Christmas Extravaganza

The Mola's experienced their first Christmas together!

It was amazing. Neither one of us could have asked for anything more. It was beautiful.
We both worked Christmas Eve until noon, came home and peeled potatoes, and then loaded up the truck for Naperville. Brian's sister Jennifer and her new husband would be hosting Christmas Eve dinner for the first time.
Dominic, Jennifer's husband, made the MOST DELICIOUS ham I have EVER tasted! I made mashed potatoes.....enough for an army....I made WAY too much! 5lbs too much!

After dinner we all opened our Secret Santa presents by the fire place. It was fun to see who had whom. Brian's mom had me and it just amazes me how well she knows me! I loved all my presents!!!

The next morning everyone woke up and the immediate family drove down to Leo and Carla's house to exchange some family gifts. That was a lot of fun too. In Brian's family they divide up who buys for who. I was assigned to buy for Brian's brother Danny, Dominic, and Jennifer. Jennifer was easy she gave me a list....plus she's a girl so that makes it fun! Danny only told me one little thing that he wanted....so....I bought him a bunch of stuff I think he needs like guitar hero underpants and a harmonica. hee hee! (that's what happens when you don't tell me what you want!!!)

And the worst...but funniest part....I forgot about Dominic!!!!! I had so much on my plate with buying presents for both families and friends and work and I had finals. So.....Christmas Eve eve at 9:00pm at night I looked at Brian and told him that I had forgotten someone. Right away we called Jennifer and made an emergency run to Target!

Then, we headed over to my family's house. My family is huge! Everyone was there except my brother Scott and his family. There was about 20 people there and 3 big dogs. We had random gift openings through out the day it was crazy......but fun. The best part was dinner when we all sat down together at the 3 tables!!!!

At our family we have had a Secret Santa exchange between the siblings since I can remember. This year I had Kristy...I don't remember ever having her so it was expecially fun to shop for her. Brian had Kevin and he did a great job picking out Kevin's gifts! Chris Manko had Brian and Trisha had me. They got us wonderful gifts!

Another big thing in my family is stockings....we all LOVE and look forward to the stockings!!! But....you only get one if you are a sibling or married to one. So, this year Brian had one and my mom had made his! It looked great; better than the ones you see at the store.

I also got to see my sister Kristy with her braces off and look at her new beautiful smile and play with her little 8 month old baby Hunter. He is sooooooo cute! My favorite part of this year with my family was seeing everyone open up the presents I got them. I loved watching their reactions.

Finally at around 7:00pm Brian and I had our own gift exchange at home. We had a limit of $40. I blew that and made sure I got the board game he really wanted "Adroid" along with the Starwars Trilogy on DVD and a new wallet. He on the other hand stuck to the limit.....but boy did he surprise me.

Every year Brian manages to knock my socks off by some awesome surprise and this year I didn't think he would be able to because of the limit....but......he sure did! When we left his parents house that morning he grabbed a HUGE wrapped present and put it in the back of the truck. I thought maybe his mom got him a big present and didn't want the other kids to see it. I forgot all about it. Later that night he brought it in the house and told me it was mine!!!!! I opened it thinking what could be this big and only be $40?????
Guitar Hero World Tour with the full band!!!!! Guitar, Drums and a Microphone!!!!!
I really, really, really, wanted that but I NEVER thought I would get it!!!!!! That awesome man saved all his Amazon.com Gift cards and spent them leaving a balance for him to pay of $35!!!!!!

Now that's smart!

It was truly one of the best Christmases either of us had ever had!!!!!

Of course I didn't bring a camera anywhere we went so I have no pictures....but I'm sure you have a mental picture by now! This was a long story and it's only a glimpse of the wonder that we experienced!!!!