a big thanks

My family has a certain way of opening gifts on Christmas. ONE AT A TIME. It used to drive me crazy growing up because as a kid, you want to open all your gifts as fast as you can and all at once. Not in my family. My grandma would dictate the present opening, making sure we all went in order, youngest to oldest, and a designated "Santa" would sit next to the Christmas tree and fish out the correct lineup of gifts. We had a huge family, lots of cousins, aunts and uncles, so our present opening would last for hours. I can remember envying families who would just make piles of each kid's gifts and just let them go for it.

Now that I'm older I've realized I have become my grandma. I want to see what each person is given, and both their response and reaction to their gift. I want it to be orderly, and it is nice to have a Santa so there is one person on the job and not five different people digging under the tree. I can understand the importance of children recognizing who is giving them a gift, and being thankful and appreciative for what is given. When presents are opened in a rush, no one knows who got what, who gave it to them, and rarely a thank you is heard.

This last weekend I turned 29. My friends and family totally spoiled me with amazing gifts. They were all so thoughtful, everything I was given was so "me". I thought since I like to see what people are given, maybe you would too. Check out all the great things I scored on this weekend!

Thank you so much for all the great gifts. I love everything!

And a special thanks to my sweet husband who took the kids, in pjs, to the store in the morning for donuts, Starbucks, flowers, and my favorite Haggen cupcakes!