Christmas Part ONE!

We really had a great Christmas. A different Christmas – we had a few less days off from work than usual, and we actually stayed at our house, which was lots of fun and pretty peaceful.  Here’s a ridiculous number of pictures.

We did run up to Kansas for a get-together at Grandma Norma’s and one at Peggy’s. We also went to my 6 year old niece Addie’s basketball game. Her dad, my brother-in-law Rob, has been coaching her team.

The big game…

The cheering section:

The huddle:

The captive audience (I think they were just there for the suckers.):

The hustle:

The Coach, looking….”coachy”:

The good defense:

Christmas at Grandma Norma’s:

Stacy and Ashley:

The Presents (AND the very sticky substance covering the entire radius of my child’s face from the insanely huge lollipop on one of the presents)!…the guitar was by far his favorite. Thanks Aunt Vicki!

The Ward family picture (and the “special” Christmas attire):

Uncle Dave and his grandson Jacob:

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The cutest baby – Brian’s cousin’s baby Chace…this kid tottled around with his little belly hanging out of his shirt the entire night. I finally caught him long enough to give it a little nom-nom. So sweet!

 

Cousins Alisha and Brooke – sisters and BFF’s.

And silly sister in law Kim, who brought us all the crazy sweaters and sweater vests!

And Santa! How did he know we would be there?? Brett, who’s usually a little bit stranger shy, immediately made a bee-line to stand directly in front of Santa and his big bag of presents, and waited patiently for Santa to pull one out with his name on it.  And…seems like at family get togethers my husband always ends up on the floor with numerous kids climbing and jumping on him!

The Cousin Pictures: Notice one of these things is not like the others. Neither female nor happy. Stinker. Couldn’t even be bribed.

The tradition of the Socks at Grandma Peggy’s house. They all hang in the window, then magically appear full of warm socks, candy, gift cards, gummy bears, dish towels…

Ummm….I don’t know. Not sure what to say here…where’s the cape?

 

Peggy taking her new bike for a spin…

Santa sent Aunt Kim an Elf on the Shelf straight from the North Pole. We can’t wait to have him as part of our Christmas traditions next year! We have heard those silly little elves are lots of fun.

Thanks for a fun, memorable Christmas as usual, Kansas Family!

Thanksgiving….

We stayed at mom’s house. Mom and Ken have done a lot of work on the house one room at a time and through the changes we are always so comfortable and that house always still seems like “home”.

Nice picture with Memaw:

Mean football game faces…

We spent Thanksgiving day at stepsister Stacy’s beautiful house with Mom and Ken.

This is Stacy and her son Brandon. Stacy helps take care of her grandbabies and also happens to be a wonderful cook-especially cakes – and Brandon will be finishing nursing school soon.

The lovely Hannah – Stacy’s youngest.

Hannah’s extremely large yet extremely sweet and playful great dane. I think she’s a little dog trapped in a big dog’s body.

There were many others there, but didn’t get a pic of everybody. We really enjoyed seeing everybody.

I was bummed that my dad’s side of the family was going to be on Sunday, the day we’d need to travel home….so my wonderful aunt Sue invited whoever could come to her house over for dinner and desserts Friday evening. Aunt Sue has always been like a second mother, as my dad lived with her for about 20 years. I loved that she tried to bring the fam to us since we couldn’t go to the fam. As Brett would say, it “made me soooo happy”. We had lots of good food and got in a really good visit. And Brett napped in my dad’s old room, which had been completely made over by my Aunt Sue, with the help of my  aunts and uncle and cousin. Brought me to tears, his room looked so different but still included him and his memory and some of his things at the same time. In fact she’s redone the entire house and it looks amazing.

Aunt Sue:

My beautiful cousin Melissa (works at vet’s office and is a guardian angel and care taker to all creatures) and her super awesome family-lovin’ boyfriend Brad. (like him a lot)…

And, the lovely couple again with Melissa’s dad, my Uncle Gary.

Dad’s oldest sister Mae. All around sweet woman who makes one mean pumpkin pie and has LOTS of grandbabies to love on these days.

Uncle Olan (Mae’s husband), Brett, and Jadyn-my…3rd cousin! So sweet!

Sweet cousins Connie and Deb, and cousin Rob

Aunt Bonnie, and Laura – Jadyn’s pretty mommy!

My Grandma Cresap. She just turned 88 years young in November. I love this picture of her in mid-laugh. She was getting some laughs by taking her teeth out for Brett.

Uncle Ronnie – Brett loves Uncle Ronnie.

And Aunt Lynda, who always has an answer or an idea…

 

And Pepaw…they share a love for razorbacks and gummie bears…

Thank you FAMILY!