First Steele Christmas

This was my first Christmas away from my parents and siblings....I may have cried once or twice. It's not that I was sad to be with the Steele family, it's just that I've never not been at my parents home for Christmas and I missed our traditions and the way their home feels during the season. Christmas Eve is a big hullabaloo at the Van Hoose house! We have Christmas dinner Fondue style with lots of sparkling cider to go around! It starts with a cheese fondue appetizer, then onto eating as much steak and shrimp as you can manage (cooking it yourself with the fry daddy in front of you on the table), and lastly we have a chocolate fondue dessert! To end the night my parents always teach us something or tell a story that has to do with the Christmas season and Christ. All of it's really special and dear to me.

Even though I knew I was going to miss my side of the family I was really excited to be in OUR home for Scott and mine first Christmas together. We got to sleep in Christmas day...well as much as I could. I had to wake up Scott so that we could look in our stockings and see what Santa brought! It was just awesome to have some alone time and to enjoy each others company on our first Christmas together. I made my mom's traditional Christmas breakfast, we drank sparkling cider & OJ mixed, opened presents, played with our awesome new Cannon 60D camera, watched a Christmas movie, took a nap, then met up with the family in the evening. It really was a perfect Christmas! Honestly I loved all the quality time I got with Scott over this whole Holiday. We shopped together, delivered presents together, went to the temple, lounged in front of the TV, and were pretty much just being an awesome couple!!

He's so talented! We sang Christmas songs he played  on the guitar (and Beatles songs).

 

I really did enjoy the fun times with the Steele Clan this Christmas as well! They made me forget about not being at my parents and we just had good times! We played dodge-ball on Christmas eve! How awesome is that!?! I tried super hard to get Scott, but that boy was too good (or I'm not as good as I think I am), so I had to hit him with the balls after the game at close range..with his back turned. :-) Along with the dodge-ball there was lots of yummy food we ate, more games we played, family chatting, plus the kiddies acted out the Christmas Story (which was so super cute)! All in all, I'd say it was a successful good Christmas!

Seriously how cute is this baby!?! Half of my pictures may or may not be of this little girl.

  I love being a Steele! This family is serious awesomeness!!

Christmas Cards

Want to know another reason why the Christmas season is so awesome??
The Christmas cards!

I absolutely love getting Christmas cards!! 

Seeing all our friends & families personalities in the different cards is my favorite!

This is Scott and mine FIRST ever Christmas card!! It really shows our different personalities and how we perceive the Holidays perfectly.

 

I just love my little Scrooge :-)

Here's an extra pic just cause I love it

 MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

the most wonderful time of year

This truly is the most wonderful time of year!!
Oh yeah baby! You know I'm talking about the Christmas Season!

The excitement in the air and all the pretty sparkly things around me make me deliriously giddy!

This is the first year I've had a house (or townhouse) to decorate all to myself.

I want it to look like Christmas threw up in my house!

That's not overdoing it is it?? Haha!

I love all the Christmas festivus I have in our home so far. It's just perfect!
I'm sure my scrooge hubby loves it as well...on the inside.

 Outside:
You can't really tell, but those are snowflakes hanging in the window. Uber cute!

Wreath...I made!


Inside:
Banner...I made!

Nutcrackers

 Dining Room

 Mistletoe!

 Christmas Tree!

 

 I love all these cute signs

Chandelier ornament. So pretty!

 Stockings

I just LOVE all things Christmas!

My Christmas Wish List

Dear Santa,

As you know,  I've been a pretty awesome person this year! Since you work on the reward system, here is what I want (minus the camera Scott and I are already getting ourselves): 

Echo Touch Gloves

You can play on your IPhone whilst keeping your hands warm! 

I want them in this pretty olive color.

Craft Tool Box

I love these old  train cases! This would be perfect to hold my crafts!

Love, love, love!

Shel Silverstein Books

Light in the Attic, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Falling Up

I loved reading these books when I was younger and I've decided I need them.

 Ginger Beard

So I can be like Scott and keep my face warm when we snowboard, ice skate, or just walk around outside.

I love old movies!

