Christmas Day '16

Christmas Day was such a busy, but magical day!! Daddy and I were able to wake a bit early to see what Santa brought! Santa always brings the girls 3 gifts each (since that's how many Jesus got). Clairy scored an American Girl camper, a princess 4-wheeler, and a lego table:

Nora scored a new bike, and American Girl bakery, and a FitBit!

Ella also got a FitBit, a makeup vanity, and an American Girl horse and stable. These girls must've been VERY good this year!!

The calm before the storm.....

Early birds rising with excitement!!!

Of course the biggest kid would love the 4-wheeler made for a child half her size....

We're laughing because we're delirious....the sun wasn't even coming up for another 706 hours.

All-Day mess and play....

They rode this thing for HOURS!!!

I found a weiner in my dishwasher:

Daddy whipping up a breakfast of champions!!

Riding bikes in the warm Christmas weather:

Favorite picture of Christmas Day - pitching a fit because she had to wear a helmet:

She wins. No helment :/ Daddy is a sucker.

Back inside for more playing....

....and driving in the princess car. #babyhuey

We usually take about 137 catnaps on Christmas Day. Best day, but most tiring day of the year!!

After eating lunch with Grandmommie and Paw, we ALL crashed for a while:

Later on, we headed over to "Uncle George's" house for our annual Christmas dessert night:

Lovely, sis.

The girls love their "Bretty-Boy."

Fun chats and laughs:

I don't know what was really going here, but it was apparently something serious:

The youngins:

Mom taught us all how to blow a foghorn. Apparently, she used to torture her neighbors with that thing. What a hoodlum:

We always end the night by saying goodbye to Santa in the window. He's a little bit jolly and a little bit creepy all rolled into one giant doll. :)

And there you have it!! Another wonderful Christmas spend with family. Our cups runneth over.

Cheers to family, creepy Santa, and the birth of our Savior. To Him, we owe it all!!

Christmas Eve '16!!

Christmas Eve is always one of the best days of the year!! The girls are just so happy and excited! So excited, in fact, that they awoke at 4:45 am!! Seriously?!?! Anyhow, they awoke to discover that JoJo and Jessie had left a little treat for them on their last day:

They were B-E-G-G-I-N-G to open gifts, so after breakfast, we let them open their presents from each other:

Henry is wondering where his presents are...

He's thinking, "You really didn't get me anything, huh?"

Nora was wayyyy toooo excited about her pink alarm clock (little nerd). But, I gotta give it to her, she's used it everyday and has gotten up on her own to get ready for school!

Claira's putting her new tea set to good use:

Tea with Daddy!

We had an edible arrangement delivered from Josh's boss. So very nice and delicious. It was literally all gone in 20 minutes!

After all the morning festivities, we headed to church for the candlelit service.

Before lighting the candles, the kids were asked to come up and sing some of their favorite Christmas songs with Pastor Todd.

The service was beautiful. Brought many sweet tears:

After church, Grandmama, Lea, & Brett came over so we could exchange gifts. Our theme for the adults this year was that we had to get each other stuff from the thrift store. It was hilarious!!

The kids got "regular" NEW gifts.....

....and they got LOTS of Disney attire!! Hoping to put that to good use soon!!

More of the "thrifts" :)

My new onesie is my new favorite thing in life. I wear it everyday. Every single day.

A book?!?!

HA!! She actually loves the David books and recites them by heart!!

Award for the best faces goes to Ella and Lea:

More thrifts and gifts:

NEW EARS from Lea!! Ariel, Cinderella, and Minnie - our favs!!

Lea's new Buddha from Josh:

My new glass:

Josh with his new favorite shoes:

After swapping gifts, we all headed over to Grandmommie's and Paws in our PJs to have our annual Christmas Eve fun:

Getting ready to open gifts:

Hunter found his spot for the night:

IS IT TIME YET?!?!?

READY, SET........

GOOOOO!

These were both put to GREAT use!!

Lea chattin' it up with Grandma:

Mama & Mary

Grandmommie and Paw received a "book theme" of gifts this year. Grandmommie's book was actually a personalized masterpiece of her most notorious quotes :) Nobody can quote quite like Cathy!! :) :) :)

Ready to go home and get ready for Santa!!

When we got home, Lea brought "cousin Ralph" over to spend the night with us, and Ralph brought Henry his very own elf shirt:

The pups were excited about Santa, too!! Especially in there matching shirts:

Right before bed, Claira headed outside to spread out her reindeer food that she made at school. The reindeer can't go hungry, you know!!

And finally, the children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads!!

Santa's on his way!!

To be continued.......