweaters and DVDs.  Mom and Dad gave him a pocket knife, travel case for the piano and an espresso maker (not the super fancy Williams Sonoma kind).

Book from Zack's mom.

I usually try to buy a funny or 'inside joke' gift for Zack.  I bought a Slap Chop for him because we joke about it and there is a cool video that a DJ remixed of the infomercial.  When he finished opening it, he laughed.   He then handed me my next gift to open.  I torn the paper and found a Slap Chop!  We all got a great laugh out of it.  I said that it shows that we know how each other think!

Zack opening his Slap Chop!

On Saturday, we headed to Gonzales to spend time with Mimi and Papa.  Nothing too exciting at their house.  I forgot to bring in my camera so I have no pictures.  It's nice to see some of my cousins.  They are little kids that are fun!

Zack and I heading home on Saturday evening.  We were planning on staying Saturday night but decided that avoiding the Sunday traffic would be great.

Overall, we had a great Christmas!  Next year, we'll spend it with Zack's family.  Maybe we'll have it at our house.