Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve started with us fulfilling a few of our traditions. Each year, either 1 or 2 days before Christmas Peter and I make a trip to Wal-Mart to shop for stuff to fill each other’s stockings. Part of the fun is dodging around the store trying to avoid each other and certainly not letting them see what we have in our carts. When we went into Wal-Mart there were even a few snowflakes falling (I thought they don’t get snow in Dallas!?!?!). Well, when we exited the store an hour later, here is what we found…

Crazy right?! We still hadn’t picked our Honey Baked Ham and Turkey Breast (which is another tradition we have on Christmas) so that was our next stop. Of course, the line was way out into the parking lot. Peter was game to just forget it but I didn’t want to miss this tradition. Since I was the one that fought for it, I was the one that got to make it happen. So I stood there for OVER an hour in the snow, wind, and freezing cold waiting to get the meat. Since I didn’t have an umbrella I utilized a big plastic bag. I got some funny looks but hey, I was dry!

We went home and hung out the rest of the day since everything was shutting down anyway. That night I wanted to go look at more Christmas lights. My appetite for lights had been whetted the night before at Frisco Square and I needed MORE.

So we get outside and we are seriously driving in a SNOWSTORM! The roads were covered and slippery and in need of a plow. Everyone was driving 10 MPH. It was crazy (but beautiful). Again, thanks to my co-workers I had an idea of where to go. There is a neighborhood in Plano that is known for their lights and even gives out awards each year to the best houses. It was the perfect night to go. Thanks to the snow and the fact that it was Christmas Eve, the streets were relatively uncrowded and we didn't have to wait in crazy long lines of cars at every turn. There were quite a few houses that had their own radio stations pumping out music. It was awesome to see how many people participated and had gone all out. We spent about 2 hours just driving and looking at the lights. It was FANTASTIC - I tell you, people in Frisco/Plano take their lights seriously!!! Plus, it was snowing while we were out so it really felt like Christmas. I never really missed having a "White Christmas" in California but I won't complain about the beauty and peaceful feeling that comes from one.

(Side moment of real and frank honesty - While the white Christmas was fun, I still am not sold on living in Texas. I am trying here people but I really do miss living in California. It has been really cold in Dallas this winter and I just keep looking at the great weather in Sacramento....ugh! Plus, other than my job I still don't feel like we've put down any roots or made any progress on this feeling like "home". Oh well, I keep reminding myself that it took awhile for California to feel like home, too.)

I was going to post a video of the house that took First Place. The house had the music synchronized to lights theme... The song was by Transiberian Orchestra - "Wizards in Winter". It's obviously my favorite song to see synchronized with lights since I recorded the same song at Frisco Square. I was also going to post a different house with their version of it on my Christmas day post but since I recorded the whole song the files are too large to upload. I guess if I want to post videos in the future, I'll need to learn how to edit them or just take shorter videos. :)

Here's what our balcony looked like thanks to the snow. Peter and I were able to play a little in the snow and threw a couple snowballs at each other.