Elrod's 1st Christmas

Joshua and I played Christmas by ourselves a little early. We wanted to have our own 1st Christmas alone before we went home.


Isabella (Izzy) the record player!



We got so many lovely gifts and such for our wedding that we decided not to buy each other much- just stuff to fit in a stocking and then we got each other :) a record player. We both love coming home and putting on music and it is really nice to just play a whole album. We've been finding new bands we like and don't have any of their music and records come with the mp3 download too! So it was perfect and we decided everytime one of us does something wrong we'll buy them a record- then thinking about this decided it promotes bad behavior a little bit :) and now we will buy them for something good- like at work or 6-versary!

We only have 2 so far- Architecture in Helsinki and Decemberists but we're excited to watch it grow.

 It's fun to have something that is just ours to build and listen to together PLUS how much fun is it to thumb through records at a record store- SUPER FUN!

insert "oooooohh"



cutest gift ever!






our new stockings!



We went to Pioneer Square that night and there were over 20 trees with knitted sweaters!!!! AHHH LOVE



Hubs went a little off the rules but he claims it would probably fit partially in the stocking- he got me a new tripod. He was tired of me tipping mine over and holding the stripped out screws in place to take photos! Plus he found me a clicker thing that lets me take photos while being 3 or so feet away from my computer = not blurry photos from my very unsteady hands & adjusting things and then taking photos!

But the best gift was the necklace he made me!!!He locked himself in our bedroom for a few hours and brought his drill and sauter gun! All week he'd been getting envelopes mailed to him and he kept getting excited, he said he was making me something (what a bookmark- what fits in envelopes!)

It is a necklace that has old subway/bus tokens from the 3 places I interned while we were dating- he'd always visit me and we'd run around on adventures all weekend, We still always talk about them. Plus he knows I like antiquey things! So he assembled, drilled, twisted it together for me and it is so AWESOME!!!



cookie snack on the tray Mallorie got us for Christmas!



I got him book darts- they keep a line in your books marked without falling out or being bulky, plus they are cute and nerdy! I got a vintage brown and sharpe caliper for him which is a company that is out of business but he loves their stuff and old tools. They sell for $100's on the internet but I found someone on etsy who didn't know what they had and scored it for him! Plus I found someone else selling an old brown and sharpe dovetailed wood box to put it in. He promptly placed it on the bookcase in it's spot. Lastly I got him a stainless steel flask to put on our whiskey tray. He loves metal things and I keep putting pretty glass things on the tray so I got him something manly to add. I got it engraved to say "even after the star's burn out" which he said to me once and I've always remembered it (I'll love you even after the star's burn out) It made sense at the time and in the location, OK it's cheesy but I don't care!

So the Elrod's 1st Christmas is over but we can't wait to get home!
I actually cried, CRIED on the bus on the way home last week because I miss my family so much. Joshua is doing his best but he can't shop with me the way my sister's do, or make cookies the way my mom does and this time of year it is really hard to be away, I've never been away this time of year before. So I feel really blessed that I still get to go be with them on Christmas!
But thanks to all the Seattle people who are surrounding us and making it awesome while we're here!



Elrod's first Christmas Decorations:  We have more than a tree which is big for us!!!


Anthony showing off


 

Christmas cards from lots of amazing people & families



Christmas kiss chocolates!



yeah that's right- $1 store! I even got it to bud!