Over the river and through the woods to Nana and Pops we go!

After opening our presents and  saying goodbye to Pa and Grandma, we headed to Montgomery to my parents. Both sisters and their family were already there. We unloaded, played a few  games of Scrabble, had a wonderful lupper( since in between breakfast and lunch = brunch then in between lunch and supper would have to =  lupper.....right?) and then it was time for more presents. It was very interesting this year. My parents had just moved into their home a couple of weeks prior to us coming. I guess my dad took everything from the storage building, wrapped it  and placed a gift tag on each one that said either  to Larry,Dad or Pop from one of us. I told him next year I wasn't buying any presents for him since several magically appeared from us already.

You thought I was joking? Over half of those were his!

My 2 sisters, dad, Laney, Ella and my niece Emma

All the kids got AU books signed by Pat Dye.

Has someone not had a present in a while??

Laney got a special gift.......her first Christmas bras.

I told Carmel to take a picture of me so everyone would know  I was there to. He started snapping so I started posing.

Did you enjoy that? 

After presents, I wanted to take pictures of each family but after waiting on dad to open his many presents this is what I got.......

Ella had fallen asleep so this was the best we got.

My sister and nephew were nowhere to be found so Todd picked up a picture of them and I snapped a photo.

Rebecca finally decided to show up for a picture.

It was a wonderful Christmas Day!

Christmas Morning!

How did we wake up Christmas morning? 

At 5:00, we hear what sounds like glass shattering. Oh no! Must be something of mine I am thinking. We soon find out it is the bell from Ella's  new bike Santa got for her. What was Santa thinking???  He could  have accidentally let that blasted thing fall into the trash.

Luckily, she did not ring it but a couple of times and we were able to get a little more shut eye. A couple of hours later( yes..my kids are threatened understand I need my beauty rest), I wake up to 2 girls telling me in their horrid .....dead skunk .......non fresh breath that Santa came and there are presents out there.

And so the Christmas marathon begins.........we get up, get ready, start breakfast, eat breakfast and open presents. 

The girls got bibles this year.

Carmel's parents were able to join us this year for Christmas.

Santa brought us matching aprons.

We had a great Christmas morning but stay turned we are not even a third through the day yet.

Christmas at home

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and stayed up to ring in the New Year! The next several post will be about our Christmas together and the New Year. I have way to many pictures and frankly not enough time to do it all in one. We have had a great Christmas break and I am VERY sad it will end tomorrow!

Here are a few highlights before Christmas.....

My really good friend from New York stopped by for a night. I really wish it could have been for longer 16 hours was just not enough time together. I guess I will just have to plan another trip to New York to see them.

My sweet girls getting along for 2 minutes just so I could get a picture. Merry Christmas to me!

Ella had a fever Christmas Eve so she was asleep for most of the day. She missed out on some of the preparations for Santa.

Laney making peanut butter balls for Santa. He loves them at our house!

Laney was so excited when I pulled out these pjs for her and Lanie.

Well.....look who woke up for another picture!

The kids tracking Santa on the computer. He was over Greece at the time.

The final ritual before going to bed......spreading out the reindeer mix. We would not want Santa to miss our house. Note: Ella's fever was coming back so she was trying her best to enjoy it.

This was Carmel's after Christmas clearance special one year..........Santa on a Harley!

Check back later to see if Santa came to our house.