Total Shock and Awe....

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Rich and I did Christmas this evening since he has to work in the morning and we didn't want to wait until late at night on Christmas to exchange gifts. My first gift was a hope chest. Of course, I cried... I know it's silly but I always wanted to have a traditional engagement, and it doesn't get more traditional then a promise ring (2003) and a hope chest (pictured below). See, sometimes he listens. :)

He had it built and stained and it has a Cedar bottom and it's gorgeous and really big!! (Now we need a place to put it!) I had no idea he was thinking of giving me one, and it made me cry, of course.... it was total shock and awe.

He also gave me a beautiful diamond necklace - it's got one diamond, then four in a channel setting, then another diamond, four more in a channel setting and then another diamond. The three stand alone diamonds get progressively bigger and the back is engraved with "past, present, future". It really is gorgeous and it took my breath away.

The other gift he gave me (he really is an awesome gift giver - always above and beyond!) was a really pretty Citizen's Eco Drive watch which has Swarovzki (spelling?) Crystals on the band and face of the watch. The face it a pretty pearly purple and it's absolutely gorgeous.... I can't tell you how amazed I was.

I gave him a watch case (basically a jewelry box, but set up to hold watches) , a cedar closet organizer, a day by day calendar of Bush-isms, a tie rack, a belt rack, a Playstation game, a Season of the Simpsons and an IOU on a watch since I couldn't pick on out that I was sure he'd like since he is tough to buy for and I couldn't be certain that the one I liked he would want...

So that is the start of the gift giving. I can't believe that everything I bought I paid for with cash. Not ONE credit card, which was nice. The other nice thing was that my siblings and I did a grab and it not only made it easier to shop for one person but also less expensive. So, I have no money until the end of the month when I get paid, but at least I don't have any additional debt for the collectors to annoy me with!

I didn't get to all the baking I wanted, and I burnt the crap out of most of the caramel and chocolate covered popcorn I made, so that is out the window, but I will bake for all the people I am going to see on New Years to get that out of my system!

Anyways, it's almost 2am and I didn't finish my wrapping, so good night and sleep tight! I hope Santa is good to you all!

Love you!