Hello and Merry Christmas Eve, my friends!
Matt and I are driving up to Pittsburgh today to spend the holiday with his family. Our first joint married couple Christmas! In the 8 years we dated, we spent a lot of Thanksgivings together, but never Christmas, so it will be fun to be together for it this year.
We got back into DC late on Friday night from our honeymoon and it’s been a whirlwind since! I got in not one but two great runs – a 5 miler with my brother on Saturday, and then a 6 miler with both Matt and my brother yesterday.
After running in the 90 degree scorching heat at the beach in Costa Rica, cold weather running was a very welcome change. It’s amazing how your running improves with weather conditions! I could hardly run a mile in Costa Rica, but back in the cold, 5 and 6 milers felt normal again. :)
Matt and I also spent time doing last minute Christmas shopping, and then spent yesterday afternoon doing an early Christmas with my family in the DC area.
It will be weird to not be with my family on Christmas, but stretching Christmas out over a few days is kind of awesome, too. :)
One thing I really love about Christmas time is that all my friends are home! I went to high school in the DC area, so it’s always fun to have reunions when everyone is back in town for the break. Last night, my best high school girlfriends and I all got together for dinner and drinks at our friend Lara’s apartment.
From left – Amy, me, Jenny, Joy, Melissa, Dinah, Lara
There’s nothing quite like best friends who you’ve known for ages, is there? We were at Lara’s until well after 11 p.m. cracking each other up with hilarious stories and updates. Love these girls so much! I always have such a blast with them. Plus, Jenny (who you will remember was my MOH in our wedding) is pregnant and it was so fun to see her cute little belly!
Dinner was delish, too! Lara’s sister Amira was nice enough to cook a feast for us, and we all brought contributions, too. The main course was roasted chicken (plus unpictured tempeh for vegetarians):
Plus roasted broccoli:
Dinah brought an AMAZING mac and cheese casserole:
And Joy brought an awesome salad.
My plate! I went back for more mac and cheese later ;)
My contribution to the party was a bottle of red wine and a dessert wine, which were also a hit! I didn’t get any pictures of dessert because I was too busy chatting, but a bunch of the girls brought fun Christmas cookies, and we had a delish pumpkin pie, too.
Posting will be a bit sporadic this week as I enjoy my last bit of vacation (and I’m sure you’re all doing the same)! I hope you all have a wonderful week full of happiness, love, family, friends… and very little work. :)
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! Have a great break!
Merry Christmas to you, Anne! Such a cute ornament! My sisters and I have similar ones we made in kindergarten. :)
Old ornaments are my favorite. :)
Have a great Christmas!
Merry Christmas! Old ornaments are the best!
What sweet pictures!! Have a VERY merry Christmas!!
It was so fun to see everyone last night!! Merry Christmas :)
Love your stocking — I love old Christmas decorations! :)
Love the ornament!!! You look like your sweet mom in that picture! :). Wishing you a wonderful Christmas!
And Merry Christmas to you and Matt — and best wishes for a great new year…
I agree that running can change with weather! I always do much better when the temperature starts to cool down. Also, I think I am going to buy myself a Christmas present…a Garmin! I am convinced that they are wonderful things after seeing them on soo many blogs
Is that a West Point ornament on your tree? I noticed it because I have the same one on my tree…both my father and I are West Point grads!
Yep!
Merry Christmas to you Anne, and Matt and both of your families. Merry Christmas to your devoted daily blog readers. My husband and I just got home from midnight service at our church and drove in pea soup fog. It was scary.
Merry Christmas to you, Matt and both your families!!!
XOXO
Merry Christmas! :)
Merry Christmas Anne! I made your smoked salmon & egg bake for brunch yesterday and your wedding quinoa salad to take to our family dinner last night and both were a huge hit! (not to mention, delicious & easy to make!) Thanks for the recipes!
Yay, glad they were a hit!
Do you LOVE your Garmin? I have been running with my phone in hand so I can use a running app to track my pace but hate having to hold it on my runs. I am trying to decide if it is worth it to spend a pretty penny on the Garmin Forerunner 10 just so I can track everything while training for a half-marathon.
Yes, I do love it! Worth it, in my opinion.
Merry Christmas! Enjoy your break :)