Twas The Night Before Christmas

These are just a few of the pictures from Christmas Eve. I had to work until 2 but right after, we went to see our Granny, PaPa and Aunt Ellen to celebrate Christmas. It was a great time and Hunter always is happy to see them. He loves to play around with Ellen. He was showing her his Daddy's IPOD that had his movie playing on it. He also loves to wear PaPa's hat and ride Ellen's rocking horse. What a silly boy but gotta love that smile:)

Our family came over shortly after so that we could enjoy some yummy snacks and let the kids play a little together. They had a lot of fun. You could hear them all over the house but it was happy, wonderful squeals of excitement. Hunter's cousin, DNK read The Story of Christmas and Twas the Night Before Christmas beautifully. Hunter and Baby K sat by in Mike's lap and listened. It really got us in the mood to go home and go to sleep, in hopes that Santa would visit!

Maw Maw sits with her Grandbabies

After everyone left, we went outside and threw the Reindeer food that Aunt Lou Eye brought us. It was magical, look how it sparkles!!

Hunter is modeling his new pj's. We always give him new pajamas to wear Christmas EveDo you think he's EXCITED?

And one question...why do they make children's pajamas SO tight? I know they say they are supposed to fit snug since it is a fire precaution but good gosh! These are 5T and I had to break the elastic on the sleeves JUST so he could get his arms in. OK, my rant is over now...

Thank GOD it's Friday!

I'm hoping to get a little cleaning done this weekend and then do some scrapping. I worked on Laundry last night and was so tired, I didn't get to play with my new Cricut. I've been doing a little bit every night so at least it's less I have to do over the weekend. I think we may take our Christmas tree down Sunday. That way, we can get our house back in order and I can enjoy the New Year Celebrations at home. I'm dieing to play with my new toy. In fact, today, I'm ordering the Storage Tote and 2 New Cartridges. (and getting one free with the promotion going on with Cricut before 12/31) I hope to have them before my crop next weekend at church.

Well, I'm going to get ready for work. I'm going in early to help clean up after having carpet installed last night. Hope everyone has a great Friday!!

Christmas Sunday

These are just some of the pictures from Sunday. All the kids sang several songs in "Big Church". It was so pretty and they also rang hand bells. They all looked so nice, in their Christmas dress up clothes.

Brittany sang a beautiful solo....she's growing up so fast and Hunter still adores her!! After their performance, they went downstairs and ate birthday cake for Jesus. They got lots of great presents and had a great party. Hunter looked like he was ready for a nap for sure afterwards!

Well, I hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday....We're over the hump and I'm ready for the weekend!!

Merry Christmas!!

I'm a day late but I hope EVERYONE had a very Merry Christmas!

It was a great day! We got up around 6, got ready and opened presents (Mike and I only) about 7. We got Hunter up about 7:15, before the grandparents, great grandparents and Unce Jeff came over and saw him get his presents. Then, we went to Grandma and Grandads, Nanny and Pop's, Uncle Marvin's and MaMa and PawPaw's. It was so much fun. What an awesome day. We came home and Mike worked on the computer for information on his new GPS unit. I cleaned up the Living Room and arranged everything nicely around the tree. It's tradition and I do it every year but because we had a huge train table on one side, it made it a little interesting to say the LEAST:) I got a Cricut machine and I'm in LOVE! We went back to Grandma and Grandad's after a couple hours so we could see our Nanny Puckette . She's in a Nursing Home but we got to visit with her and have dinner. She was in a great mood, as usual and we had a really nice time. By the time we got home, it was after 8 and Mike gave Hunter a bath. I didn't have the heart to put him to bed his normal time, since he really hadn't had a lot of time to play with his new toys. He got to stay up and play and laughed profusely!! We have to work the rest of the week so Grandma and Grandad are watching him this week. I hope to clean up the Christmas tree stuff this weekend and start working on organizing my scrap area. I've only had a short time to play with my new toy and I'm DIEING to start catching up on my scrapping. That machine is SO cool! My husband is awesome for getting it for me and so is my MIL since she told him all about it. You guys are the best:) (nothing personal because I'm grateful for EVERYONE else too:) LOL!

I'm headed out to get ready but I hope everyone has a great day. If you're shopping, be careful.. I imagine it'll be packed and today, it's cold and rainy here.

This is a picture of my tree, after cleaning under it. We got so much great stuff!! (The boxes on the right are our stocking stuffers, so our beagle, Bailey won't get into them)

I had to make a Thank You card and made this one in about 5 minutes, using my new Cricut. I wanted to stay up all night and play!! But went to bed, thinking about what's on my Wish List!!

Well, I hope everyone has a GREAT day, no matter what you do!!

Happy Christmas Eve!!

Just thought I'd post some SERIOUSLY late pictures of our Christmas tree and decorations. (I need to post one late of the outside) I can't believe it's Christmas Eve! WOW...how the time flies. I'm as ready as I'm going to get. We've already got some open presents already under the tree. They're from coworkers, friends and our Church friends. I love arranging everything nicely under the tree, even after Christmas. That's the first thing I do when I get home Christmas Day is arrange everything pretty according to who it belongs to. Well, I'm off to work. I'll post more later when I get home. Have a wonderful Christmas Eve!!

