LOTS OF CHRISTMAS CHEER

I LOVED having Christmas fall on a Tuesday this year. Sure wish it was some crazy formula like the 4th Tuesday after the 3rd half moon of the year....like Easters crazy formula is. And I LOVED having the kids out on Friday before Christmas. That week before Christmas is ALWAYS crazy and it ends up being a wasted week of time off for the kids because I still have to go and do to get things done. Now they don't go back until the 8th....lots of down time for them (and me). Work was closed on Monday and then the 2 day weekend before and the 3 days vacation after has made for a really good week.

We started our Christmas celebration down at my aunts with my cousins. We do our usual white elephant gift exchange and the 2nd cousins all have fun playing together. It's such a cute group and they all get along so well.

 Georgia (far left) and Bailey (far right), Harris' daughters play well with Calli and Colson. They always enjoy their time together.

 How cute is this little girl? This is Layne, Marks daughter. She's ADORABLE!

 And so is Marks son, Charlie!

The only one I didn't get a picture of was Harris' son, Austin. He's one and cute!

Colson ended up with a Nutcracker that he talked my mom into stealing from him so he could score on black Santa.

After Saturday with the extended family, we spent Sunday preparing for our Christmas Eve production. I sang in the choir....I really just lip sinced because I had not been to one rehearsal (except Sunday). But Wes was the star of the show. The skit was centered around auditions for the Christmas play...only they only had 4 people show up for auditions so those 4 people told the story as they "auditioned". Since there were only 4 people, they each played several parts. Wes had the most costume changes. He was...

An angel

A clock

A (perfectly casted) donkey



A sheep

A frightened shepherd

A wiseman

And of course the best bass guitarist around

It was a cute way to tell the story. After two services of that, we went to Grammies to celebrate with my side of the family. Of course we had dinner and then the Christmas story read by Calli. Everyone listened quietly in their own way.

 And then the opening of presents. My presents to Hudson and Cam were a hit. I got Cam a miniature roller coaster that I am sure Scott is thrilled with...it's kinda big. But Cam loved it.

Too bad he doesn't know it was from me. If he did, he might at least smile at me when he sees me. Oh well, I delight in seeing him have fun even if he doesn't want anything to do with me.

Hudson got a police man bike. Pretty cute!

Cam may not want anything to do with me...but he wants everything to do with Calli.

And Hudson is glued to Colson.

Judging by this picture you would think Calli was the only one who had a great evening. On the contrary, it was a great evening which quickly ended and it was time to head home to get ready for Santa.