Christmas Eve we have traditional have family gatherings to celebrate Christmas. Normally we take tons of family pictures that as a child drove me crazy since I wanted to open presents (I am sure it did my sister and cousins too). Now, I love reminiscing as I look back on the pictures, thinking of all us dancing in Mama’s garage or the cousins gathered in Mama’s bedroom ‘prank’ calling people to sing “We Wish you a Merry Christmas” among other Christmas songs (our version of caroling). This year family pictures were not successful … we seemed to forget about having a camera … as an adult I regret not taking pictures; we will do better next year. Luckily my sister and brother-in-law took a few while everyone was sitting around and I snagged them :).
We did enjoy an abundance of yummy food, catching up, and stealing presents from each other as we played dirty santa with family who got to come – Mimi, Papa, Stacy, Mark, Sara, Katie, Kristi (and baby Raymond in her belly), Clark, Stephanie, Alex, Lexi, Ava, aunt Joan, Jody, Susan, Devon, Nana, and aunt Charlotte with all her grandbabies. We missed those that did not get to come and hope to see you all soon – Veronica and her girls (she worked the night before and the girls were with their dad), Jeremy and Rick with their wives, aunt Freda and her family (boo on car troubles), and of course my grandmother, uncles Ronnie and Tommy, aunt Freda, and granddad (pawpaw) who all celebrated this year together in heaven. Thank you Jesus for the time we had on earth with each of our loved ones and for providing a way for us to get to see them again one day; they got to celebrate with the Reason for the Season this year.
Mimi helping the kids sort presents
Ivy fell asleep
Uncle Mark capturing memories – he
Family time
Sara helping Papa
Katie and Leia playing in the bumbos
Mimi and Papa loving on Ivy
Mimi with Ivy and Ava
The girls playing with Chris
Cousin Sara playing with the little ones while her other cousins napped
Hugs for everyone from Sara
Christmas Eve night we joined Aunt Stacy, Uncle Mark, Sara, Katie, Mimi, and Papa for the candle light service at Fullness then headed back to cousins Sara and Katie’s house to decorate cookies for Santa like we did last year.
Leia concentrating on decorating
Cousin Katie at work
Sara too
Ivy was checking everything out; she will be decorating next year too
Daddy helped decorate the cookies too
Cute picture but Daddy got in trouble …she is on a mommy’s milk diet…she did not actually have a bit
Mimi and Papa checked out what an awesome job the girls did
The girls sure have grown from last year
Leia (last year)
Katie (last year)
Sara (last year)
I am not sure why but it cracked me up when I read my sister’s blog and saw santa had two drinks at her house; I am sure we will have a variety at our house when Ivy gets old enough to voice her opinion. At any rate, Sara and Katie each insisted santa wanted OJ and apple juice (respectively) while Leia gave santa milk. I guess it cracked me up since Leia’s sat out the traditionally santa treat (milk and cookies) while Sara and Katie’s was not; yet so many people have commented that Stacy’s girls names are traditional and mine are not. I love how kids each have their own opinion and personalities at such young ages as they all put the cookies out for santa in hopes he would come visit their house that night.
The girls did a great job on the cookies
Leia and Ivy’s cookies set out waiting on Santa