There is this set of Doris Day films that I've been eying.

I'm on a sparkles kick lately. This sweater is uber cute!

If you're looking for a couples gift for Scott and I here are some ideas as well:

Camera Strap

Since I tend to drop things this would be awesomespice for our new camera.

I want it in olive green.

 

We love playing games with friends and family!

Anomia

It's a super fun card game!!

Ubongo

Fun tetris type game! There are different Ubongo games, I like this one below in the orangish-red box.

Croquet Set

Just because it's awesome

 

LOTR Blu Ray Extended Edition

Has to be extended edition and it has to be BluRay. We're stuck up like that...or nerdy.

One ring to rule them all!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

welcome to your Wedding Day!

Happy 6 months anniversary!!

  I realize I haven't posted on my wedding yet.
It's busy work getting into wife mode!
I would never in a million years want to plan another wedding,

but when the day finally came...it was perfect!!

The details:
I did a 40's do with the hair and took the pearl crown my mother wore to her wedding and twisted it into this accessory. It was my favorite!

How cool is my brooch bouquet?!? I love it for the fact that I can keep it forever! I have it on my piano right now in a vase. Notice the manatee brooch? Haha! That was for Scott.

Peacock boutonnieres for the men. Made that myself!

The day:
The wedding was at 1pm so I was able to relax and get ready with my mum, sisters, & bf Julie.
One thing I totally recommend is having your hair and makeup done for you! It was so fun and worth it to get pampered!
I had butterflies in my stomach the whole way to the Temple.

(I look nervous, but I swear I was nothing but ready!)
I just kept saying over and over to myself "I'm getting married today!"
It's was so surreal that the day had finally arrived.

Right before Scott and I went into the sealing room to be married we looked at each other and said "we should have eloped".
Haha!
It was just kinda nerve wracking to know that everyone was going to be staring at us and making a big deal of us tying the knot...which of course it is a big deal. We just weren't ready for people to be gushing over us.

During the ceremony I could not hold still!
I felt like I was going to burst out of my skin!
It was just a combination of it all.
Finally being there marrying my love; plus I had never seen Scott look at me like that before; plus the spirit was so strong; plus I was beyond happy!


After the ceremony we came out of the Temple to greet all our well wishers,

 and take the customary photos.

 



Scott and I couldn't stop smiling!
 
Doesn't he look happy? :-)

I can honestly say I had never felt happier!
After the Temple we had a luncheon with our family and close friends at Settebellos.
I love that place!
 It's true what they say that you never get the food on your wedding day though.
I was too excited to sit and eat. Plus I just wanted to be visiting with everyone.

After the luncheon we had more photos to take of the two of us, family, bridesmaids & groomsmen.
  

The whole Van Hoose Clan
(minus Christine & Benat)
 
 
The Whole Steele Clan
 
 
Groomsmen
 
(Chad, Santi, Scott, Jon, Zo)

  
Bridesmaids

 (Julie, Bexxx, me, Jenna, Jen, Alex)


We had the reception in the evening at Pierpont Place and it was epic!

 Chandeliers and white lights strung up, peacock feather centerpieces, mocktail bar, & yummy desserts!
 It was awesome!
I have to say I hate the whole meet and greet part, but I know it's something that must be done because I didn't know all of his extended family and he didn't know all of mine.
When we finally got that out of the way we were finally able to dance!
I love to dance!

Our first dance
 I had so much fun! I was a bit sweaty from shaking it in all the wedding dress layers, but who cares! It was my wedding day!
Scott was probably the better host because he mingled whilst I stayed on the dance floor all night.

I love all my family and friends and I'm so grateful they were there with me to celebrate marrying my love.

My only gripe is that I didn't get enough quality time with them all.

I wish I could re-live this day over and over!
(but with a smaller group so that I get my quality time)

It was the best day in the whole world!
Here are some more of my favorite pics of the day:

 
It really bugs Scott that his tie was off center...how did no one tell us during all these pics?? 

This is how Scott holds hands. He holds my neck.
 

 
I must say I LOVE photos! I love taking them and being in them.
Especially when I look like a princess! :-)