Am I Coming or Going??

Whew...that was a wild ride! No pics today...just words.
We had a wonderful Christmas. After we had a nap that is! Liam was up yesterday at 3am, yup, you read that right. 3am!!! We made him get in bed between us and held him off for another hour. At 4am Sam and Mason were up too! So we threw our hands in the air and started the coffee pot. Silly me, I set it to self-start at 6am...as if! The boys very rudely woke up our princess and ran to the tree. Maggie stumbled out and I'm pretty sure the only reason she didn't get downright nasty with them was presents!! Steve was amazed that all that exitement was generated by one gift. You see, in our house Santa only brings one gift per child (plus stockings of course). It is usually the best gift...that jerk Santa gets all the glory! Yea, right...seems like even Santa gets trumped most years by Grandma Debby and Pawpaw James but that's a whole nother story. The older boys got several new games in all and various other stuff. Liam had a Bakugan year and Maggie got a new Barbie set and an Easy Bake Oven! Which Liam insisted on helping her with. Geez, I think maybe I should have gotten him an Easy Bake Oven too!!
This year from Santa Sam and Mason both received games they requested and Liam and Maggie both got new MP3 players. They suddenly talk really loud...
I got a new Kitchen Aid Mixer...the mac-daddy actually! It's awesome (thank you Dad)!! Jon got me lots of heartfelt stuff that I really wanted (my yearly Sierra Club Engagement Calendar and the new Hillsong CD) and I also got new sheets ~ 5oo thread count baby, from Mom. But, that was later.
After presents Jon took his nap shift while I straightened up and lounged on the couch. When he got up I took my nap, Maggie slept with me. My princess is the only child I have who recognizes the value of sleep!! After we got up, I used my new mixer to prepare cheesy potatoes. Then we went to Bobby's house.
For supper yesterday we bad smoked brisket, baked beans, cole slaw, cheesy potatoes and rolls...unconventional I know but it was DELICIOUS!! Good job Bobby on that brisket. Later we opened gifts and mom made Sam's day. You see, for his combo Christmas/Birthday gift he asked for a Nano. He REALLY wanted the new iPod Touch, but that was out of his price range. So, after a cruel amount of torture he was allowed to open his gift and it was...drumroll, please...an iPod Touch. He was so very pleased. He had to call Austin immediately. News like that begs to be shared with your best friend!! Austin got one too, so they basked in the glow together on the phone!
This part always stinks...it's over. I'm not ready for it to be over. I refuse to take down the decorations yet. The sun has actually been out quite a little bit over the past few days, but I know as soon as I take everything down it will go away...not to be seen again for months!! SO, I'm stalling. And to all of you who thought I put things up too early and would be tired of them by now...well. Just shows how much you know, huh! lol.
Today Jon has to take Mason back to his Mom's house. So, he'll be kind of down this afternoon and evening. I'm at work. Not so bad...the kids have been out of school for a week already. I consider work a break of sorts! It's time to start getting ready for Sam's birthday. Mom and James will be in town for a week. I think in a few days she will accompany me to bargain hunt for some clothes for Sam. Yes, he's at the age where he actually WANTS clothes as a gift...provided they are the RIGHT clothes. Well, that's enough of my vapid nothingness for now...
Suffice to say...Christmas was awesome for us, we're not letting it go yet!

Merry Christmas Eve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It really isn't Christmas Eve without Maude and Poppy, so although it's a poor imitation...here they are under the mistletoe!!

PPPlllllleeeeeeaaaaaassseeee!! Daddy, can't I just open this one gift?!?

Liam is eagerly tracking Santa today, he's currently in Indonesia!

Maggie changed the calendar today, she was excited that this year she got to add baby Jesus! This is the advent calendar that Anne got them last year. I wanted to make sure before the season is over that I got a pic of it in here. They've all really enjoyed it for the last two years and I'm sure many years to come!

Obviously, Sam is excited...

