'Twas the week AFTER Christmas

'Twas the week after Christmas...well...blah blah blah. I'm not feeling creative enough to write a poem this year...so if I get in the mood later - you'll be the first to know! haha

Rally relaxing by the Christmas tree on Christmas eve.

Anyway - Christmas was great! On Christmas eve we went to Jeannine's house to open gifts with her, then we went to her church for the candlelight service, which was very nice. Christmas morning my folks and my sister as well as Jeannine all came over bright and early (around 8am) to be there for the kids to open their gifts. We then had a very relaxing brunch and mimosas and bloody mary's...it was very nice! The rest of the day we got to put together toys, search for batteries (Santa forgot to bring those...), and watch Kendall go crazy for all her toys. In fact - we asked her at one point what her favorite new toy was - and she got this very intent look on her face like she was really thinking about it...and then she said "I don't know!" She has literally been bouncing from toy to toy to toy every day since Christmas!!! haha

Carson opening one of his MANY gifts at Jeannine's house.

Same with Kendall....boy are our kids spoiled!!! :)

The stack of loot under the Christmas tree after Mom and Dad and Denise got there on Christmas day. The sad thing...is there were three gifts that were too big to go under the tree - one for Jeff (an air compressor), one for me (a sewing machine cabinet), and two for the kids (the train set and a play kitchen). Recession??? Where???? Certainly not at our house! haha

The only good picture I could get of both kids by the tree...they wouldn't stop moving!!! haha

Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas one and all!!!

Christmas is such a magical time. What other time of year is there music JUST to get you in the mood for the season? What other time of year do you spend an entire day or evening completely redecorating your entire house, only to take it all down just a few weeks later? What other time of year can you use the season to cheat on your diet? What other time of year can you wear green and red together without getting eyebrows raised? What other time of year can you use Santa Claus to your benefit with your kids?!?!

"Do you want Santa to come see you?" we ask.
"Uh huh," she says, nodding her head.
"Well, then you need to do what Mommy and Daddy said and xxxx (insert behavior desired)."

Its wonderful!!! My daughter has never been more well behaved than the last couple of days!!! haha Too bad Carson doesn't quite get the whole idea yet...or even Rally for that matter...

We can't wait for tomorrow morning. All week we've been wrapping presents and getting things ready. Tonight we will finish putting together the "big" gift that we got for the kids (a train set) and we are anxious to see their reaction! I'm looking forward to seeing my parents and my sister and Jeff's Mom and just spend time with them.

But beyond all the gifts and food and lights and smells...I think that Christmas is my favorite time of the year simply because it is an entire holiday celebrating someones birthday - Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. It doesn't matter what gifts are under the tree and what food you serve...what matters is that we remember why we are doing it all. If Christ wasn't the reason we celebrate on Christmas morning...then what else would the holiday be? If you take the Christ child out of the celebration, then all you have is a dying tree sitting in your living room. It is the celebration of Jesus Christ's birth that gives the entire season such a magical spark to it. Even those that haven't come to Christ yet can feel the magic of the season. What pains me sometimes is that we use the Christmas season as an excuse to tell the people we love that we love them, to be nice to strangers, to be generous to those in need...instead of doing it year round. And I'm guilty of it too...I am not nearly as courteous to others or as forgiving throughout the year as I am at Christmas time. I wish that I could love on people throughout the year as I feel like I want to do during this season...and as much as I know I should...I'm glad that God has given us this time of year to reach out and try to be remember that His gift was the greatest gift of any in the history or the future of the world - Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas!!!

Oh...right...I have a blog...

Okay okay. So I've been really bad lately. I really don't have any good excuses...so I won't even try. I'll just post some pictures from Thanksgiving and other stuff...

Our wonderful Miss May playing tea party with the kids.

My future brother-in-law, Chris, and my sister, Dee, at Thanksgiving.

I caught Aunt Nita right as she was looking away...otherwise she is always laughing! :)

I think Dad's comment as I was taking this picture was something along the lines of "maybe you should put the camera away and help clean dishes"...nah!!! hehe


Jeannine in the mix of it all...

The post Thanksgiving feast sleep off - starring Jeff and Carson and...

My good friend, Maria H.

Everyone but Kendall...of course...who is ALWAYS full of energy!

Like father like son - Carson fell asleep while "watching" a football game with his Daddy...

Waiting in line to get a picture taken with Santa Claus...can you tell she was excited?? The camera wouldn't focus because she was jumping up and down so much...

Even Carson knew something fun was about to happen...

Smile!!! Don't worry...the actual picture that we paid an arm and a leg for came out much better...and actually in focus...

Early Merry Christmas everyone!!!