Christmas with my brother

Gigi loves watching movies with Ashley but she is only good for about a 1/2 hour.  There is just to many fun things to do at Claude and Sara's house. 

A friendly game of Friends Trivia. 

Claude is so good with Addi and Addi loves this window seat and being tickled!

Christmas at Claude and Sara's is always so nice.   The food, the atmosphere and family is always great.  We had so much fun this year visiting with everyone.  Evan and Ashley are always so sweet and love playing with the little ones.  We had a great lunch of honey baked ham, pea salad, mashed potatoes and rolls.   Then it was off to open presents and then yummy desserts.

Christmas night is the big night

A few years ago we decided to have our Christmas on Christmas Day in the evening.   It has been great.  Everyone comes over and the wonderful chaos begins.  This year we had 14 people.  We began with everyone's big gifts and then on to the rest of the gifts.   We always have so much fun.  I love seeing everyone's faces.

Christmas Day - morning

Christmas morning is always exciting looking forward to our big night.  Mom came over for breakfast and brought little gifts for the kiddies.   Andrea, Baron and the kids came over for a quick visit before heading off to his dad's.    It is such an exciting day.   I love it.

And they all come home for Christmas...

It was almost finished.  And about 15 minutes after we finished, Missy's dog Annabelle, jumped up on the table and licked all the icing off.  Needless to say Missy was a little angry.  :)

Getting ready to open Christmas eve gifts.  NEW PAJAMAS.  

Christmas is so much fun at our house with everyone here.  Missy, Andy, Molly and Delainey came home around 7:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve.  We had a casual dinner ready for them and then it was time to decorate the Gingerbread House.   This has always been one of Missy's favorite things to do.   I, however, can never get the thing to stay together.  But this one was great because the house was already together we just had to decorate it.  Andy did the icing and he did a great job.   It had a very detailed roof that included icicles hanging down.    Molly, Missy and I put on the candy.  When we were finished it was beautiful.

December 24 - Christmas Eve Breakfast

Ernie, the elf's, note goodbye for a year. 

Andrea and Baron have hosted Christmas Eve breakfast for the last two years.  We love it.  We brought the Biscuits and gravy and Andrea made monkey bread.   Andrea decorated their kitchen, along with the help of their elf Ernie, some very creative snow flakes.   It was very festive.  And the food was delicious.  Of course, I had to bring Addi and Gigi their Christmas eve pajamas.    It was great and I think a great tradition to continue.

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS - DECEMBER 24

As our family come in for the Holidays I'm overwhelmed with love.  I count my blessings everyday for my two beautiful daughters.  Missy, my oldest, who is the most organized, beautifully fashionable, big hearted person I know.   Andrea is the most creative, always excited, and unconditionally loving.   They are two of the best mother's I know.   My four grandbabies who make my day every single day.  Even if I don't see or talk to them, just a memory I have of something they said or just one of their goofy smiles.   Addison who doesn't always talk to me or hug me makes my heart melt.  He is my first and will always hold a special place in my heart.  I love to watch him act, sing and dance.  I love his toothless smile.    Molly my second is  so beautiful and is so excited to see me every time I go to St. Louis.  She is so imaginative in her play it is fun to just sit and listen to her.   I only wish she was closer to us.   Gigi my third is so extremely funny.  She cracks me up.  She is a diva and already ready for the runway.   Delainey bug is so sweet and smart.  She is 10 months and is already walking and in to everything.  She has the funniest faces and is so much fun to snuggle with.   If these 6 people weren't enough I have two of the greatest son-in-law's a person could ask for.  I'm so blessed that my daughter's have them and they are so happy.   I love all these 8 people so much and am so glad that I have that they are in my life.

John is definitely a roller coaster ride but is starting (finally) to even out.   He makes my laugh everyday. But I love him.   His son's Vince and Nick are amazing in their own rights.  Vince who I totally respect and am so proud of has made a success of his sales career.   And he and Caitlin, who is so fun and I hope to spend a lot more time with in the future,  have a great life in Houston, Texas.   Nick is still finding his way but he is the sweetest kid and loves to be around us.  He and his girlfriend Micah and fun to be around.

I also have to mention the best brother in the world.  I can't say enough how proud I am of him and how very lucky I am to have him.  His family, Sara, Ashley and Evan are amazing.  Sara has become a great friend.  Ashley, I'm sure will be on the news one day.  And Evan will be playing college ball and I can't wait.

My beautiful, sweet, loving MOM is the beginning of all this and the reason why my family is soooooo great.  I love you mom.  Thank you.

As you can see I count my blessings everyday and I am so happy to have them in my life.

December 23 - hot chocolate for a bell ringer and Tea

While at Kroger yesterday I took a hot chocolate to a bell ringer and she was so appreciative.  I didn't have my phone with me so I couldn't take a picture.  I'm so happy that I completed my 12 giving days of Christmas.

TEA WITH MRS. CLAUS

Andrea, Gigi and I went to tea with Mrs. Claus.  It was beyond beautiful.  The treats, the place and the atmosphere.  We loved it.   Mrs. Claus even sat with us and talked to Gigi about what Santa would bring her.   It was so cute.  Then we got to tour the house.  It was so pretty and we learned a little about the history.