Christmas in Huntsville - Part II

We spent some of our time in Huntsville at Michael's house. His family had a bad cold while we were there, so they stayed away from Grandmama and Grandpapa because they didn't want to get them sick. We're sick all the time anyway, so we just went over to their house so the girls could play together.

Bess, Shea, and EmmaSweet Bess!

Sweet Nash!
Uncle John with Nash

Shea's about to open her present from the Shea's.

Emma is so sweet to Nash, and he loves her too!

Time to relax on the couch.

Emma is driving Shea around in the new Jeep.
It has a real radio that works. How cool is that?

Pretty girls!

Emma taught Shea how to climb a tree.
Emma and Bess got the climbing gene from their Daddy!
It didn't come as naturally for Shea.

Christmas in Huntsville - Part I

It's just not Christmas unless I make it to Alabama. When I was very little, we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Grandmama and Grandpapa's house. I remember one year when Michael and I stayed up looking out the window to see if we could spot Rudolph's red nose in the sky. Another Christmas, our car was broken down, and Mr. Stewart helped Daddy repair it on Christmas Eve. I think it was 1987, and it was actually snowing that year. I guess it was about dinner time when it was finally working again, and Mr. Stewart, whose family was already in Huntsville, followed us (or we followed him) all the way from Memphis to Huntsville to make sure we didn't break down. That was also the year that I received a diary for Christmas. I wrote in it something like, "Ham, ham, ham. All we eat is ham. Ham for breakfast, ham for lunch, and ham for dinner. I'm sick of ham." Can you tell that we had country ham for breakfast, ham for Christmas dinner, and leftover ham for other meals? My mother, of course, read my diary and told everyone what I wrote in it. They were all tickled about it, but I was not. I never wrote anything else in that diary.

I remember being upset the first year my parents decided that we were going to celebrate Christmas in Memphis, and then go to Huntsville. They were tired of lugging all the Christmas loot to Alabama and Georgia, but I didn't think it was Christmas without being with all our extended family. We adjusted, and all the family started getting together the day after Christmas. I'm the oldest grandchild, and my brother, the second oldest grandchild, now lives in Huntsville with his family. My youngest brother and my cousins are either recent grads or still in school. As we all get older, I know that we'll have to end the crazy Christmas festivities, but I'm still enjoying celebrating Christmas with my family in Alabama.

Peyton, Joel, and Aunt Michelle

Uncle John with Nash

Ray, Grandmama, Grandpapa, and Shea w/ her new USC bear

from Uncle John. She insists he's Winnie the Pooh.

Present time! We don't exchange many gifts anymore, but the kids still get gifts.

Claire, Aunt Jami, and Shea

Grandmama reading to Shea.

Uncle David has taken over Grandpapa's breakfast cooking duties.

We still have country ham for breakfast along with eggs, grits, bacon, and biscuits.

Christmas Afternoon

We went over to my parents' house for lunch on Christmas Day. We feasted on ham, sweet potato casserole, asperagus casserole, deviled eggs, green beans, rolls, and some jello concoction. As usual, Momma cooked way too much food, but boy was it good! :) I think that my favorite part of holidays is sharing meals with my family. We have a great time eating together and talking. We even enjoy and occasional discussion. :) I do really love my family! Michael and his family didn't get to come to Memphis for Christmas because Sara was due Jan. 10 (I think), and they weren't going to risk travelling at that point in her pregnancy. We missed them, but we still had a great time with the rest of my family.

Papa with Nash

After eating lunch, we finally got around to opening gifts. Nini had to help Shea open some of the toys. See that princess couch in the background? Shea insisted on bringing it to Nini and Papa's house, and we decided to let her b/c it was Christmas day. She has LoVeD sitting and laying on that tacky couch. :)

Here's me opening up some presents from my parents. I'm very excited about the new dishes!

Patrick is sporting his new toboggan from Santa Claus.

Papa had a good time throwing wadded up wrapping paper at Shea and Nini. Who needs presents when you can have so much fun with wrapping paper.

I'm reading Shea one of the books Uncle Patrick bought for her.

Nash and Nini

Uncle Patrick with Nash

Sweet big sister!

I love these two soooo much!

Christmas Morning

I think that Christmas morning is more fun for me as an adult watching my children open their presents. Shea was a lot of fun this year, and had a great time opening gifts. Her big gift was her Bitty Baby doll and accessories for it. She also got some practical items disguised as gifts such as pajamas, clothes, blankets, etc. We didn't have anywhere for her to sleep when we had company, and now her princess sofa that folds into a bed will be great for that. Nash got a push walker, basketball hoop, and some teething toys. Jon got his big Christmas gift back in November, but I made sure he had some little things under the tree. I got him some Starbuck's peppermint mocha frappaccinos, socks, undershirts, and a Homer Simpson ornament.




Shea enjoyed reading to her doll, and Nash loved his push walker.

Jon surprised me with a new camera! I LOVE to take pictures,

and I'm really going to enjoy learning how to use my camera!

Shea named her baby doll Katie, and she had a great time feeding her. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for Katie's high chair!
This little girls loves to change diapers. If only she could do the real thing! :)

Now, Shea can sing along to Rock Band with her own microphone!
Jon was very excited about his Christmas ornament.
Nash-ee-boo playing with his new rattle.

My mom always made breakfast cake for us on Christmas morning. We actually make it the night before, let the dough rise overnight, and stick it in the oven on Christmas morning. I couldn't find my recipe this year, so I was calling Mom about 11pm or midnight Christmas Eve to get it. No worries, I knew that she was still up wrapping presents too. I apparently called about 30 minutes after my brother had called for the same recipe.

Shea insisted on putting on her Ariel pajamas and princess house shoes that she got for Christmas.

Nash enjoyed chewing on his new toys.

Jon was excited about the USC polo his parents sent for him.