Our last Christmas with Just the Two of Us

This year for Christmas we stayed here in Pearland because my doctor wouldn't let me fly at this point in my pregnancy. Luckily I found out months in advance so I had time to prepare myself mentally.=)  We missed being able to spend time with my family, (especially my cute niece and nephews) but it ended up being better than I thought it would be.  Santa even came a little bit early for Joe this year.  He has been eying a smoker for a while now, and when the one he wanted was marked down $300 he just couldn't pass it up!  He called me and let me know he was at the store and he would be buying himself a Christmas Present.=) He rarely buys anything for himself, so I was more than happy about it! He has already made so many yummy things with it!

Since we just bought a new house and we have a baby on the way, I really wasn't wanting or expecting much for Christmas this year.  The only thing I  have been wanting is a new pillow, especially since my belly has been getting bigger.  There's nothing worse than not being able to sleep well at night.  Joe was sweet and picked out a really nice new memory foam pillow for me.  He said he had also gotten the baby a present and wanted me to open it.  Don't pay too much attention to the fact that I look a little scary=)  It was Christmas morning and I was still in my pjs!=)  

I was thinking it was a baby monitor or something, and I was really excited to open it.  You can tell from the hideous expression on my face that I was pleasantly surprised by what was in the box!

A new Silhouette Cameo!  I have been wanting one of these for years now!  It cuts out paper, vinyl, fabric, and I have seen so many cute things done with it!  I'm going to blame these next pictures on hormones!=)  I started crying after I opened it!  I have secretly been wishing for this for several past Christmases and Birthdays, and I couldn't believe Joe had been so sweet and gotten it for me.  I hadn't even said anything to him about it for a very long time!    

Of course Joe was laughing and taking pictures because he couldn't believe I was crying!=)  He said "you didn't even cry like this when I proposed!"  He was so sweet though and said later "I know you've wanted this, and since you're going to be home now until you have the baby I wanted you to have something to keep you from getting bored."  How sweet is he?! I have one amazing husband. 

Every year we draw names in my family and this year Tiffany and her family got our family.  I forgot to take a picture, but she made the cutest box of money(out of a box of chocolates) for Joe since he just wanted cash for his smoker.  I got some cute shirts that I have been needing with this growing belly, and a gift card to my favorite store(Hobby Lobby).  She was so excited for us to open the present for the baby.  She said she bought it before she even knew the gender because she would have kicked herself if she didn't buy it and found out we were having a girl.  Is this not the CUTEST thing you've ever seen?!

It's even wearing little high heels!  I can't wait until the nursery is done and we can put it in the baby's room.  Right now Joe has designated a spot on the mantel for it since we don't have many decorations yet!=)  I LOVE it!  Thanks Dillan!

We invited Joe's sister, Serena, and several families from our ward over that didn't have family to spend the holiday with.  I knew I would be depressed if I just sat there in a quiet house and thought about what my family was doing, and the fact that I couldn't be there.  So, we cleared out the front room, set up some church tables and chairs, and made a party out of it!  It ended up being so much fun!  I'm kicking myself for not taking a picture of everyone, but here were the tables all set up!

Joe even used his new smoker and smoked the turkey for dinner!  It was SO good!  

A few days after  Christmas we went to Palestine where Joe grew up.  His dad and Sharon are in Utah for the holidays so it was just us.  I love going to visit Palestine!  It's a small town so there's a slower pace and it's just so relaxing.  We went for a drive and Joe took me to the school he went to growing up, we cuddled and watched movies, went to restaurants he loves there, played games, and just took it easy.  We went to visit Joe's best friend Tanner, and we got to do some shooting out on their property.  It was so much fun to watch these boys together, laughing and having fun!  

They even shot up a couple pumpkins that Tanner's mom was done with.  

 I even took a turn, and I must say that Joe was pretty impressed with my shooting skills!=)  Don't judge my pink sweatpants.  It's Palestine!=)

After we got back we went and got Joe his other present he's been wanting so badly.  A new rifle. He couldn't decide if he wanted a 270 or 30-06, so for months he had been researching the differences, asking friends who owned either what they liked or didn't like about their rifle, and we went to Academy a thousand times so he could hold it and look through the scope!  I don't know who was more excited that he actually bought it!  I just wanted him to make up his mind and buy one already!=)  He used the money he got for Christmas, some of his bonus, and I pitched in some.  I had given him a camo jacket and shirt that he needed for hunting, but I didn't dare just buy the gun until I knew for sure what he wanted.  There's no returns on firearms so I couldn't mess up=)

Look at the smile on his face!  He was so happy to finally have a rifle for hunting.

If you were to ask me last Christmas if I thought I would have been in Pearland for Christmas I would have said NO WAY!! I was so excited to be home for Christmas, but I have learned that life doesn't always go how we plan it!  I need to learn to expect the unexpected!=)  We did have a wonderful Christmas, and I feel like Joe and I grew closer over the holidays by just spending so much time together since he was off work. It's our last Christmas with just the two of us, and under the circumstances it couldn't have been better.   Next year we will have a sweet baby girl to share it with!