Christmas Time is Here!

Well, I feel like an apology is in order. I haven't posted in a few weeks, and I must say I have missed it. In my defense, we have been pretty busy with the Christmas season, and I was working on two posts that I just didn't get done. So I guess those will be posted later. Christmas season at the Joneses has been a little different this year. This is the first year that we both will be away from our families, and especially so far away. So this year we have kept ourselves busy with lots of shopping and fun and seeing lots of movies. Thor, Frozen, The Hobbit, Catching Fire, there are lots of good ones out right now.

Our mini tree with all our presents! We have obviously been good this year, including Macie!

This past week we were able to go with our small group from church to a street near where we live which has amazing Christmas light displays. It's apparently in their contract when they move in that they have to have Christmas lights. There were some pretty spectacular houses- one house was snoopy themed, and they paint their house specifically for Christmas every year with a special paint. They said their electric bill is over $2,000 in December! That's dedication. We enjoyed catching up with everyone  before Christmas, and of course seeing pretty lights. It was a little strange to be seeing lights in December with the temperature being over 70 degrees!

 

The husbands

The wives

The Group

This past week at work was CRAZY. Not only was it a full moon, it was the week before break, and the kids could tell. After a crazy week, it was nice getting to unwind at my work Christmas party. It was at Pomona Mining Company, a really cool restaurant on top of a hill that overlooks the city. The atmosphere was fun, and it was great getting to have fun with coworkers. We did a Secret Santa exchange, as well as a "dirty santa" fun exchange

Me and Braden

Me and Braden in front of the Christmas tree

I was obviously really excited about my Secret Santa gift- Game of Thrones Season 2!

Blessed by a great staff to work with!

On Sunday we got to go to our church's Christmas service, which was amazing. It was the best Chrismtas service I think that I had been to. And thankfully, no candles! I get really jumpy around fire, especially candlelight services, due to catching my hair on fire when I was little. We also got to hang out with our friends the Mellinger's and they introduced us to Bruxie, which is a gourmet waffle sandwich place. Sounds pretty weird and I was a little nervous. Turns out waffle sandwiches are AMAZING.

Joneses and Mellingers

My DELICIOUS waffle sandwich

What's on the agenda for the rest of my glorious two weeks off? Well we plan on spending a lot of time relaxing, reading, and catching up on some TV shows. I am so excited to have some time off!
Everyone has there favorite Christmas traditions, and since it's Christmas Eve Eve, I thought I would share a few of my favorite Christmas traditions over the years:

1. Christmas Tablecloth- This has been a tradition in my family since the 50's. Every year, every person (and pet) who is at Christmas dinner signs their name and year on the tablecloth, which my mom then embroiders. It's fun going back and finding all my signatures and trying to find the oldest ones. It'd also fun going back and asking about all the family pets. There's even a pet rock!

2. The ABC's of Christmas-We did this when we were little kids. Every day leading up to Christmas you would do a little craft that had to do with something about Christmas. Like for "A" we would make a little angel. This was something I always looked forward to growing up!

3. Reading the Christmas Story- Every Christmas Eve, the family would gather in the living room and read the Christmas story. During the story we would start singing different Christmas songs that went along with the different parts in the story. It was so much fun!

4. Christmas cookies- My mom makes the BEST sugar cookies and she only makes them at Christmas. My brother and I would plant ourselves in front of the cookies box and stuff ourselves.

5. Being with family- Growing up, we spent Christmas with my dad's entire extended family- his parents, his three sisters, and all their kids. It was loud, it was crazy, it was fun. I have countless great memories of Christmas time shananigans

6. Christmas ornaments- Every year growing up we would get an ornament that represented what we did that year. While we have all our ornaments in storage this year, we continue this tradition by getting an ornament everywhere we go.

7. Christmas movies- Home Alone? White Christmas? It's A Wonderful Life? It's the best time of year on ABC family (other than when they have Harry Potter marathons!)

As we spend our first Christmas together as travelers, we look forward to starting some new Chrismtas traditions. What are some of your Christmas traditions?

Thanksgiving!

Last week flew by! I can't believe Thanksgiving is over and the Christmas season is here! It's my favorite time of year. Since we got back late Sunday night and I have been working all week, I haven't had time to give a proper review of our vacation, which was amazing and went by way to fast! We woke up early on Tuesday morning and headed to the airport. Macie had her sedative and was happy and quiet. Since we had a pet, we didn't have to wait in the long line to check our bags, we got to go to a special line. Macie got really worried when I had to put her down on the scale...the whole carrier started shaking (poor thing!) Luckily we had priority access, so we didn't have to wait in a long line to go through security, and Macie was a big hit, although she wasn't really happy when she had to go back in her carrier! She also wasn't happy about riding under the seat (see the picture!) but she did great! She didn't bark, or make any noise at all, such a good girl.

Not too happy about the seating arrangement

The beautiful sunrise after we took off

When we left California, it was sunny and in the 70's, and when we got to Houston it was raining and in the 30's. Talk about a big difference. Macie was very glad to get out of her carrier, play with my parent's dog Jaxon, and get to run around in a backyard! She was also greeted with a new toy from Nana and PJ!

A weenie dog squeaky toy!

After we arrived, my mom and I went and got our nails done, which was so great and relaxing. Wednesday my brother, his wife, and their adorable little boy came. We love our little nephew! Wednesday night we had a family Tex- Mex dinner with lots and lots of queso (2 gallons!). I was in heaven! I had been craving queso ever since we had moved to California. Thursday was obviously Thanksgiving so we spent most of the day over at my Aunt's house. Of course the TV was turned on to football. It was great getting to catch up with all my family and seeing so many! Our nephew, JT, has gotten so big since the last time we saw him, and is now singing the Mexican Hat Dance (la la la la la la la...la la!) and can get into your iPhone or change the channel on your TV faster than you can blink. I ate way too many potatoes and sugar cookies, but oh well. Calories don't count on Thanksgiving!

Uncle Braden and JT

Aunt Melissa and JT

I love this little guy so much!

Love these turkeys!

My Thanksgiving plate. I love potatoes.

Hillary, my mom, and I went shopping on Thursday night. We went to Kohl's and Target and then went home because we were tired! Most of our time was spent in line, but we did get some great deals! On Friday, we went to a Texan's sports bar in Houston for my Uncle's birthday party, then the guys (and a few girls) went shooting. Even Braden went! On Saturday morning we woke up early and surprised my parents with a family photoshoot with a professional photographer! My mom was very surprised, but panicked when she saw all her kids up so early in the morning. It was lots of fun and I can't wait to see the pictures! Saturday evening we were able to help decorate my grandparents tree, which was fun since we don't have our big tree to decorate this year. We were also able to have one last family dinner before we left! Of course we went to our traditional spot, Molina's, for some more Tex-Mex. I love my queso and spending time with family!

Three generations!

He's a real Texan now!

Houston from my grandparents' house

On Sunday night we headed back to Cali. We were really thankful for our friends who took us to the airport, and picked us up! The airport was absolutely crazy.

LA from the air

Even though we don't have any of our Christmas decorations and we are living in a hotel, I had to do something because I love Christmas. I bought a small 2 ft tree, some basic ornaments (but a special ornament for each of us- a soccer player for Braden and a state of Texas for me) and mini stockings to hang on our mirror with care. Our room looks so festive! 

I have enjoyed listening to the XM Christmas radio station in my car. Tis the season!