Christmas morning!

Well it's Christmas eve and we are busy little bees trying to fit in all that last minute Christmas shopping and family get togethers.   We spent Christmas eve lunch with Shonda and the boys and had a great time catching up and exchanging presents.  I miss them so much and the boys are growing up so fast it seems.  B was so glad to get to see her because she still talks about her all the time.  I know she will always have a special place in her heart just for Shonda.

The night before we actually had Adam's Eve Christmas party with the Bobo family.  We always do a gift exchange for the kiddos and the adults which is usually pretty entertaining.  this year the girls were super excited about their gifts.  The flying fairy makes an appearance nightly at our house these days!

It is a great time with lots of food and family.  The girls love getting together with all their cousins.  It is great to have so many little girls in the family all the same age.  So blessed to have each one of them near so that we not only are family but lifelong friends as well.

Christmas eve we made our way to church for the annual candlelight service, which is always one of my favorite times.  This was the first year both girls were with us and B loved the candlelight.  Although I was very relieved when we finally blew them out because I envisioned lots of flames with her in charge of her own candle.  After church we came home to set out the cookies for Santa and make sure there was plenty of reindeer food on the lawn for all of the reindeer, which there definitely was!!!

With the children all nestled in bed it was time for Santa's trip in a sled...

Ely was even on hand to let the big guy know just how good these girls had been...

And what should appear but a sleigh and eight tiny reindeer...they left in a flash but plenty of loot they did leave for two little girls on Christmas eve! 

Oh the excitement on Christmas morning when all through the house the girls did run...

Straight to there toys to begin all the fun!  B got a tent, a life size doll and her very own purse.

Ab got a huge gym mat, a life size doll (with glasses because she had just gotten her very own0 and all the art toys she loves...but there was still one thing missing..if you remember back to her visit with Santa Claus she asked for one thing and one thing only...but it wasn't there.  I must say she reacted immediately as she dug through her stocking looking for it...but after a few tears it was not there.  Could it be that Santa had forgotten??? 

Well she was cheered up by the present he had left for both of them.  A huge unicorn that they could ride all over the house...but still behind the smile I knew she was still thinking about it...then much to her surprise Aunt T called with the news that we must get to Nana and Pop's house in a hurry because Santa had left something there for each of the girls...

but not before little B had a chance to saddle up on her new pony as well.  Poor guy is probably tired because these two don't let him rest much at the house.  We have horse races around the house daily!  Much to dad's approval!

We opened all of our presents in a hurry.  Mom and dad had a few things for each of the girls. 

B especially loved all the princesses!!

and the Frozen pjs were a hit as well!

then off we raced to Nana and Pop's to see whatever Santa could have left....as soon as we walked through the door AB raced to her stocking on the mantle...

and much to her surprise....

and happiness (BTW this is the face every parent hopes for on Christmas morning) and much to my surprise it came not from all the other toys she received but from this one small harmonica she so desperately wanted.  Let that be a lesson to us all...it isn't about the size of the gift just the heart of what we give that matters most!

She was sooo happy...it brought tears to my eyes especially after the tears I had seen that morning as she searched for it at home...happy tears finally!

then it was time for the wrapping paper to fly as the girls all let loose on the presents under the tree.

even Nana got a little something she liked for those cold morning walks with friends.

Both of the girls loved their new sleeping bags!

Then after all the presents had been opened all the family showed up for lunch but AB had one little surprise for them all..she had spent the entire day before making everyone a present from her...and each one was personalized specifically with that individual in mind.  Here are just a few...Uncle B and his love for all things cars!

Pop and her love for well Pop

Grandma Bass recently had to give her dog to her brother to keep because it had become to hard for her to care for...so sweet AB made her a picture with her dog so she could look at it everyday!!

Cousin Lindsey being an EEE she decided upon a Mickey Mouse which is their symbol...and the list went on and on with Bettye and her "dutch shoes" she had given AB, uncle ART and his fish for his pond, Abby with some pink roses for her Tri Chi club, Melinda with some computers, Nana with hearts...

The girls exchanged present with Lindsey and Abbey and got some really cool books from their travels oversees this past summer.

Then we finished off the get together with a whole bunch of girls dancing around to the sound of music with Aunt Melinda on the piano.. and by a whole bunch of girls I mean all the "big" ones too!  Love family time in Arky with all my favorites!

That evening we rushed back to Bobo and Sharon's house for dinner and what else but more presents...  B was pretty excited about this life size piano.. much more so than her dad probably was!

AB loves to sing so Sharon hit the jackpot with this party microphone.  About this time I began to not feel so well ( which is why I don't seem to have many pictures from that night or the next morning I guess.) But we had a great time exchanging presents and watching the kids play with all their new toys.

The next morning G, Nicki and Pop came over to our house for breakfast and more presents.  I think we really hit the jackpot with Nicki when we gave her this canvas with all the great grands!!  She couldn't quit smiling!!  Love that!

Then G gave the girls their presents and we headed over to Nicki and Pop's for the annual Christmas sacks.

Each year we get our favorite presents of toilet paper, paper towels, soaps, peanuts and all sorts of other goodies we use all year long!

Well after all the gifts had been unwrapped we headed back home and I headed straight to bed.  It was about that time that I began to run a fever and not knowing what was going on since I was already taking an antibiotic for the strep throat I began to get worried.  I put myself in seclusion for the night until I could get to the doctor the next day only to find out I had the FLU!!  I spent the next four days in bed in HS while Mitch took care of the kids.  I must say it stunk because I had several friends in town that I was supposed to catch up with and had to miss them all!!  But Mitch was a trooper and took the girls and made it happen with out me.  i am so glad they got to spend the evening with Travis and Natalie and family from Chicago.  I sure am sad I missed it but they did send several pics and call to make me feel apart!

After a couple of days, when it was time for dad to go back to work, we packed up and spent the night with Nana and Pop so that I could go home and disinfect the whole home...thankful for all the help I received that week because I couldn't have done it without them. 

Luckily by New Year's Eve I was feeling a little better so we got hang out with friends in HS and the kids had a blast they even made it til midnight! 

I guess a swim in the hot tub is what really woke them up!!

In summarizing this post, I must say 2013 was a good year for myself and my family.  We had so many good times and the girls continue to flourish and are enjoying school this year.  I look back over my posts occasionally during the year and it reminds me of all the moments I have to be so thankful for because each post is a continuation of the next which includes good friends, wonderful family and loving memories.  I pray for each of you that are near and dear to our hearts and for my family the best and brightest 2014 has to offer!  May God Bless You each and every one!!