Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

 We truly had a wonderful Christmas.  We had planned to be a little more low key this year because of Disney.  However, Brett and I were feeling major guilt because after gifts from our parents, we nearly had to pay nothing for the trip.  We felt that we should be generous because of that.

 Apparently, the grandparents also forgot about that trip because oh my word look at all the presents.  This is what happens when two only children get married.  Massive present overload for the little ones.

 Also, massive sugar overload for the "whidits" counter.   Yummy goodness for miles!

 Christmas eve we read stories, ate lots of yummy food.....

 ....baked, and/or ate lots of cookies....

 ....and got got ready for Santa!

 Trying to get a good shot of these two with low light is nearly impossible!

 But the one above is just perfect for me.  It's one I know I will treasure for a very long time.

 As well as this one.  It suits our family perfectly.  A little blurry, a little crazy and a lot of love.

 The Santa loot.  Overboard again.  Next year will be reigned in a lot!

 They were so excited!!!  Neither asked for anything overboard so it was easy to accommodate this year's wishes.

 My little Buzz Lightyear nut with his new Buzz items.

 Lots of new Star Wars stuff for this guy.

 Sweet moments helping each other open presents.

 The big special gift this year was made by Pops.  I had an idea to convert an end table into a lego table this Fall.  I mentioned it to Brett and he suggested we ask Vernon to make one instead.  I readily agreed, but I had NO idea what he would come up with.

 Can you believe this!?  It is amazing.  It has cubbies custom fitted for boxes for legos.  Lots of room for new creations and projects.  It is SO special!!

I don't know how, but we have played with all the new stuff constantly.  Moses has planted himself at that lego table for hours since it was put in his room.  Christmas was truly magical for these two boys.  Even with all of the gifts and grandeur, both still know the reason for the season.  Jesus has always been at the forefront of their minds during the entire time.  We as parents, need to do a better job with this aspect but for right now I am very comfortable with the incorporation of Santa with celebrating the birth of Christ.

Losing Grandma Mollie

A few days before Christmas, my grandmother Mollie Smith Grady, passed away.  In the weeks since Thanksgiving, she had begun to decline and was put under hospice care for the final week or so of her life.  She was able to pass away peacefully in the care facility where she had been living the past few years.

Her passing, especially during the holidays, was hard.  However, we knew she was no longer suffering and was with her Savior.  It was fitting that we all gathered together as a large family to celebrate grandma at Christmas.  It was special for us to spend that time with each other like we had done for decades before.

I was able to give one of the eulogies at her funeral along with my cousin Russ.  It was hard to put into words what she meant to all of us but we did our best.  We hope that we were able to give great honor to a woman whose years of service to her God and her family were so great!

Early Christmas Fun

 Last year, Brett and I were out of town for a week during December so we missed out on a lot of Christmas fun with the boys.  We needed that trip, but boy I'm never leaving during the holidays again!  This year I was able to do a lot more decorating and get my shopping done in plenty of time.

 Moses sang at the Hanging of the Greens at our church.  Sutton was a little under the weather so I took him and he did such a great job!  He's becoming an old pro at performing for a crowd.

 The next week, both boys were in their preschool Christmas program.  Moses was a donkey and Sutton was a sheep.  I had the cutest farm animals in the manger.

 Moses and his friend Sophia who played Mary.

 After the program, each class had a little party with cookies.  Lucky for us, the boys' classes are right next to each other so we were able to switch/visit both.  They were so excited to have us there.  Afterwards, we took them to eat at Chic-fil-a.  It was a fun day!

 Last year, the Barker/Barnes family Christmas was cancelled due to all sorts of illnesses.  This year I think we more than made up for it.  It is so special spending time with our cousins.  I feel very blessed to be so close to Barkers, especially Emily and Amy.  I hope Sutton and Moses can grow up close to Barnes and Gus too!

 We ate and opened presents and spent a lot of time playing and chatting.

 This year, Aunt Mo and Amy found some of Brett's grandparents' Christmas ornaments that were made by Sue, Brett's grandmother. They gave them to Brett as a surprise gift.  It was wonderful to add those ornaments to our tree!

Can I just tell you how WILD these four boys are!  They played hard and so well together.  When Sutton turns three in a few months these boys will be perfect stair steps:  Moses 5, Barnes 4, Sutton 3, and Gus 2!  I love it!