noche buena in nc

A very, Merry Christmas to all of my followers, friends and family! This is my first time ever to not be celebrating Noche Buena (Christmas eve) in my entire 28 years with my family. It is very hard, but I have to remember about how lucky and blessed we are to have them in our lives and each other. Nothing is more important than family. I've come to REALLY understand that the past 3 years. I will be OK.

God has blessed us with so much and here's to another great chapter in our fairy tale. We are full of faith and He never lets us down when we need Him the most. Happy Birthday Jesus!

Now off to marinate that turkey full of Cuban goodness! Oh, you didn't know? Yes, Erika is making her first official turkey. But something tells me this will be a team effort. My nails are too pretty in red to rub that turkey.

RONNIE!!!!!! :)

white christmas?

We've been "nesting in nc" for almost 3 years now and each year we have gone home to Miami for Christmas. But this year we are staying put and having Christmas like grown ups and like our own little family. It is bittersweet. Even though I've never experienced Christmas without my entire family, I am looking forward for Christmas between the two of us and creating our own official first family tradition(s). Not sure what they will be yet. But I think this will not only be a memorable one because it will be just the two of us, but it is looking like it will be a WHITE CHRISTMAS! Yep....SNOW! On Christmas! Being from Miami, we have never experienced such a thing in our lives! I think I will shed a tear or two seeing the snow...even if it is just on the ground! What a blessing.... especially since this might be our last Christmas in our first home. Merry Christmas!

addicted.

christmas at home.

Christmas is finally at the Wray home! Phew! With so much going on, I barely got through decorating. Lights outside the house will probably not make it out because of the wet and busy weekends we've had. But we are ready inside! I picked out a bigger tree this year. I wanted a 7 footer and we managed to pick it out in 32 degree weather last Sunday evening at about 8pm. Talk about luck It rained all day Saturday so we had to wait. Not many new decorations this year, except a few ornaments we picked up on trips from this year (Disneyland, Biltmore House, Ronald Reagan Library) and some new kitchen decorations.

We wish you could be here with us to share our Christmas with you...but you are in our hearts. It is a little bittersweet this year because this may be our last Christmas in our first home. We will be spending it in NC and not in Miami with my family, too. But we are very lucky, hopeful and looking forward to what our future brings. We rely all of our fate to the Lord. God is good! Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family...our love and prayers for many Christmas blessings!

The mantle.

Tree closeup

Last year's Christmas card.

Our first Christmas card, 2007

View of the family room

My new favorite ornament I picked up at the Biltmore House Christmas shop.

First year of marriage and engagement ornament, the slipper. :)

Picture of the night we got engaged.

Our entrance

decorative pillows. I love the "Christmas Kisses" so much.

Kitchen towels

My favorite this year....my candyland in the kitchen!

Jackie's Fantasy Bridal Shower

My BFF Jackie is getting married in January 2010 in Walt Disney World! You can imagine how excited this makes me. I love weddings and I love everything Disney and I love my best friend's Jackie and Lino....PERFECT COMBINATION! We held her Bridal Shower this past weekend. I am the Bridesmaid and I had the honor to help with and plan to throw her bridal shower. The inspiration? Alice in Wonderland! The cake was made by the fabulous Cake Up Artists Nicky Negrin