One Magical Christmas

Now that I have adequately detoxed from the pies, Prime Rib, turkey and dressing, and cranberry sauce I think I can manage to gather my thoughts enough to update y'all with our Christmas-doings....

It was wonderful.

Just wonderful.

Our Christmas festivities began Friday.  Nick and I both took off to finish up some loose ends before we headed for Ruston for the night.  We started the Traveling-Triangle as I have now nicknamed it- as we traveled from Natchitoches to Ruston to Shreveport to Natchitoches to Ruston to Natchitoches to Shreveport. Whew.  Y'all get that?  Yes, it was a lot of running the roads, but it was soooo worth it. 

Before I delve into the 23rd through the 26th, let me back-up and talk about a few adventures that happened the weekend before!

My oldest nephew Wade turned 7 and we celebrated with him.  The boys had a blast playing with their cousin.  It's hard to believe my first nephew is already 7.  The day of his birth is permanently etched into my memory.  I was one proud aunt.  And to top off his already exciting birthday, it snowed that day! Now he is becoming a young man and his sweet little front-toothless self is almost too much cuteness to handle.  As Exhibit A shows-

Next, I was so happy to host my best friend Sarah's 26th Birthday at our home.  We had such a good time eating dinner at Mariner's and hanging out.  Best friend Hillery joined us as well and we had a great time catching up.

We then wrapped up the weekend with our annual trip to my Mom's church in Chatham.  The boys got to see Santa and my brave little Jackson even wanted to have his picture taken with him...with absolutely no encouragement from me....I was shocked.

Then, we started last week with Jackson's first Christmas program.  He did such a great job memorizing his Christmas poem, saying James 1:17- "Every good and perfect gift is from above.", and singing his heart out to Jingle Bells.  I finally got some video and pictures on my good camera, but for now these will have to do.

They are hams, aren't they.  I love capturing these true brotherly moments on camera.  They're hilarious.

So now, Christmas Eve rolled around and in our family that means one thing-- My Mom's Christmas Eve Brunch.  Cue Calories, NOW--

Oh y'all.  I hurt myself. 

After that we traveled to Shreveport to see my Meemaw and take her to lunch.  As always we have a blast with her.  I am so blessed to have an amazing grandmother and that my boys have not only one great-grandmother, but three! Our family is blessed.  We then wrapped things up with her and headed home to bake cookies, pop fireworks, feed the reindeer, and hang out as a family.  The boys loved watching A Christmas Story-- a holiday-watching staple.

Then, you guessed it. SANTA CAME!

And the torn wrapping paper after-math quickly followed....

It was wonderful.  Both boys were totally into it this year and as parent's Nick and I will never forget that.  Especially being woken up at 5:00 am....

Nick grew up having blueberry muffins and bacon on Christmas morning and I grew up having a big breakfast spread so I morphed the two together this year and made Blueberry Breakfast Cake, Bacon, and Hot Fruit with a Brown Sugar Glaze. Yum.

I will leave you with some of the boys new Christmas presents in action--

Oh yes they do, Austin. And at times snotty noses when they come from a certain almost 2 year old...

Happy New Year, y'all!