Yawn.
I'm exhausted.
Not only from just now downloading 150 pictures for this post (feel free to stop reading right here) but from the mega month we just had. I am an overachiever when it comes to scheduling. I can't help it. I love to cram as many possible things into a short span of time as possible. Especially at Christmas. I love it, and I can't get enough. As I sit here typing, I'm thinking of all the things I meant for us to do and didn't. Sigh. But now I'm ready for a long winters nap.
Let's recap.
On December 5th, the night before our anniversary, Jimmy and I celebrated with an A-MAZING dinner at Ruth Chris' Steak House. It's kind of become a tradition.
Love this man and our life together! God has blessed me more than I deserve.
On December 6th, our actual anniversary, we set out to buy our first ever "real" Christmas tree. I was giddy. But the weather detoured my robust plans of stomping through a far away farm to find our perfect tree and sawing it down with our bare hands. Instead, we drove to Green Thumb Nursery and picked out this beauty! Maybe next year.
I had decorated most of the inside of the house before we left for Destin (I know, I know never before Thanksgiving) I broke all kinds of rules this year.
I decided that my sweet Nanny needed a cookie jar for her Chips Ahoys that always lay there staling on her countertop. So I ventured off to Rivercity Pottery with my 2 kids and Madison, our carpool buddy, to create her a one of a kind cookie jar with her great grands handprints on them. If my mom and mother-in-law hadn't been with me, I may have lost my mind in that place. Oy, children and pottery don't mix.
On the 11th, Keatyn had her Christmas program at school and "Show and Tell the Christmas Story" was a success.
Attempting to get a decent picture before we left... not a success.
On the 13th, our new table arrived!! The furniture builder and owner of my new favorite store Pieces, build us this custom kitchen table from a walnut tree in St. Elmo. I absolutely love it!
That night, my sweet KK and I had a mommy/daughter date. We went to eat at Chicken Salad Chick (my new favorite obsession) downtown and went to see the dance recital, where she takes gymnastics, at the Memorial Auditorium. She sat spellbound for 2.5 hours and loved all the "spawkly guwls." The theme was frozen and it was a beautiful show! I can't wait to see her on that stage next year!
The next day, the Gaston's gathered for Christmas. I always love this day! It is rare all the cousins can come and this year we were missing Allison, Zack, and Lyndsey but we had the best time.
The little cousins. Love them.
Casey gave my mom a "Survivor" necklace that made her cry. It was so thoughtful and sweet.
Trace's last week of school was stylish and fun. Crazy hair day. His scalp was neon yellow for 6 days.
That Wednesday Rick and Sheila came up from Alabama to spend a few days with Sisty and Granddaddy. It is always SO good to see them and catch up!
The next night we had our 6th annual Gingerbread House party at Leslie's house. We cheated this year and just decorated cookies. I can't believe Jack, Trace, and Abby were 1.5 and 2 years old when we first started this tradition. Our numbers have grown quite a bit since then!
These mamas mean the world to me!
Trouble in a little package.
I swear Trace needs a haircut every 3 weeks and Keatyn always begs to get hers cut too. We got 4 inches cut off and it looks SO much better! Since she rarely lets me comb it much less put a bow in it, I contemplated buzzing it. Her daddy said no.
Looking at Christmas lights, while dressed in PJ's and drinking hot chocolate was not our best night. They both were exhausted and I had no idea where the good lights were. We were back home in 20 minutes with cold hot chocolate and 2 snoozing children. Boo!
On the Sunday before Christmas, we went to Sisty and Granddaddy's for a "fancy" dinner on real Christmas china, not the plastic kind from Bi Lo with a Santa in the middle, like me kids are used to.
Hours before this, WalMart photo lab nearly stole my Christmas spirit when I drove all the way to Gunbarrel Road in the MaDnEsS to get Sisty's calendar and they didn't have it. Frustration was at an all time high, until I heard my sweet boy read the Christmas story from his Bible at dinner and then all was right with the world. Thank you son. Thank you Son.
He finally got his XBOX. One happy boy.
They took a little dip in the hot tub. Keatyn went commando, Granddaddy did not.
Lite Brite. Some toys are classics.
On Monday we met Trace's best buddy Alex at the Sports Barn for their Open Gym. These kiddos played and bounced for 3 hours.
I had to take this. Her little butt crack. I see it all day, everyday. This is what happens when you're 3 and the size of a 5 year old. Lord love her.
That Monday night, my parents and Andy and Kadi came over for dinner and to exchange gifts. We had Hennen's gift cards that were going to expire so we called it in and brought it home. That's my kind of dinner party.
The next morning, I kind of panicked when I realized we hadn't seen Santa yet. Yikes! We rushed off to the mall and there he was waiting for us. After that we dropped off some food at the Chattanooga Food Bank. I am trying so hard to make sure they understand the true meaning of Christmas and what Christ calls us to do. That it's NOT about presents and toys but about the Son of God and helping others. I'll just keep preaching it, and pray they are understanding!
Christmas Eve Eve, we built a pillow nest in the living room and piled up to watch a Christmas show. We ended up moving to our bedroom and I drug the little tree in from the kitchen because the show we wanted was DVRed on that T.V. First World problems.
Christmas Eve at my parent's with Mom's side of the family. We have Sunday dinners quite often but there's just something special about Christmas dinner at moms. I know it is so much work on them, but it is always so special!
Nanny opening her cookie jar. It turned out so cute!
After that, we finally make it home to play Santa...
Cheeky the Elf
finally showed up. He gave some lame excuse about us moving and him not being able to find us, but I think someone just got lazy.
Christmas morning. Those faces!
Two favorites this year, hands down. The Inquisitor Lightsaber...
and the Flutterbye Fairy.
Around noon we set out for Alabama. It's hard getting up Christmas morning and leaving your toys to ride 3 hours in the car. We had to eat lunch at a gas station (another First World problem) because we couldn't find a restaurant open. But once we are there, there's no place we'd rather be! I love Christmas in AL!
Grace Anne serenaded us with Christmas carols on her violin.
The annual cousin's Christmas story never disappoints. SO sweet! Keatyn played Mary and Trace was Joseph/Shephard. Look at precious Mallory, the angel.
Mimmie's 10 great grands! I have no doubt she was beaming from heaven watching these guys tell the Christmas story. She loved them all so much!
Sweet Casey...
Twins...
LuLu won her family's crazy Christmas hat contest this year!
And possibly my favorite gift of the year. This little treasure we found at Mimmie's of Michael and Jimmy sometime in the 80's. Ohhh myyyy goodness! The stance, the tan, the open shirt, the gold chain, the nudey girl posters above him. What's not to love about this man?!? I threatened to put it on Facebook.
Once we got home the next day, Trace finally got to ride his Crazy Cart. It certainly lived up to it's name!
And then, this morning, we went to the Campbell's for what used to be Christmas Eve breakfast that has now become "Whenever everyone is back in town" breakfast. With the exception of about 3 years, I've had Christmas breakfast with this precious family every year of my life!
So now, I sit typing at 11:02 p.m. on December 27th. Christmas is officially over for us. :( The tree is still up (and on :) and we just finished watching The Christmas Story with the kids. Tomorrow, it will all come down. Another amazing Christmas is in the books! I look around our toy filled, pine needle covered floor and feel nothing but thankfulness. Thankful for the baby boy that was born over 2000 years ago as the weary world rejoiced, thankful for the hope of eternal life his birth brought us, thankful for my amazing, healthy family and friends to share this journey with and thankful for my warm bed to sleep in tonight.
May 2015 bring about many memories and blessings! May we all share the love and joy we've felt over this past month with everyone we meet in the New Year.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