But not as excited as Mason...

Jon will be home from work soon. We have to make cookies this afternoon for Santa. Every year I buy the already made ones in a package because Maggie and Liam want to "make" them. So we'll do that then go to church at 9pm. Oh the anticipation is killing me. Merry Merry Christmas everybody!! I love you!!!

Thank You Poppy!!

Ok ~ so I know you're disappointed that they didn't have to wait longer. I always let them open their gifts from Poppy and Grannie Annie on the last day/night before Mason comes over for the holidays. That was Monday night. So...here they are opening...Sam was particularly happy that his wasn't actually Strawberry Cereal Bars. I felt the need to disguise it. I mean I know he only asked you for one thing and he had a pretty good idea what it was...but I don't want to just give it away!!

He is currently in his room playing said game...I have hardly seen him for days!
This year I wrapped everything in brown packaging paper with twine and I attached a scripture to each gift. It was simple and looked pretty under the tree and I thought it was an effective means of keeping us centered on Christ this Christmas!

Liam was probably the most excited. He's SO EASY to pump up!!!

I never told you, BTW, that his present was almost no surprise. The nimrods at JCPenney delivered it just like you see it in this picture! That's the shipping label on the corner. I was so mad at them I could've spit and lucky for me Liam dawdle's when he's getting out of the van!

Maggie felt spoiled because she had 2 to open and she LOVED both of them!!

She's so relieved that her baby won't be cold when she takes her out anymore!!

...and she absolutely LOVES the stroller too. I have to admit it's pretty darn cute!! I'm very quickly getting tired of it being all over the house though!! lol.

We love you Dad and Anne ~ Thank you VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!!!

The Garrett Family Christmas

Well Sunday we spent Christmas with the Garrett clan. We even had Spencer for the afternoon ~ very rare indeed. It was fun. the kids had a blast. Well ok...at least Liam did. He got to see Trey which is always a special treat if you ask him.

They didn't have to wait NEARLY long enough to open the gifts if you ask me. God love 'em, the Garrett's have not yet mastered the fine art of TORTURING the kids with the gifts. They don't understand the pure unadulterated joy the parents can get out of teasing, taunting and withholding the presents until the childrens' anticipation is at a feverish pitch. So...they only had to wait about 2 hours after we got there before they were ripping paper.
I know the look on Liam's face is unpleasant but darnit this pic is the only one where we were all looking at my camera. There were three people snapping foto's and well...this is it.

Here is my dear hubby and his family. Again. Kay did not smile in the only pic where everyone was looking at me. Something about that bottom left corner. Well, only 2 more days. I wish time would slow down. We all know Christmas day will FLY BY!! If there's one thing I've learned about Christmas it's that the anticipation is DEFINITELY the BEST part!! I just have to squeeze every drop of joy and fun and love and family out of the next few days. I love you all!!!

Do You Remember????

1.The hard candy Maude ALWAYS had at Christmastime?
2.That pillow she kept for Bobby to suck on?
3.The year I had to take my new record player with me to Grandma and Grandpa's house?
4.Helping Grandma decorate the tree? She'd just sit on the couch and we'd clamor around her to get decorations...
5.How excited we used to get when Linda and Dave were coming for Christmas?
6.Watching Meet Me in St. Louis on Christmas Eve at Maude's house?
7.Waiting FOREVER for Mom to get there?
8.That stupid hat Dad used...yes, you remember...if it falls to the right you can open a present. Nah, I was just kidding!!
9. The year Steve was SO SICK, he even has a red nose in the pictures! He got a stuffed R2-D2.
10. Tracy coming home with us on Thanksgiving to help us decorate our Christmas tree.
11. The year I got a Cabbage Patch Kid, Wow, Santa rocked the house that year!!!
Thanks Mom and Dad, Christmas will ALWAYS BE A SPECIAL TIME TO ME and it's because it always has been. I love you!! and I miss you terribly!!