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! ;)

Toad Suck Daze 2012

I mentioned in my Project 365 we went to TSD on Saturday, but I wanted to make sure & blog about it in it's own post too!  I was so hesitant to take R, just b/c he's 2, I was alone, it was stinkin' HOTT out, & spending a chunk of change on...uhh...some rides, over priced food, maybe some games & maybe some junk!?  But you know what...you only live once, and my dad took me as a kid & by-golly I want this kid to have a full experience on life too, no matter what it means from me!  If he's gonna grow up around here, just like I did, I don't want him to ever remember a time when we didn't go to TSD together...so here we are!  Toad Suckin' it up!

It was so good to run into Mary Beth!  R thinks she lives at the church b/c she works in the nursery every Sunday!  Ha!  :P

He only road two ride & this was his fav...he called it the "lady bug" ride.  He seriously straight up chilled like this the entire time!  Ha!

I was so glad he got to race a toad...(even though I did most of the work)...it always a neat experience & I hope it's something he remembers & looks forward to eat & every year!

Your toad is supposed to stay in his own lane to win...but of course ours didn't.  He was probably tired from being raced all day by crazy little kids!  :P

After the races...he went & posed behind this himself!  Ha!

 & how tacky is that hat??  but he seriously LOVED it!  & is still wearing it today!  Ha!

 & look who we ran into!  You get lucky if you run into them!  They were so sweet to stop & let us get a picture!

& this was all Mama really cared about!  :P  Ten dollar lunch right there & I loved every second of it!  Already looking forward to next year with my lil man!  =)

Christmas Day

Christmas morning was so special this year.  Ryder was actually old enough to understand that when he went to bed & went to sleep, that Santa would come!  & when it was time to wake up, Santa would have left some wonderful goodies for him!  I couldn't wait to see the happiness on my lil man's face!  I love getting to play Santa & look forward to it many years to come!  

Since both me & Garrett live out of the house now, I asked mom & dad if they wanted us to all spend the night Christmas Eve--so that's what we did!  I know that when I get re-married, we won't do this any more because I will want to have our own special time at our house Christmas morning together & then we'll make our way over to KeeKee & Pop's to see what Santa brought over there!  

So...this was a new & fun tradition I'm glad we started!

{his "skateboard" & helmet!  all the kid has ever wanted!  :P}

This Santa had done their duties & it was time for me to go to bed so Grand-Santa could come!  ;)

{I think he looks like such an angel when he's sleeping!}

{Ryder's stocking at KeeKee's that she MADE!  She made all of ours actually!}

{Time to get up!}

I have a video of him walking in seeing his stuff...which is why I don't have pictures during that process!  :P

{Loving his chair...now he has his own to sit in outside with the grown ups!}

{This was seriously the best purchase!  He loves it & is even sleeping with it!}

{Helping Pop Pop's organize his Keurig!}

Ryder actually woke up sick Christmas morning.  You could just see it in his eyes he didn't feel 100%.  I hated it for him...but he still seemed to enjoy everything, he just didn't have that extra spark in him that he always has!

We got up & got around & got ready for church & even made it to the 9 o'clock service on time! 

After church, Ryder's dad came & got him so he could go do Christmas with his side of the family.  I was so glad it worked out where Ryder was able to go & wasn't missing out on anything.

Right after Ryder left, Tonya, Luke & Aunt Kathy got here from flying in from Atlanta that morning.  Mom had prepared us a wonderful lunch that we all enjoyed so much.  It is such a blessing to sit & eat a great meal on Christmas Day surrounded by family from near & far.  TRUE blessing.

We lounged around a bit & then it was time to go see War Horse!  Mom INSISTED on seeing this movie! Luckily we thought ahead & bought tickets online because it was completely sold out by the time we got there.  Not 15 minutes into the movie, Jake text me & said Ryder just wan't himself all day & was getting worse so they were leaving Mimi's to head home & rest.  This just made me worry about my baby & want to be with him & comfort him.  So I left the movies & went to get my lil man.  He was just so worn out from everything going on, but you could tell by looking into his eyes he didn't' feel good.

We went back to KeeKee's, took a few pictures & then laid down for a nap before everyone else got home from the movies.  

Mom made a yummy potato soup for dinner that we all gobbled up & Ryder slept straight through everything!  He was one.tired.puppy!

We were all in the game room doing presents & came back in the living room to find him like this!  He WAS on the couch!  We figured he rolled off, or wanted to get off the hot couch & went down there himself...I just love him so much!

We had a wonderful & fabulous Christmas with family & are truly blessed with everything we have been given!