Christmas with my side...

After the girls whooped it up over their loot from Santa, we made the trek South to visit with my family for a bit. we got down there around 3:00 Christmas Day and stayed until Wednesday.

Right when we got there, we opened gifts. My nieces were chomping at the bits to open their presents! I didn't get nearly as many pictures of the present opening as I normally do. I started taking them but then realized I was missing out! Plus, Shelby Claire was into all the wrapping paper so I needed to be chasing her rather than taking pictures!

 My grandaddy came and had dinner with us that night. He is and has always been the sweetest grandaddy! He got a real kick out of watching Shelby Claire eat. I have to admit, it's pretty impressive!

 After realizing that I hadn't taken many pictures of my momma at Thanksgiving, I vowed to change that at Christmas. I told her it didn't matter if I was taking a picture of her back as she stood in front of the sink or stove or not- I was taking her picture! Thankfully I got some of her front this time- not just her back!

 And one of Smiley with my Daddy right before bedtime. She's quite the cuddly, snuggly thing when she's getting ready for bed!

 Granny and Paw Paw gave Audrey an American Girl Bitty Baby for Christmas and she loves it! She's named her Lulabelle and has declared herself to be Lulabelle's big sister- not her mommy!

 While we were at momma and daddy's, little sassy pants decided she wanted to stand all by herself. She's not walking yet ( PRAISE!) but it won't be long.

 We were worried that it was going to rain while we were there. Audrey loves to go down there because just about the entire time we are there, she spends outside. She runs all over the place, feeds the goats, moos at the cows, whatever. Thank goodness it didn't rain! They were able to go fishing one day. Audrey wasn't interested in the actual fishing but she did love playing with Laura on the golf cart!

 This picture cracks me up because we thought Gracie was pulling in a massive fish- we just knew it was going to be HUGE!!

 I guess this little booger just packed a big punch. :D

 They were down there at the pond for a loong time! This is how Audrey entertained herself!

 Gracie, Clay and my Daddy ended up catching quite a few catfish. We had enough to eat for lunch the next day! The fish along with some fried shrimp and homemade french fries were yummy! Honestly, the french fries were my favorite part of the meal. We don't fry anything at my house- I wouldn't even begin to know how to do that-so having HOMEMADE french fries were a real treat. I think it's had to be at least five years since I've had any.

 We left on Wednesday with the intentions of going by and visiting with Clay's grandmother on our way back. We always have those intentions but for some reason they never seem to work out. The girls were awesome on the way home and we actually made it back in a decent amount of time!

These last few pictures are of the ornaments that were added to our collection this year. 

Baby's First Christmas....

 A 2011 photo of Audrey....

 Handprints that we do every year....

 and another Baby's First Christmas...

Clay's mom got Audrey a Wedgwood ornament for her first Christmas and has ordered Shelby Claire a Lenox one for hers. So special! Like I said in an earlier post, I love these Christmas ornaments!!

Christmas Morning 2011

Smiley's first Christmas was a perfect one. Santa didn't forget that there was a new little one at our house! Audrey was up and at it very early Christmas morning. As we were coming down the stairs, she said that she woke up during the night but went back to sleep "fast, fast" before Santa saw her awake! Smart girl!

Santa is very good to us and brings each girl three fun surprises and fills their stockings with treats! Shelby Claire got a toy train, a telephone and some desperately needed pajamas! She also got sippy cups but we think those must have been for her stocking but just didn't fit inside!

She seemed to love all of her surprises and especially the telephone!

 

For Audrey, Santa brought two Playmobil sets- a zoo and an outback canoe set. She loves to pretend play so Santa new just the right toys to bring her. She also got a new pack-n-play, stroller, and high chair for her baby dolls. Santa must have known Granny and Paw Paw were going to give her a Bitty Baby and wanted her to be prepared!

He must not care for pretzels that much! :)

After playing with the surprises Santa brought, we then dove into the presents that we had gotten for the girls. Audrey got more books and puzzles and Smiley got more PJ's and some books of her own. Audrey had picked out a special book for SC as her gift and Shelby Claire had gotten Audrey a new princess book. Both girls loved their presents from each other and we've read the princess book a million times already. 

Around lunch time we packed the girls and all of our stuff up and went south to my parents house for Christmas with them. Good times!  

Christmas Eve 2011

We spent Christmas Eve quietly at our house this year. It was Smiley's first Christmas and we spent it enjoying each other. After our normal routine of dinner and baths, Audrey finally got to open the present she was after a few weeks ago.

 She and Shelby Claire both got a new Christmas book and a new pair of Christmas PJ's. Audrey was very excited about her book- she loves new books and couldn't wait for us to read it to her! She didn't care as much for the PJ's because they were footies and she has gotten in a kick where she only wants to wear night gowns. Just FYI, nightgowns in baby girl sizes are not easy to find!!

 Ready for Santa to come!

 Audrey was fine with the PJ's when she saw that SC got some just like hers. She's really into wearing matching clothes with her sister!

 After putting out our cookies for Santa, we were ready to read books and go to sleep!

Christmas 2011

We spent Christmas Eve Eve with Clay's family at his brother's house. They live about 45-50 minutes from us and we don't see them nearly enough. Melissa was definitely a wonderful hostess. She had Christmas crafts for Audrey and Garrett and they even had their own Christmas dinner plates, cups and placemats at their table.

I love this picture of Garrett. He's ready to eat!

 Melissa even made all three kiddos their own personal sized pound cake. Audrey ate every last bit of icing off of hers!

 This is what Clay does when he sees me with the camera out. I was trying to get a nice picture of him and his brother but this is the face I get.

 When I protested, this is what he did. I can almost get a picture of my 3 year old easier than I can of my hubby.

 Smiley loved her first experience of opening gifts. She played and played with the paper and bows.

 Sweet Audrey had a ball being the "elf" and handing out the gifts to everyone.

 Garrett loves to build things and put things together. This is a lego something-or-other than Too Too and Grandaddy gave him. He had it put together completely the next day. We gave him a kinex roller coaster. I read reviews online that it takes 9 hours to put together. That should keep him busy for at least 2 hours. :)

 Shelby Claire got a new tricycle that we can strap her into and Audrey got

 Cinderella's carriage, mice, and fairy godmother.

 Our family of four on Smiley's first Christmas.

 The hosting family... this was the first time we've all gotten together since Clay and I have been married. At least the first time I can remember. It was lots of fun and hopefully we will do it again next year.

Shad and Melissa gave us all the book, Radical, by David Platt. We are all going to read it as a family. I am excited about starting it as soon as I finish the book I am currently reading!! I've heard it is a life-changing book!