Pictures Worth 1000

Sunday

Christmas Day Recap

Brookelynn woke up at 5am yesterday morning to find that Santa had visited. We pleaded with her to go back to bed for just a little while longer. Thank goodness she said OK and somehow managed to sleep for a couple more hours. 7:30 was her breaking point, so that's when our day began.

Devin received 3 new shirts, new snow gloves and new socks

The Play Station 3 with the MOVE Bundle

He also got NCAA Football 11 & the Skate 3 games that he asked for.

The new skateboard under the tree was his too.

Brookelynn found books in her stocking

She must have been on the "nice" list because she received a new laptop and wireless mouse

Devin could not get over the fact that Brookelynn asked Santa for a GLOBE for Christmas.

A real cash register was also on her list...and Santa brought it.

After presents, Brookelynn decorated Jesus' Birthday Cake

Around noon, we headed up to Mildred's for to celebrate Christmas with the rest of the family.

We got Libby a Hello Kitty toaster that she seemed to be happy about.

Brookelynn received her first "toy" gifts of the year, which were Bop It and a Justin Beiber doll.

Earlier Christmas morning, she had told me and Stroker that she felt like she was growing up because she had not received any toys this year.

All the kids tore into gifts at once.

Nan really liked the apron we had custom made for her.

Later yesterday evening, 16 of us went to the movies to see Yogi Bear.

It was a good kid's movie.

Friday

Christmas at Moms

Our Christmas Eve tradition is to get together with family at moms house. Today, just before the sun went down, guess who knocked on the door?

He had a talk with baby Braxton first

He told Brookelynn that she was on the nice list.

Devin was a little unsure what Santa was going to say to him.

Katelyn felt pretty confident that she was on the nice list.

The Goodwin Family

The Hayes Family

The Burks Family

The Dobson Family

The Drouillard's minus the kiddos

Nana (Darlene) and her grand kids

After Santa left to get started on his deliveries, the kids tore into the gifts

The best gift is getting all the family together. This is becoming more and more of a rare occurrence as the years go by.

Taking time for hugs.

After 4 hours of giggling, eating, squealing and ripping paper... everyone was pretty much worn out.

Thursday

Christmas Eve Eve

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, so does that make today Christmas Eve Eve?

Last night, Brookelynn's cousin Libby came over for a sleep over. Those girls sat up till 1am watching Disney Channel.

Today was a productive day considering driving through town was as slow as molasses. Brooke & I made it to Sears, JC Penney, Wal-Mart & the cable office. I also got 4 loads of laundry done at home. Not to mention the floors and the bathroom tub are now clean. Christmas R&R...here I come!.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Yesterday, I picked up our Santa hats at Sonic that I had ordered from the car hop.

They are crochet.

Tonight we made a trip to the Mt. Juliet Target to take back the original gift that I had ordered for Daddy this Christmas (a weather radio). It arrived today...just a couple of days late (since we already had Christmas at dads).

I wound up getting him one of those stick family window decals for his truck. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. I think about 99% of the population has them on their back window these days.

If our family had one, it would probably look something like this...

That's all for now, the dryer buzzer just went off...time to fold.

Tuesday

Winter Solstice

Here is a quick science lesson for those of you that are not quite sure what "Winter Solstice" is exactly...

I will start by saying I am glad to have this day behind me each year. Winter Solstice is the day with the shortest time of daylight hours for the entire year. After today, the daylight will gradually begin to hang around longer (about 1 extra minute of daylight added each day). These winter months are so depressing when the air is cold and damp and the darkness sets in by 4:00. You can study the diagram below if you like. I put it there for your benefit LOL.

No matter how many daylight hours you have,

Don't Count the Days...Make the Days Count

Which reminds me...Today also happens to be my nephew Trent's 20th birthday.

Monday

2010 Christmas Wish List

Here are the final lists, and once it has posted to my blog, there is no turning back, because as we all know...Santa reads my blog.

So, after the kids were done updating the updates of their revised revisions, the "official" lists are below.

Sunday

Christmas Gatherings

Today was our annual Christmas celebration at Daddy's. Brookelynn played paparazzi, so I am actually in a few of these photos; however there are no photos of the gifts because everyone was too busy tearing paper to pick up the camera. We had a great time, just like always. I had a tough time figuring out what gift to get dad as always, but I ended up getting him a stick family window sticker that had him, Phyllis and their two dogs. He seemed to like it. Now I can start figuring out what to get him for Father's Day.

"Girl" and Daddy (and my extra chin LOL)