Santa Express

I just realized that I never posted about our train ride with Santa.  So much fun!! Next year, John Sawyer will get to ride with us, and we just can't wait!  Uncle C and Aunt Tay were in Auburn for Tristan's graduation on this day, so they weren't able to join us. Basically, we boarded the Long Island car and enjoyed a long ride.  Santa and one of his elves joined us along the way, and stopped to chat with all the children!

All aboard!

Waiting to see Santa!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Santa is all ears!

Daddy's girl!

Brother wasn't into having his picture made at this time! 

What a fun ride!

This was actually taken before the train ride.  Reed had been to our house for a few days.  This is his reunion with Lillian!  They really love each other, and were thrilled to see each other.  So sweet!

I highly recommend this fun trip!  We will be back next year! I think this is my last Christmas post!  On to our new adventures in 2018.  We have lots of big things in store for this year!

Christmas Eve and Morning

After church, we headed east to spend the night with Lindsey, Josh and the babies. After a wonderful supper, we took a ride to look for Christmas lights, next Maddie read the Christmas story to all of us and then the kiddos put the food out for the reindeer.  Finally, the cookies and milk were prepared for the big guy, and we all headed to bed to get ready for an early morning. I cherish these wonderful times!

Best reindeer food ever!!


Christmas Eve - Getting ready for Santa to come!

Leaving cookies and milk for Santa!

This has become one of my favorite traditions of the Christmas season.  Maddie reads us the Christmas story before they head to bed.

I think she's dreaming of all the presents she's going to get the next morning.

Santa came and worked his magic, and then scurried off!

Checking out the goodies! I don't think anything in the world could be more fun!

Still just a tad sleepy1

Pop and Josh put up Maddie's new deer stand and then we headed home.

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas at Our House

What a wonderful Christmas!!  We have baked cookies, made candy, looked at lights, taken a ride on the Santa Express, decorated and decorated some more, and spent precious time with our family! We've attended Christmas programs, family gatherings, cantatas and more!  One of my favorite events was taking the little ones to see The Star.  There is nothing more special (or more fun) that experiencing Christmas through the eyes of our sweet little ones!  They are at the perfect ages for Santa, but all know the real reason we celebrate the season!  We are so very blessed to share so many memories with our family, and can't wait to make more!!

We have always sorted our gifts into piles the night before we open gifts.  Lindsey and Caleb have passed this job on to the little ones, and they love it!  Only three or four gifts ended up with no tags or bows, so we consider that a win!

We enjoyed breakfast, opened gifts and then ate lunch together!  No pictures of that!  Maddie and Lillian set the table! It's so great having such wonderful help!

Papa spent most of the morning with us.  The kids have always loved spending time with him, and I'm pretty sure he feels the same.

He enjoyed opening his presents, too.

 Silly girl! Maddie and Lillian are patiently waiting to open gifts!  Also, Reed is obsessed with drinking out of his Mickey Mouse cup!

 The den floor becomes covered with paper, boxes and tape!  But, that's just evidence of lots and lots of fun! 

 I can't wait until John Sawyer is here to celebrate with us! We are all ready!

 Uncle C is getting a remote control firetruck or front end loader next year!

There's nothing sweeter than Christmas smiles!

Lillian has gotten a castle of one type or another for 3 years now- and, she wanted another one this year.  Nana opted for a doll house this year, and I think she really loves it! She's checking it out with her mom.

 Inspecting the gifts!

Fun with Uncle C!

My tree is down and the decorations are put away, but we made memories to last forever!  Next up, Christmas morning with Lindsey, Josh and the grandbabies.

Tinker and Cookies

I traveled to Alex city yesterday to bring the sweeties back with me for a few days! We visited the Tinsel Trees in Tuscaloosa and rode through Clear Creek to view the lights on the way back. This morning we woke to the adventures of Tinker!  Tinker is their elf and apparently he followed us here!  He's a sneaky little fellow!  We continued our Christmas fun by baking cookies and wrapping presents.  Tomorrow is movie day!  Pop and I love spending time with these three stinkers! 

Tinker landed in a cookie jar this morning.  The kids were thrilled to find him this morning!

He is resting comfortably on the upstairs mantle until his next adventure tonight.

Before we get to the cookies, check out these adorable aprons that Mrs. Revie Davidson made.  We have one waiting for John Sawyer, too!

I cropped these pictures as closely as possible, because my kitchen was turned up side down!  I don't think there was an inch that wasn't covered in something!!

Maddie took her time on every cookie!

Searching for the perfect cookie cutter!

His favorite was the gingerbread man!

Serious work going on here!

Hard at work!

True Masterpieces!!!  Each cookie was made with tender loving care!!

Two proud girls!!

Reed just wasn't into the group picture!!

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas in Mississippi

Family is the best part of Christmas....

We almost had to cancel our Christmas gathering with my side of the family this year, due to the snow.  Luckily, it melted just enough for most of us to be able to go.  Lindsey and Josh were snowed in with almost 8 inches, so they didn't make it.  Our Christmas gatherings have changed so much over the years.  We always gathered at my grandparents in the big town of Coatopa. We opened gifts for hours.  Grandmommie made us open gifts one at a time, beginning with the youngest and ending with the oldest.  Even though times have changed, it's just as special now.  My grandparents helped instill bonds that can't be broken due to time or distance. Phillip and Bethany opened up their beautiful home for us this year!  I am truly grateful for each one of this crazy group!!

Taylor is getting in a little practice with John Michael..........

Three of my favorite people!  Bethany, Doris and Kathy

Michael

And his twin Gerald

Reed and Doris

Aren't they precious? London and Cassandra

Sweet sisters!

Love these two!

So sweet!

Daddy's girl!  Or at least on of them!

Lots of memories with this one!  

Uncle Michael and Aunt Doris-although I've never called them that!  

Still practicing!

The twins-youngest of five!  My grandmother was a saint!  Four boys and one girl!

Such a special fun day!  

Merry Christmas!!