If only eating was always this much fun!

 

Meemaw Christmas/New Year's

This year we had the meemaw Christmas party at our house on Friday and Saturday. We had so much fun, as usual when we get together. The best part was that everyone got to come, even Lily and Hannah, the mini-meemaws. We ate and ate and ate and ate, but somehow I still had food at my house when everyone left. We caught up, talked about people, played with the minis (who, by the way, are absolutely too cute!), laughed, opened gifts, made calendars, played pennies, stayed up until 3:30 to 4:30 am, and just generally had a great time.
Wade decided to try to stay out of the way. He did some last minute shopping for his mom's family and went to see a movie. When he got home, he had some of our junk food and then watching tv in our bedroom for approximately 15 minutes before falling asleep. On Saturday he took our picture before going outside to play. Such a good peepaw!
I was so happy to play hostess this year, even if I do live so far in the boonies that some people (no names, Marie) had a hard time finding it in the dark. Cosmo even mostly behaved himself. (Marie, I'm sorry he wanted to play with your head while you tried to sleep.) Wade was so worried that he was going to attack one of the minis, but he didn't.
I love that we decided that we would draw names and give each other Christmas ornaments! It just makes it so special the next year to decorate the tree and remember the good times and friends that go with each ornament. Oddly enought, this year Kellie and Jennifer got the same wonderful ornament from Marie and Christy--a meemaw Christmas tree. Also, when I opened the Pooh and Piglet friends ornament Beth gave me, the writing was in Spanish even though the box was Enlish--how funny! Susan got the next Hallmark Noah's Ark oranament with a door that moves to show different animals on board. Marie got a girl with a hockey stick and Beth got a fun ballerina. Susan gave Christy beautiful painted eggs from Prague. Sara-Beth got a house from Jennifer saying that the road to a friend's house is never very long. Susan told us how in the Czech Republic an angel and a devil go to the houses with Santa to tell him how good and bad the children have been. And that explains why the fish Merry Christmas ornaments she brought each of us were wrapped in bags with devils on them (she knows us so well!).
Friends, I love all of you! Thanks for making Christmas so special!
Jennifer, Thanks for letting me and Susan basically keep Lily on Saturday! She's too precious!
Susan, Thanks for staying Saturday night. I think it was fun! I mean, how often do you get to hang out with someone else's relatives, eat steak, watch movies, borrow a jacket to watch the fireworks in, and discuss theology and universalist ideas all in one night? You're the best!
I'm going to stop talking so much now and post lots of pictures--I figure I should since the party was at my house.

Kellie

Lily and Hannah meet for the first time.

Christy

Susan

Heather

Beth

Jennifer

Marie

Sara-Beth

Hannah got an ornament and a book from Jennifer.

The devil gift bags.

Wade got home from the movies and ate pizza in the kitchen with Cosmo.

Making calendars

Cosmo wanted to help with the ribbon.

Playing pennies

I think Marie won this round.

Hannah was sitting up when I started to take the picture, but she decided we were tiring her out.

Susan and Lily had a good time hanging out in their PJs.

Why did we decide to wait until we looked our worst before taking our group shot? Even Lily and Hannah thought watching tv was more fun than taking pictures.

Christmas 2005

Since so much have happened since I've updated, I decided to break things down in smaller increments. December was a very busy month. We had family Christmas at our house with my family on Christmas Eve. Mama, Daddy, Aaron, Ty, Angie, and Abby came. It was very nice. We were just sad David, Traci, and Lilly Kate couldn't be here.
Then on Christmas Day we went to Mo's. I got to play with Abby most of the day. I think I'm in grave danger of spoiling her (sorry Ty and Angie!).
We spent the 26th with Joe, Brenda, and Matt. That was a little weird for them since they had always been together on Christmas Day for the past 31 years, but Matt had to work on Christmas so we settled for the 26th. We also had good fun there. Matt even gave Cosmo a gift, which Cosmo loved and tore up within 2 days.
Speaking of gifts, Wade and I gifted ourselves with a 42" plasma tv this year. Wow! I never really thought we'd have something like that, but it sure is nice. The only thing is that it has spoiled us to regular tvs. I don't say this to boast; it's just that I'm still pretty excited about it.
I love that mostly we just spent this Christmas season with family and friends and didn't really do so many gifts. Of course we ate too much, too, but we had a good time doing it.

Abby was chewing on this gift, but every time I tried to take a picture she would move. 

I'm not sure why, but I love this picture of me holding Abby up to the ornaments on Mo's Christmas tree. Lara (in the background) also had a good time with Abby. 

Aunt Pam and Matt--or is that Santa? 

Joe and Brenda must have been good this year. 

Cosmo just opened his present from Matt.