Christmas 2014

And here it is!...Christmas morning. Brookelynn had informed us the night before that we were to be in the living room by 8am sharp.  She sounded serious, so we decided we should be there 

(regardless of my splitting headache).

Brooke sorted out every bodies gifts and  volunteered to open hers first.

Although she loved all of her gifts, you can see, there was little emotion as each box was torn into.

I miss the days that my kids actually showed some excitement on Christmas morning.

That's the best part for parents.

Devin was next in line to open gifts, but he told us he didm't want any pictures taken. To ensure this, he tried his best to keep his back to us as he opened each gift.

 Next up...Stroker. Here is one quick photo of him.

You'll see the pattern...no smiles from him either.

Last, was me. Here is a photo of me opening Brooke's gift that she made me. I LOVED it. 

After the gifts were torn open and the mess was cleaned up, I decided to lay back down to rest my aching head. I only got back up at lunch time because we had to go to my mother-in-laws for Christmas lunch. 

We spent the rest of the day at her house with family. 

That was the best part. 

Christmas should have more family time, rest time, and Christ time. 

The rest of the holiday is just fluff.

Christmas Eve 2014

So here it is, Christmas week. Yet, I am still spending countless hours with "Vigit from Dell" taking another virus off my computer. I hate that Brooke's friend Morgan had to witness my melt down over the computer, but...it is what it is.  Morgan spent the night with Brooke on Monday, December 22.
On Tuesday, December 23, Brooke went home with Morgan for a sleepover at her house.

Brooke came home Thursday, December 24, (Christmas Eve) in time to load up the car and head to my moms for Christmas. It was a skeleton crew this year. Three of our six families didn't make it to our Christmas gathering at moms. Darlene and Gary went to Memphis on Tuesday to join Trent in home break in tragedy.  Brad and Micheala stayed away because they had one that was down with the flu. Kendal and Tiffany didn't make it because Braxton was battling the croup.
The rest of us had dinner, watched the kids tear into their gifts and celebrated the season. Again, I'm so thankful for another Christmas with both my parents.

2 More Christmas's

Our annual Christmas dinner with the Brookes' family was Friday evening, December 19. It was at our usual place...Red Robin. We occupied the table for about an hour and a half while we ate, opened gifts and reminisced of years past. Brooke received a memory book from Ansley that we all took our time looking through. Stroker received a "toilet tattoo" of Michigan Wolverines that he actually came home and placed on our toilet. Devin received a gas card.  It was one small window of oppertunity to actually sit down, have a meal and share a laugh with friends. That's what this entire season is supposed to be. PEACE.

 Brandon guided us on our entertainment tour of the evening as we visited "Chad's Winter Wonderland" in Lebanon.  It was a traditional light show with scenes involving wood cutouts, nativity scenes and holiday music. Santa and Frosty livened up the tour toward the end with a bit of dancing. I'm glad all seven of us had a chance to spend time together.

On Saturday, December 20, i visited mom for a while and put up her Christmas tree. She has one of those pre-lit trees that has to be plugged in a certain order to work. Needless to say a half an hour in to plugging in, unplugging, switching the order, and re-switching the order, I finally gave up once MOST of the lights were on. Geeeesh. That tree almost put me over the holiday edge. Well, either the tree or Mike. He was wearing at me pretty heavy too. I got it done though...and Mike left. Win-Win.

We went to daddy's for Christmas on Sunday, December 21.  Maybe we should say Feliz Navidad at daddy's for Christmas. The dinner theme that Phyllis makes for us is always Mexican. Don't get me wrong, it's good, it's just a bit nontraditional for a family raised on "beans and taters".
We had lunch, exchanged gifts and spent some quality time with family...until everybody rushed off back to their busy lives.  The best gift is having my parents for another year. Thank you God.

What Day Is This Anyway?

I feel as if I am caught up in some kind of whirl wind. I've not even had an opportunity to acknowledge the leaves falling, the cooler temperatures or the shorter days of Fall. How can it be that I'm sitting here typing in mid December.  I don't even recall feeling all "warm and fuzzy" when we put up the Christmas tree a couple of weeks ago. As a matter of fact, it happened so fast, that I barely recollect putting the tree up. The tree is the only Christmas decoration here at the Hayes House...and there's not gonna be any other Christmas decorations this year.

I'm fighting "tooth and nail" to keep up as it is.

On top of holiday shopping, gatherings, gift wrapping and everything else that has to get done on a daily basis, my brand new computer keeps giving me grief. I've spent so much time on the phone with "Vigit from Dell" that I feel like I should put him on my Christmas card list.

I'm exhausted this year. I just want to sit down and embrace the holiday. is that too much to ask for? Between traveling to Baxter and White County twice this week, dealing with Stroker pouting for two days, Christmas dinner with the Nash's, and fitting in a massage to attempt to relax, I only feel more behind.

I need a Silent Night.

3rd Annual Shopping Trip

Here is a group of ladies from church during Saturdays cookie swap.

Stroker delivered my cookies because I had previously made plans  for Saturday, December 11. It was mine and Maleigha's 3rd Annual Christmas shopping trip. She arrived at my house around 7:45am and we didn't pull back in my driveway until around 10pm.  We hit Mt. Juliet, Lebanon and Murfreesboro hard. The bags were piling up by midday. Ironically, we both mentioned that we were almost done shopping before we even set out on this trip. I guess we were mistaken.

On Sunday, December 14, we went to church and I had a hair appointment where I went brunette.

12 Days of Christmas

Okay, so I finished the Christmas tree on Monday, December 1.  

On the 2nd day of December, I got the Christmas cards mailed. All 187 of them.

Wednesday, December 3 was a fellowship meal at church. i made a Pineapple Casserole and Chicken casserole.

On the 4th of December, I wrapped a few gifts and got them under the tree.

On the 5th Day of December, I joined a group of ladies for our annual Christmas lunch at Nick's.

I opened a Sam's club membership on Saturday, December 6. I also cooked dinner and wrapped a few more gifts. The downfall was that Stroker rolled down his passenger window and it died. Guess who had to ride back from Sparta on the passenger side...in December...with the window all the way down?  Yours Truly

December 7 was Braxton's 4th Birthday party. Guess who got to ride all the way back to Sparta on the passenger side with the window that won't roll up? Yep...me again. Of course, after we got home, he tinkered with it until he got it rolled all the way up. 

Stacia and my great nephews joined us to watch the Christmas parade on Monday, December 8. Grey danced to every marching band.

Brooke's friend Alyssa spend the night on Tuesday, December 9. They had a photo shoot with Santa.

On the 10th day of December, I visited the chiropractor for a line up before church. After church, we had dinner with Sterl and Debi.

On the 11th day of December, I scooped up my mom and we went Christmas shopping. She completed all her shopping in one single night. Inspiring.

On the 12th day of December, the Grinch delivered another computer virus, so I spent the evening on the phone with Dell removing it. Simultaneously trying to bake 48 Smore's Bar cookies for a cookie swap on Saturday.