Christmas Crackers

Last week, Mommy's friends Ms. Corinne and Mr. James were visiting from England. Mommy, Ms. Corinne, and Ms. Stephanie did a combination birthday/Christmas celebration. They got to spend a lot of time together going to lunch and watching the new Harry Potter movie, and on Thursday, everyone went to a Mexican dinner (Ms. Corinne's favorite) and then back to Ms. Stephanie and Mr. Adam's house for dessert and presents.

Mommy and Ms. Corinne opened Ms. Stephanie's gifts first. Ms. Stephanie wrapped it half in birthday paper and half in Christmas paper. When it comes to wrapping, Ms. Stephanie is the Queen!


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Ms. Corinne just got a new Kindle courtesy of Mr. James so she got an Amazon gift card. Ms. Stephanie also wanted her to have something patriotic to go on her tree so she gave her an Uncle Sam ornament.


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Mommy got a subscription to a jewelry magazine, a jewelry book, a jewelry design sketch book personalized by Ms. Stephanie, and a blackberry ornament with her initials.


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Next, it was time for Ms. Stephanie and Ms. Corinne to open Mommy's gifts.

It was an Alabama theme for Ms. Stephanie (Ms. Stephanie you have great taste in everything but college football teams)...she got houndstooth bag, houndstooth purse, and an Alabama wind chime.

Ms. Corinne got more Amazon money for her Kindle, and several more Christmas ornaments. In England they decorate their trees mainly with chocolates. Mommy also wanted to get her some patriotic ornaments, and what's more patriotic than Homer Simpson and Elvis?


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Mommy also made them both earrings.


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Then, Mommy and Stephanie opened gifts from Ms. Corinne. They both got handmade ornaments. Ms. Stephanie got stockings and mommy got stars. Ms. Corinne is great at knitting.


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Mommy and Ms. Stephanie with their international gifts from Ms. Corinne. Tapas book from Spain for Mommy and wine from Germany for Ms. Stephanie.


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Mommy also got this great shirt with Yorkies on the front. (We may be biased, but this was our favorite.)


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Ms. Corinne also got us a couple of traditional English treats. Christmas Crackers and Christmas Pudding. Christmas crackers are a cardboard tube decorated in brightly twisted paper. It's pulled by two people, like a wishbone, until it breaks with a loud pop, and the treats are revealed.

Here's us with our treats, and a video of us trying to open them. Actually, I'm trying to open mine...Maddux is just watching me.


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For the birthday/Christmas celebration, there were Christmas cookies and birthday cupcakes. The cupcakes have the initials of all three birthday girls.


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Ms. Corinne and Mr. James made some ornament cookies including Star Wars themed cookies and Mr. James made the elder wand (Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows reference).


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As Vol fans, we love all these except one...can you guess which one we hate?


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After dessert and presents at Ms. Stephanie and Mr. Adam's house, they all came to our house to visit us (and play ball with me!).

Thanks for playing with us Mr. James.


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It's a stand off. Go ahead, throw the ball!


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Thanks for the treats and throwing the ball for me ten thousand times in the 30 minutes you were here.


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Couple snaps:


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Here are pictures of Mommy's new ornaments on the trees.


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Let me tell you, lots of pictures were taken. Mr. James, Mr. Adam, and Daddy were snapping away all night! Thanks to them for documenting the evening.

Ms. Corinne, and Mr. James made it safely back across the pond on Saturday. We miss you already!