CHRISTmas 2012

This Christmas was the best ever {minus the year that I was 8 and received my first shotgun}, I absolutely loved having so many families to share the holiday with and watching Charli be more excited than I have ever seen her while opening gifts. I believe each year becomes more and more exciting for her, I cannot wait to experience that with Bryar too.
Christmas Eve night we went next door to Curtis' Parent's home, to eat dinner and open gifts from one another. Which was so fun and I loved all of the things that they were so kind to get all of us! Whenever we headed home, we all went back outside to leave Rudolph and the other reindeer some food and hay. Charli decided that she wanted between our houses so that the reindeer would have a nice open spot to land - sweet girl and good thinking!
After the food was out, Charli thought she seen a red glow race across the sky and ran back inside screaming that she must go to bed because they were very close. So we headed in and layed out cookies & milk (which I sadly forgot to get a photo of, but Santa ate them way to quickly) we read "The New Born King" (yes a $1 book from dollar general store) and tucked her in tightly, and she told us that she would not get up if she heard any noises because all of her toys would disappear if Santa seen her peeking in.
Curtis and I stayed up for a while afterwards and put together the doll house, barbie vet care station and pulled out toys left and right. I sent Curtis on to bed so that I could get out his fishing pole and hang our stockings since I was surprisingly giving him fishing equipment (I fuss at him for going..yep, I am that wife.)
Once everything was situated and ready for Charli to see in the morning, Bryar and I headed to bed as well. Bryar and I were up and down a couple of times through the night but every time Charli Beth was still snugged tight sleeping away. Around 7:30 Christmas morning we heard "Mommy, Daddy can I get up yet?" and all we could do was laugh because she was afraid to get out of the bed in case her toys disappeared.


When we arrived in the living room this is the look that she gave me while yelling "Holy Moly, Santa left me a lot." - silly girl!

Curtis and Charli opened gifts while Bryar took all of the excitement in eating and chilling in Momma's lap.
Charli then had to give Daddy kisses for all of the wonderful gifts that she had received.
Every time, I look at this picture I am pretty sure that it takes my breathe with how beautiful my girl truly is.
After opening gifts we headed back over to my in laws for breakfast, spending time with more family members and opening more gifts from one another.

Once again Bryar and I took all of the excitement in by rocking and eating. This boy seems to not be able to get enough of cuddling, eating and sleeping.
Someone was oh so sweet and gave Charli a flute... need I say more?
Later in the afternoon we joined my parents at their home with my sister and her family to open gifts from one another then we went to my grandparents for our last family function of the night.
Before we left we had to make sure that we got all three cousins together for a photo in their Rudolph shirts. As you can see Charli Beth was struggling holding these two babies up, but she truly thought she was tough stuff doing it!
Even though it was a busy Christmas weekend it was an amazing one. We were blessed in more ways than we could ever imagine being safe, healthy and surrounded with family members on Jesus' birthday.

My sister Ashley and Alex were also engaged this weekend!! Congrats to them and baby Trace! Alex is already a family member to us all but we cannot wait to watch them grow old together as Husband and Wife. They are both wonderful souls and deserve one another more than anything.