Christmas With the Riggins Family

Corey and I were so excited to spend Christmas in New York with his parents, sister and sister's fiance. We had not all been able to spend a holiday together in several years. Since his parents live in the New York, we live in California and Molly lives in South Carolina, we are completely spread out at opposite points of the country. Even though Jim and Robin, Molly and Robin live on the East Coast, New York and South Carolina are a two day car drive apart. We were overdue for a family Christmas with everyone in attendance! We were all very excited when the stars aligned and everyone was able to be there.

On Christmas Eve, we had a feast of ham, au graten potatoes and vegetables! After dinner, we got ready for church. Jim was a Eucharistic minister for Midnight Mass which was really cool to be there for. It was such a unique experience to venture out into the 19 degree temperature for Christmas Mass! Driving through the snow somehow made the night seem even more holy to me. After church, we came home, got in our jammies, and opened presents! It was wonderful being able to do the holiday traditions with the Riggins family. After all the gifts had been unwrapped and the last of the champagne had been drunk, we climbed under the warm covers. When we woke on Christmas morning, it was lightly snowing! Corey and I went downstairs and enjoyed the fireplace on our first snowy Christmas morning...

After everyone slowly wandered downstairs on Christmas morning, Robin passed around our stockings to be opened. Who doesn't love a big Hershey kiss, Tootsie Pops and iTunes gifts cards? On Christmas day, Robin prepared another feast- the turkey and mashed potato variety this time around. We are so blessed to have such wonderful families on each coast of the country. Our white Christmas was every bit of wonderful as we hoped that it would be- we can't wait to do it again...