I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas/Holiday vacation and New Years Eve!
We had a wonderful 2 weeks here at the Malek household.
My brother and sister-in-law arrived Monday evening (12/20) just in time for dinner. We took them to our favorite pizza place,
Maggiores, for football, beer and pizza! They also brought their puppy Bowser, Josie and Bowser became fast friends and played/cuddled together throughout their stay. My parents arrived the next evening and we celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary at home with steaks, potatoes, salad and our family cheese torte (cheesecake) which I had made the day before. The next day we baked our traditional Christmas cookies, watched movies, wrapped gifts and enjoyed chicken and dumplings for dinner. Thursday we drove to
Copperas Cove to visit my grandmother on my dad's side. We managed to take a nice family picture of all of us! It was the first time we'd all been in town in over 5 years.
Finally Christmas Eve had arrived! It was a nasty, wet, rainy, cold day but we didn't let it spoil our mood. Steve and lil' C made sugar cookies, we watched Funny Farm, had a nice standing rib roast for dinner and then went to the midnight candlelight service at our church. After church we came back home and warmed ourselves up in front of the fireplace, enjoyed some eggnog and each opened one gift. I think we were up until 1:30am! Christmas morning we were awake by 8am and ready to dive into the presents. After the gift unwrapping frenzy it was 11am and everyone was ravenous, time for our traditional breakfast of eggs Benedict! I ate 3 of them myself. :D I managed to fit in a quick workout later that day before making jambalaya for dinner and watching The A Team.
Sunday the kids arrived and we opened gifts with them before Malek's family showed up for the Malek family Christmas. We hosted this year and grilled chicken, ribs, sausage and veggies. Steve and lil C left Monday morning for home and I went to San Antonio with my parents to meet up with some old family friends for lunch. The next day mom and I ran some errands and went to buybuy BABY to register! I was like a kid in a candy store scanning items onto the registry, I had so much fun! I think the hubby was happy to get out of that activity. :P Wednesday marked Malek's 40th birthday! We made him breakfast, opened gifts and cards, took him to Chuy's for lunch and for dinner he requested my mom's schnitzel. We followed it all up with an awesome cake from HEB. Happy Birthday Hubby!
On Thursday mom and I ran yet more errands and went back to buybuy BABY and HomeGoods (I love that store, awesome home furnishings at an affordable price). Dad and Malek stayed home to put the crib together and various other home projects. Later that night I took down the Christmas tree and inside decor. Finally New Years Eve had arrived! My parents went back to Copperas Cove for the day while Malek and I stayed home, cleaned house and prepared for our NYE/40th birthday party. We had a wonderful time with family and friends ringing in the new year. Hello 2011! New Years day we hung around the house and recovered, we finished a couple home projects (easy stuff) and then took my parents out to dinner at Maggiores. I also found a great deal on craigslist for a glider and ottoman for the nursery, which we picked up after dinner. Oh and can't forget we each had a spoonful of black-eyed peas for good luck. Mom and Dad left early Sunday morning (1/2). The house is very quiet, which feels strange. But I know that won't last long as our baby will be here in 3 months!
How things have changed; last year mom and I were working on wedding stuff (dresses, invitations, etc)...this time it was baby stuff (registering, nursery, etc)! :D
Here's to a wonderful New Year!
