christmas eve 2014

There's one place I've been on Christmas Eve night growing up, and it's Nana and Papaw's house.  I haven't known anything different.  I've gone from being the only grandchild there, to being the oldest grandchild of 11 there, to being a mom there.  

Some of the traditions we carry on there include eating appetizers while we visit and catch up, and then eatting chili for "dinner"---if our bellies are feeling up to it!  Another tradition is decorating Nana's sugar cookies with homemade frosting.  We have gone from using only the most basic colors, to using every color under the sun, which has been so much fun!  I've never been one to eat sugar cookies or really getting into decorating them, but I'll decorate a few just for traditions sake!  Ryder has gotten to partake in the event over the years as well which has been fun to watch!  He would still much rather like the spoon than anything else! :P

Some people go ALL our with their decorating...but I am not one of them!  =)  But I love those that are!

Picture of us by the tree!  Ryder was in a cute sweater and jeans, but to be honest, that's just not "him".  He is much more "himself" when he is in a hoodie and sweats, so I switched him into those mid-evening and I'm so glad I did.  As a parent, there are somethings you just have to "let go" on--whether it's letting go for your child's sake, or for your own expectation's sake.  And this time...I had to let go for my own sake, and I'm perfectly okay with that.   

Here we are in front of the tree in 2012!

After the sugar cookies are all decorated and we've eaten dinner...we all sit down and read The Christmas Story.  Papaw used to read it straight out of the Bible until Naynee found this book and gifted it to him 22 years ago.  I think it's neat that we've used this same book for 22 years!  

At one time, there were a lot of little grand kids that would all pile up in Papaw's lap with him while he read it.  We have since all gotten a little bit too big, and it's been up to Ryder to fulfill that role for the past 5 years!  

 Here they are in 2011...

 ...and 2012

...and 2013.  I love looking back at old pictures of the same thing!  It's crazy how things change in a year, but my how so many things can stay the same!

We are so thankful that we get to spend this special time with family every year...and that nothing comes in between it!  We stayed there later this year than we ever have before, but we had a complete blast!  Santa was just a lil tired from staying up so late! ;)

christmas 2013

It's tradition to go to Nana and Papaw's on Christmas Eve and that's just what we did!  To grandmother's house we go!

 Ryder with two of his second cousins--Sterling & Aidan!

Getting a little festive with my Santa hat!  ;)

I used to sit on Papaw's lap while he read the Christmas story...and now my little guy gets to!  This was the 20th year for us to read out of that book!

Santa Linda Sue getting ready for us to play dirty santa with gift cards!  SO fun!

Made these sugar cookies for G!  ;)

We made it home from Nana & Papaw's and R put out some of the sugar cookies we decorated and milk for Santa!

Christmas Eve night we also opened up gifts from our family in Georgia and R got some Power Ranger gloves...which he is wearing in this pic!  Too funny!

Christmas morning!  Up and ready to go!  Before he even opened his eyes he said, "Merry Christmas Mom!"  So sweet!

"This is exactly what I wantttttted!" {THANK YOU TJMaxx! ;)}

We have always joked with each other about wanting a Jeep Wrangler...and Santa got R a remote control one...he had asked for a remote control monster truck, but the Jeep was too fun to pass up! ;)

R went to his other grandparents for the day and the rest of us chilled out.  I'm sad to say I didn't get out of my PJs all day long because I just didn't feel right.  I am currently recovering from a sinus infection that I now know made itself known on Christmas Day...blah.

One of my favorite new ornaments this year--from my Mama!

R's dog Hawk looks just like this, so this was the ornament I got him this year!  He loves it!

My new Keurig is fitting right in...I know I'm only 2-3 years behind, but that's okay!  Also loving my new "YOU ARE HERE" mug from Atlanta that Luke and Tonya got me for Christmas.

Christmas Eve @ Nana & Papaw's

We go to my mom's parent's every Christmas Eve.  We used to have some appetizers and then all eat chili...well over the years, we have all snacked so much nobody wanted any chili after the fact--so it kinda turned into a heavy appis and then chili if you want it to top it off!  ;)

We got there before Naynee & "her friends" so Ryder honestly didn't even know what to do with himself!  He just kept walking around like looking for something to do!  We kept telling him that they would be here soon!  He finally parked it on the couch and looked at the front window watching for them to pull into the driveway!  Ha!

Mom & I made some yummy brie bites...we have been wanting to make them for a while, & were finally glad we had a reason to!  They were super yummy & delish!

I made my annual duck poppers...YUM is all I can say!  Just wish I would have made more!  They were practically gone before they hit the table!

& look how cute these bags are!  This is my aunt & uncles organic farm...I LOVE their logo!  You can buy all sorts of yummy stuff from them at the Hillcrest Market on (most) Saturdays!  YUMM!

No telling what this crazy boy is thinking!  We had fun eating & decorating our annual sugar cookies!  Of course all R cared about was licking the icing!

Papaw read us The Christmas Story & then it was time for some Dirty Santa (with gift cards) which is always fun, and then present time!

We sure do love each other...can't ya tell!?  ;)

We had yet another wonderful Christmas Eve at Nana & Papaw's!  Always something I look forward to most!  =)