Let the Christmas Celebrations Begin for 2015

We kicked off our family Christmas get-together yesterday afternoon at Chase's granddads house for lunch. We had a great time visiting with Granddaddy and Janet, as well as, PawPaw and Bebe.

We enjoyed a wonderful meal prepared by the lovely GranJan and exchanged gifts. The girls LOVE their new Puppy Surprise pets. We are so thankful that Granddaddy is feeling good and cutting up with us and the girls.

After our visit with the Brantley's we headed back to my parents house for Christmas with my PopPop, Nana and my brother, SIL and niece, Alyssa. Again, we had a great meal and exchanged gifts. We all had a great time talking and playing with new toys.

We goofed and didn't get a family picture of our sweet little family, but I am determined that we will get one before the week is over.

And today, we enjoyed a great message and time of worship this morning at church before heading to my Aunt and Uncle's house for our Harris Family Christmas celebration. My mom's side of the family always has a great time together! We had our fifth annual Christmas play after lunch. Chase and I were Mary and Joseph, Brantley was a shepherd and Savannah was an angel.

After a weekend filled with loving family, I can't help but be filled with joy, thankfulness and love as we move on into the week and continue to celebrate God's great gift of His Son Jesus. Thank you, Lord!! Your gift is too great for words! Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Morning

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, and guess what...Santa stopped by!

Brantley's presents from Santa Claus

Savannah's presents from Santa Claus

Brantley's first look at her presents. She was really happy that she got the things she had asked for.

Brantley asked Santa for a baby doll she can feed and a bubble machine. She must have been pretty good this year because that's exactly what he left for her plus a Princess Tent.

Savannah got this really cool cube toy that Brantley likes to play with as well.

The rest of the morning was spent jumping on the trampoline and playing with the new toys.

Brantley named her new baby doll, Leah. I have a video to post of our morning and the baby naming discussion. Funny stuff! Goliath?

Savannah loved unwrapping presents and trying to eat the paper and bows. haha What baby doesn't like to do that!?!

We had a great Christmas morning spending time with the girls and watching them enjoy their new toys. God has blessed us with so much and we are truly thankful for it all.
Lastly, here is a video of Brantley and Savannah jumping in the trampoline. They both LOVE it!

HoHoHo!

Chase and I took the girls to see Santa last week at the Galleria. They both did great! No tears, no fears of the big guy, only shyness from BR. At first she didn't want to tell him what she wanted for Christmas but then she changed her mind. She walked right back up to him and with Chase's help she told him exactly what she'd like for him to bring her.

This year Brantley asked Santa to bring her a baby doll that she can feed and a bubble blowing machine. Hopefully, Santa can deliver because she hasn't stopped talking about them all month. haha!

Savannah of course didn't ask for any gifts this year but what baby doesn't want toys. We just told him she'd like some new toys.

There are only 9 days until Christmas! Brantley could not be more excited. She asks everyday if it's time to open a present yet. My response so far has been "nope, not yet". Excitement is growing!!

Gingerbread House

 Today while Savannah took her morning nap, BR and I put together our Gingerbread house. 

 Yummy Yum!

 Our finished house. I think we did a really good job.

And of course, Brantley had to eat some of the icing before it all dried. She was really sugared up after that!

Christmas Card Photos 2012

Christmas Dinner at Nana & PopPop's House

I didn't take very many or very good pictures this night. Bad Mommy! But after eating our yummy dinner my mom had prepared, we sat down to open gifts.

Brantley got her new dollhouse from my parents and the extra people and furniture from us. She loves her new dollhouse and plays with it daily.

Before leaving to head home, Uncle Brett got down in the floor and played with Brantley and Alyssa. It was really cute! We don't see my brother and his family enough so moments like this kinda make me a little teary eyed. We love you guys!!

To finish off my line of Christmas posts I leave you with this cute video...

Ho, Ho, Merry "Kwissmas" everyone!!

Our 5 Stops on Christmas Day!

After seeing all that Santa had brought Brantley that morning, we loaded up in Bebe's Highlander and headed down to Prattville to see all the family. Our first stop was at Chase's Uncle's house but I didn't take any pictures there. Oops! Brantley was given her first of 3 baby dolls by them. So sweet!

Next we headed over to Chase's Granny Smith's house for brunch and to visit with the family. Brantley enjoyed playing with her new wooden doll and dressing her. She even shared with Meri Ansley a little bit. Before we left and headed to our next stop, Brantley had to play the piano with her Daddy. I'm hoping her love for the piano continues to grow as she gets older but if she's anything like me, she'll be too busy to sit still and learn how to play.

On the way to our third stop (Beverly's parents) BR fell asleep in the car so when we got there she and I stayed in the car for an hour long nap. Much needed! When she woke up we went in and had lunch and opened more presents. Baby doll #2 for the day was received and a few really cute books.

Our forth stop was at Chase's Grandfather's (His mom's dad) house in Millbrook where we got to see his Granny Brantley and lots of other family members.

Brantley was given her third and final baby doll of the day along with a stroller and change of clothes for the baby. I'm not sure why but this gift was my favorite. The baby doll is so cute!! She also got a coloring book and crayons, dress-up clothes and a tea set. She is very loved at their house/in that side of the family.

For Chase's grandfather we had portraits made at Portrait Innovations in Hoover of Brantley with the portrait of Chase's mother when she was around Brantley's age. It turned out really great and he loved it.

This is the portrait that we had made (along with others that I will share later). The whole thing was Chase's Dad's idea and it turned out great!

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Last but certainly not least we headed over to Chase's Aunt Carol and uncle Ted's house for dinner with the family and to play a little Dirty Santa. Dinner was delicious and BR had fun playing with cousins she doesn't see very often. Dirty Santa was really crazy with almost 30 people playing but it wasn't too too bad. I came home with a game called Farkle Frenzy and Chase, bless his heart, ended up with a hummingbird feeder. He almost had a $25 gift card to Academy but his Uncle Ted stole it from him to end the game. Bummer! We still had fun though.

It had been a very long day for all of us so it was finally time to pack up and head back to Hoover. Brantley had on her pajamas and Beverly and I had pillows. Night night! haha

We had a wonderful time celebrating with Chase's family and I'm so thankful for each and everyone of them and the love they show us every time we are down there. Again, I will say we are truly blessed! God is so good to us!!

Santa Came!!

Christmas morning was dark and early for me, 2:30 early. I have no clue why I was awake other than my mind was running and I couldn't shut it down to go back to sleep. Despite my lack of sleep I got myself in the shower and prepared for the grandparents to come over for breakfast and presents.

Here is the video of her coming downstairs to see her gifts that big guy brought her. She was a very good girl this year!

Her smile was so big! I wish I had gotten a picture but I was videoing so I didn't. I'm hoping one of the grandparents got that picture.

Admiring her kitchen. It makes bubbling and sizzling noises.

Brantley had a very fun stocking this year. Mommy and Santa did a much better job on her stocking this year. 

Brantley got this totally adorable table and chairs from my parents Christmas morning and she loves it. We have it downstairs sitting by her kitchen and she enjoys setting the table and playing away.

After opening presents we had to get ourselves together and ready to head down to Prattville to see as much of Chase's family that we could fit into one day. I was already so tired but I was excited to see everyone!