christmas.

Disclaimer: This post is insanely long. That is what I get for waiting til now to do it.

Dewy and I went a little extreme this year. We talked about Christmas gift budgeting in October, and discussed a ball park spending range that was acceptable. I had in my mind already what I wanted to get Dewy and I had been saving for a few months already. When I dropped the bomb on what I had planned on spending, he about had an aneurysm. My philosophy was this: we can, so why not? This is the last year in our whole lives where we will be living rent free, have two paychecks coming in, AND still be just the two of us. I wanted to go all out on him, and secretly wanted him to do the same for me... don't tell him I said that.

I am now a black Friday addict. Two years ago, the women in Dewy's fam invited me to join their tradition and go with them to which I enthusiastically declined. The following year I was actually part of the family, and as such hesitatingly participated. BEST. THING. EVER. I was immediately sucked in, and last years experience caused me to start counting down the days til black Friday the second September rolled around. I had pregnancy rage on my side this year--imagine the possibilities. We started the morning at 3am at the Kohl's in Layton. After Kohl's, we hit Target (one of my favorites), breakfast at McDonald's, Old Navy, the Layton Hills Mall, Ross, and then the New Gate Mall. I shopped for a total of 8 hours, and finished everyone on my list except Dewy and my father-in-law. Epic score.

Christmas is a funny thing at my house. Last year, for example, we spent Christmas Eve at my family's Christmas party as always. Afterwards, we went to the Hodges to open our Christmas pajamas--we stayed there til midnight. I had been asking Dewy if he wanted me to fill my own stocking, to which he told me no he would do it. Christmas Eve we left my in laws at 12 and Dewy informs me we have to run to Wal Mart because he needed to fill my stocking. Guess what. Wal Mart closes on Christmas Eve. Charming. Dewy pulled in to the 7-11 parking lot at 12:30 and ran in to get items for my stocking while I fought tears in the car. My stocking held pop tarts, bobby pins, and some candy--all of which I'm pretty sure Dewy ate--and Dewy was proud as punch. Now, his gifts last year were awesome, so the stocking incident should have been made up for, but I harassed him about it all year anyway. He had my stocking finished before Christmas Eve this year. Smart lad.

On our way home this Christmas Eve, Dewy told me that I had better set the alarm when we got home so we could get up and have our own Christmas before we needed to be to the Hodges for breakfast. I rolled my eyes. Yeah right. I set the alarm anyway, but just as I suspected at 7am Dewy rolls over like a kid at Christmas as says "Hey babe. Wanna go see what Santa brought!?" He was giddy as can be. I (being the incredible morning person that I am) responded by saying, "Oh I'm sorry dear, Santa doesn't come to our house remember? Everything that is out there right now, was there last night when we went to bed. Go back to sleep." He persisted. I gave in. Totally worth it. Here is what I got from my man:


The willow tree figure is called "Our Gift" and I bawled my eyes out when I opened it. The Lee DeWyze CD made me squeal with delight and about kiss the hubs face right off. He was slightly less than impressed when he didn't receive that exact reaction for some of his other gifts.

The jewelry armoire he came up with all on his own. My jewelry was hanging real classily in my closet on a hanger, and my idea is that he was sick of hearing me grunt in the morning while he slept and I tried to move my close and get access to my necklaces... The box is the perfect size, and I love it. I asked for an Ipod, because mine mysteriously disappeared. Boom. Ipod touch. I am officially in the cool kid club at school.

This gift, Dewy also came up with on his own. It is a diamond necklace which hold multiple meanings for us. First, diamond necklace...duh--diamonds. Second, diamond is the birth stone for April when our little man is due...Dewy's birthday is also in April so that serves as a double whammy and it is in the shape of a heart to "signify his love." Little cutie. I got a lot of other gifts from Dewy as well, but these were the major ones. Now for some of his gifts...

Dewy has wanted new clubs and a new golf bag for a long time. I watched online for deals and found a sweet one on a new set of irons and sweet one on a bag as well... a few weeks after I bought them, Dewy and I were at the mall and he suggested we go into Sports Authority so he could show me which clubs he wanted "just in case I happened to get them." Cue panic attack. He went straight to the clubs I got! Epic score. Again. Last year I got him an argyle sweater and begged him to wear it. He conceded, and now he lives in it, so I bought him three more. That sweater is not one of them, but who cares...you get the idea.

Dewy all of a sudden is a hunter. Angela, I may need a support group on this one. He lacks in the gear however, so I got him all set up with camo clothing. Overalls, jacket, shirt, gloves, etc. Now he can be warm when he leaves me. Super.

Our families spoiled us rotten, as they always do. Christmas was legit. Can't wait til next year when we have a little man to buy for too. I'm sure he will be more entertained with the wrapping paper than the gift at his mere 7 months old, but who cares. Nick will be home too. I can't wait.