I hope all of you who celebrated Christmas yesterday had a wonderful day!
Our Christmas was packed with family, food, running (ok – just me), and WAAAY too many presents.
Christmas Eve
It started Christmas Eve at the in-laws…
We had pork tenderloin, corn casserole, shrimp cocktail, candied carrots, and roasted veggies.
After gifts we packed up and headed home to get the kids in bed before Santa arrived (after sprinkling reindeer food, and putting out cookies, of course). We just got them in bed in the nick of time!
We actually managed to wrapped and have everything under the tree by 11 this year thanks to my secret wrapping elves – my mom and Norm. It was MUCH appreciated!
Christmas Day
The kids gave US a Christmas present and slept until 7. I was expecting a SUPER early wake up from B, but it didn’t happen.
After everyone was up, the kids decided they wanted to eat FIRST before opening presents (I’m not really sure who these kids are) so we cut up the coffee cake I made the night before and served it with some strawberries. Then present time commenced…
I’m pretty sure everyone got gifts they wanted – and stuff they didn’t know they wanted. I received a fancy flat iron (much needed!), champagne flutes, sweaters from LOFT, and tickets to see Coldplay next June (I actually bought them a few weeks ago). Oddly enough – I didn’t anything related to running this year!
Virtual Holiday 10K
After presents, my mom got ready to head back home and I got ready to run my Home for the Holidays Virtual 10K. (FYI – there’s still time to join in and run it!)
Norm had warned me that “felt like summer” outside (he wasn’t kidding) – but I still had to dress up in my Christmas attire.
The race was not pretty. It was 77 degrees at 10am – and I felt like death during most of the run. I ran my usual 6 mile route and added a little distance to tack on the .2.
The roads and the sidewalks were EMPTY but I’m pretty sure anyone who drove by me got a good laugh at my socks. Or they just thought I was crazy 
I did stop at Mile 4 and take a picture for some girls and their mom. Again, they probably thought I was crazy, although I didn’t even think about how nutty I looked to them until later.
The good news is that I finished my run in 59:32 — coming in JUST under my goal time of an hour. It’s definitely no PR, but I went in with low expectations. It wasn’t fast, but I finished!!
I’m so glad I ran the 10K — it really motivated me to get out and RUN on a day that I would typically make excuses.
Christmas Dinner
When I returned from the run, I found out the kids had put themselves down for a nap. This is typically GOOD — but it was 11am. Usually nap time is 1:30. The timing wasn’t too bad in the end – I was able to prep the lunch appetizers and the food for dinner. I also started a put a dent into this…
I have no idea how so much of it go into my fridge. Swear.
We ate dinner around 5:30. It was just us this year – so I bought a small standing rib roast and served it with Greek roasted potatoes and brussel sprouts.
It was probably the richest meal I’ve had in a while and was delicious!
As we finished dinner my dad and Wanda arrived. We hung out for a little bit and then we opened gifts. My dad always gives us one book — and this year’s book is this cookbook.
Can’t wait to cook from it! There are a ton of great recipes in there.
The last guests of the night were AJ and Carissa — and we did another round of gifts.
We chatted for a while (after putting the kids to bed) and I think they left around 11. At that point I realized I was pretty beat (and definitely more than a little buzzed thanks to the seemingly endless champagne) and passed out quickly!
And with that — another wonderful and memorable Christmas in the books!!
Thank you for allowing Norm and myself to come over on Christmas Eve. We enjoyed ourselves so much..our dinner with AJ earlier (even though AJ didn’t eat!). Our trip to the fair that was behind Waterford Lakes Shopping Center was strange, but fun.. and then or course, putting out the reindeer food (Norm wants some for our house next year!). Braeden greeted me first thing in the morning with..”Nana, Santa came to our house last night!” His eyes were so BIG!! The best thing was seeing how excited both of them were..and yes, it was strange that they ate before opening the gifts.. We came back here as you left for your run..Im glad you pushed though it.. and Santa came to our house while we were at your house.. so many surprises were waiting for us!! Thank you again for such a great Christmas! Love you..
Sounds like a perfect day, Michelle! Good for you for getting a run in! I laid around all day, and honestly, it was awesome!
I got a fancy flat iron, too, and I’m pretty sure it’s almost as life changing as my Garmin! I’m in love!!!
Hope the potty training went a little smoother this afternoon. Oh, and I LOVE B’s shirt! Nice work!
Melissa recently posted..Christmas: The Food
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