Christmas 2010 {lonnng post with loooots of pictures}

Our Christmas started on Thursday when we hit the pavement bound for Florida. We left at our scheduled departure time and must of had a heck of a tail wind going because we made great time. We only stopped a few times for gas and potty breaks and the trip still took less than 16 hours. That is good time my friends! Stephen started out on the first driving shift and did such a great job getting us through Indiana and Kentucky. I took the wheel somewhere around Tennessee so my hubs could get some sleep...for some reason I was still awake and alert enough to drive...let me just say that you have to be awake and alert to drive through Tennessee...no straight or flat roads there! I would also like to say that I would be okay with never driving through Tennessee at that hour again. 

Fast forward to our arrival in Florida at my parents house around 10am on Christmas Eve. It was so nice to get out of the car and stretch. We were both pretty much in zombie mode, with our eyes glazed over-but we made it! Thank goodness our plans did not involve anything during the day on 12.24.10. We were able to talk with my Mom and brother for a bit before showering and laying down for a 3 hour nap. Aghh...some shut eye! In the evening we had a scheduling conflict with our church's Christmas Eve service and Aunt Erin's 32nd Annual Christmas Eve party-they started at the same time! Grrr. We really wanted to go to the party since there would be family and friends there that we had not seen since our wedding so we developed an alternative plan. Low and behold, the First Baptist Church was having a huge Christmas Eve service in the stadium at the local high school; complete with fake snow and hot chocolate. AND, it started an hour before the party. SCORE! So we get ready and head to the high school (where I graduated from and Hunter currently goes)...Apparently Mom did not tell Dad that this was an outside thing and he did not bring a big jacket. It was kind of chilly, in the 40s but that damp Florida cold (much different that Indiana). Mom was freezing and we only lasted for about 20 minutes before heading back to the car. We were there for praise and worship, but left before the message. We plan to be more prepared for the cold next year and go early too to get a seat. So then we headed to Aunt E's for the party and yummy food!

Us headed to the Christmas service at the high school!

This is the face I got when I asked Mom to give me a cold face! She smiled!

 We had a great time at the Christmas party enjoying the fellowship with family and friends while eating delicious food and watching the fire on the TV, thanks to Mom! Aunt E is an entertainer and always does to well putting parties together. I always look forward to Christmas Eve and all that it brings! After eating stuffing ourselves to capacity and saying our goodbyes we headed back to my parents house to get in our PJs. We gad a fun mini photo shoot and then started to watch Home Alone. Please note that watching a movie; a Christmas movie was my idea and I...made it about 15 or 20 minutes into the movie before I had to go to bed! I was so tired!

Hunter was our photographer and after him taking like 100 pictures and not understanding what I was asking him to do, I made him stand where I would be so I could take the picture and show him. This is the picture I took and it just makes me laugh! :)

Finally, a good one like I had visioned in my head! :) 

Me and Mom with the pups on Christmas Eve!

All the kids for a picture...yes the dogs are included :) Oh, and I won't even mention how many pictures were taken before we got this one good one with all 5 of us looking at the right camera!

Bristol...he only looks sweet and innocent.

Christmas morning we had our alarms set for 7, but ended up getting up around 7:30. I was shocked when I walked out to the living room expecting to see what "Santa" had brought only to see nothing. Santa forgot to visit us!! I woke my parents up and then we went back to our rooms while Santa did his thing. The next time we came out we saw the beautiful tree with all the pretty wrapped presents. We started opening and had a great time together as a family of 5 and we all got great gifts! Hunter's face was priceless when he opened the gift from Stephen and I; his plane ticket back to Florida in a week. His face lit up and he had his childlike smile-the one where you can see his teeth. It was great!

This picture is the beginning of  Hunter opening his gift from us!

At this point, he is pretty excited!

Look at that happy smile! :)

Bristol once did not like Stephen, but they are friends now so it is okay!

Super cute ornament from "Santa" Mr. and Mrs. Potato head with Disney balloons. I LOVE it!

After Christmas at my parents we all go ready and headed to Gram's for Christmas at her house. We have been going there for as long as I can remember for breakfast and gift opening with the entire family. I have been told things were not always like this, but it was I grew up doing and knowing as familiar. We always have delicious food and this year there was an addition; William made grits that we.to.die.for, bacon, and sausage. I was in breakfast heaven for about 30 minutes! After eating again we started the gift opening. Let me just say, that this part of the morning is CRAZY. It was so nice this year to be in the adult, married room which meant that we got to see all the kids open their presents. I could not see all the kids from my position, but the ones that I could see were great! After the adults opened their gifts we started the clean up process and then headed back to my parents house for Christmas dinner. Dad made prime rib for the main course and it was D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S!!! He is such a good cook! We had other things along with that and it made for a great Christmas dinner. We even got to eat outside because the weather was nice and pretty warm.

Little Savannah was cute even though she was a little moody, she can still be that way and get away with being cute. You think she has people wrapped around her finger? You would be correct!

Gram with all the grand kids :)

Love my little Haley bug, she is getting so big. I can't believe it, but she still loves to cuddle and watch movies-not too old for that yet!

Hannah is getting so big too, she is up to my shoulders for crying out loud. I wish kids did not grow up!

I love them!

Gram with her kids and their spouses, one big happy family :)

Cousin Becky and her beautiful girls...seriously Kara could be a model!

Once everyone was in a food coma it was time to relax again. I say relax, but I mean sleep :) After a nap in the afternoon Stephen and I headed to pick up Keri and then meet Jessie B.,  Jessie J and Matt at I-hop. We were able to continue out tradition of exchanging Christmas gifts over breakfast and had a great time even though all of us were exhausted. The girls loved the homemade gifts that I included for them and I was so glad.

As you can see we had a great Christmas-a busy one, but a good one. One that I will not soon forget. We are so thankful for our family and friends in Florida and we cherish the time we were able to spend with each of you. We wish you all a very Happy New Year and hope to see you all again soon :)