My Work Christmas Party

Just some pictures of all the fun we had at our Christmas party Saturday night. It was a blast...We look forward to it every year. I get to catch up with lots of good friends and their loved ones. I danced until my feet REALLY hurt....so in this last picture, Kim and I are saying, "NO MORE DANCING"

We got to do this CD skit, where it's our head on other bodies and it looks like we're dancing. It's pretty cool...and Lynn and I won $25 gift certificates for the company in Va. Beach. I looked all morning for dresses with my best friend and ended up liking the one I already had the most. Go figure. BUT, I did have some great time with my girl and got to enjoy a yummy lunch at Jason's Deli.

Sunday, we worked around the house and recovered. My legs and knees were killing me but I know it was some awesome exercise!!

Anyway, I'm exhausted. I was out at Steak and Ale last night for my 8Th Wedding Anniversary and tonite, I wrapped a ton of presents and got Hunter all ready for school. Tomorrow, he's in a Christmas Chapel at School and then I'm going shopping for a couple hours. I've got my list and I'm READY to get done. Then, Tran Siberian Orchestra tomorrow night. (after Jason's Deli again for Dinner....YA!) CAN'T WAIT!!

HOW is it that my days off tend to be SO hectic?? It's that time of the year. Well, have a great night!!

**UPDATE** I'm out the door at a little after 9. Can't wait to see my little man at 11:30. Have a great Thursday!!

Happy Anniversary!

Today is my 8th Wedding Anniversary and I couldn't be happier. I have the best husband! He's, truely my best friend and I couldn't imagine life without him. He's funny, smart, sexy, a little crazy at times and supportive in so many ways!

Mike, I hope you have a wonderful day and thank you for making my life so wonderful. I love you SO much!

(this is us at our Christmas party this past weekend)

The Countdown is ON!

Only 3 more days until we go see Tran Siberian Orchestra!! This is probably the 9th or 10th year in a row that we've been...We LOVE them...So I leave you with some of their work. (We rested Sunday after our Christmas Party was the night before. We're pretty tired but got alot done around the house so I'll post pictures later here and on MySpace tonite!! ) Have a great week!

LONG Weekend

I found this on Cheryl's blog and thought it was pretty cute! If you're reading this, TAG, you're it. I want to see your responses!!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Mostly wrapping paper but depends on the gift/shape/size if I use a bag.
2. Real or artificial tree? REAL! I ADORE the smell of a fresh cut tree.
3. When do you put up the tree? Either Thanksgiving weekend or the weekend after.
4. When do you take the tree down? New Year's Eve or Day
5. Do you like eggnog? It's OK
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A Doll made by my mom and a bed that my dad made for her..so special!
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, I have a couple. One that I loved and a Veggie Tale one for Hunter. I think it's important he understand the TRUE meaning of Christmas.
8. Hardest person to buy for? parents; they are the most UN materialistic people I know. They have everything and could care less about gifts for themselves.
9. Easiest person to buy for? Hunter, he is so appreciative and loves everything.
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Can't remember. I've always loved everything anyone buys for me.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail a mass of them to friends and family at Christmas but email cards throughout the year to my closest friends.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's A Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Around Thanksgiving.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cheese Balls, Date Nut Balls and Rice Krispy Treats
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear
17. Favorite Christmas song? Once upon a Christmas, by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We travel around different family member homes but stay pretty close to our hometown
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yep:)
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A beautiful angel my Manager gave me years ago
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Christmas Morning!!
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Rude People and how so many forget what Christmas is all about.
23. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? white lights, ribbon, beads, gold and burgundy balls and special ornaments that were mostly given to us or each other.
24. What do/did you leave for Santa? Milk and Cookies

What a great weekend it's been! Friday night, we went to Holly Dazzle at our local City Center and saw the most awesome Fireworks show. It kept looking like the Grand Finale and it kept going! We got stuck in traffic on the way home and then got up early Saturday to go have breakfast with Santa. It was so much fun. They had a huge buffet and Santa came to every table. Hunter got a TON of toys and we got a free travel cooler. I can't believe how much stuff they gave away. We also got free drinks and ice cream in the mall for later. We did some serious Christmas shopping and then headed home for a nap. Mike raked the leaves before we went out to get our Christmas tree and we all went to bed early so we'd be well rested for Church today. The tree is in the stand but not decorated yet. We like it to "settle" one night so it's nice and full. This one looks perfect because it's not huge but a nice slimmer tree. The smell it gives off is out of this world! I LOVE IT!

We've cleaned a little this afternoon but rested before we go out again. My Uncle is having us over for dinner and to help him with his tree. It's tradition and we have a great time. I guess we'll work on our tree tonite. It's been nice to rest. I know what we don't finish today, we will tomorrow. We're also working on printing invitations for our Family Dinner and our Open House that I need to mail tomorrow. Busy Busy Busy!

Tonite is supposed to be a really good episode of "Brothers and Sisters" so I'm saving the little bit of dusting in our bedroom until then..LOL:)

I'll post pictures later. I'm going to pack some stuff up and move on out. I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL week and enjoy the Season!! God Bless!