Christmas with the Wrights

My family is used to celebrating holidays on odd days due to Mom and Dad working shift work and now Chris and I work rotating schedules too. We have learned how to split the holidays between our families and this year was no different.

I had three days off in the week before Christmas and Chris had two days off, so we spent them up celebrating with Mom and Dad.

Mom and I love to bake together, usually we spend days and days baking cookies (my favorite being red chocolate crinkles), but with our limited time together we only made these chocolate-coffee-cheesecake-cupcakes for me to take to work on Christmas eve for my shift.

After we opened gifts on the 23rd. Brick enjoyed helping us open our gifts and playing in the wrapping paper. Another of our traditions is drinking mimosas while opening gifts.

Chris was very happy to receive a head scratcher (I don't know what it's called, it looks like a whisk without the ends touching). Dad and I aren't too fond of them, but Chris and Mom enjoy them!

Mom enjoyed her chicken gifts this year, a stone carving of a woman sitting on a big chicken and a mug that says "farm life" on the inside rim. (Mom has good taste, she picked these out herself early in the year but had forgotten!).

Jack was pretty skittish being at their house, but Brick was enjoying all of the attention and all the ribbon left over from our gifts.

Brick helping us open gifts.

Even Jack and Brick got stockings this year! (Thanks Dad!)

Mom and I (and Jack who finally came out of hiding) after opening gifts. (I don't know why I didn't get any pictures of Dad, but he was there too!)

After raining for the past week, the day was just beautiful: Crisp and warm at the same time, blue skies, and clear view out to the ocean. We decided to enjoy the break in the weather and took a walk around the neighborhood.

We enjoyed looking at the different yards and styles of houses, getting ideas for our home. We even found a house that was very similar to ours and we were able to see how just a few changes/updates can make a big difference.

All of the fire hydrants in the neighborhood have been painted to look like soldiers. Rumor has it is that a retired firefighter painted them a long time ago and they have remained painted ever since.

Before heading back to Camarillo we had a delicious dinner at Mclintocks in Pismo Beach. When we got into Santa Barbara there was a huge, golden moon leading us home.

We had a wonderful visit and, even though it was too short, we are thankful for any time that we get together!