These Are The Good Days: Photo story

We have had a wonderful (and exhausting) Christmas! I have too much to write, so I am just going to post pictures. They are the fun part anyway! wink I hope you had a great Christmas as well! This "photo story" captures the week before Christmas through Christmas day!

Caveat: This is a LONG post. Sorry!

Angela, Gary, Hannah, Martha, and Sam hosted a Birthday party for Jesus for all the second cousins again this year. SO much fun! It was wonderful to see everyone, especially b/c it had been almost a year since I had seen some of the cousins. Ceilidh and Graeme had a great time. Thanks again for a special tradition you are starting, Gary and Angela!!!

"Aunt Kristen," Dakota, and Jane

Aunt Lydia getting some Jane time!

Sweet Martha and Phoenix

Victoria, Caroline, and little William

Hannah was kind enough to do this the whole party! ha We know how much G-man loves books, and I would guess Charlotte does as well!

My first (cousin) Christmas party

An attempt at a group shot. I took like 6 pictures of this pose and this was the best one! Phoenix and Dakota are both hiding, but you can at least see a part of their body. HA

The three amigos!

Such a sweet picture

Ceilidh helped me wrap her present for Graeme. She then wrote their names with a "love (heart) Ceilidh." I found the present like this. So sweet!

On to Christmas Eve at Nanas!

First Christmas Eve

Talking to Nana

love love love

I wish this one wasn't as blurry as it is. It is a great one!

Jack on the move!

Some of the "Clendenin" girls

The annual Nana Christmas pageant!

Great- Grandparents

The Suzanne(s)

And then to Christmas Eve at Pops and ZZ's house:

Waiting for ZZ's craft time. I love all the grandbaby stockings in the background! The married children and in-laws are displayed along the staircase. We have such a growing family, there isn't room on the mantel! ha I love it!

Making angels to hang on the tree

You can totally tell ZZ was a teacher at one point!

If it wasn't blurry (frown), it would already be in a frame!

Not many people are more transparent with their love. I am so thankful my children are apart of his "beloved."

Singing carols

Watching the Nativity Story from the Jesus Storybook bible on youtube. What a great idea, Caitlin!

These elf pjs may be my favorite "Christmas Eve PJs" to date! Adorable!!

Paul in his finest element.... reading! wink

I really wish I had this whole scenario on camera. Zion was SOOOOOOO excited about this bball gift that he was literally running circles around the living room floor. At one point, he got so excited he accidentally threw the box and hit Ceilidh in the head. It hurt in the moment, but now it is pretty funny! I say we split the money from America's Funniest Home Videos, Lyd!

Awww....

Jamming like a rock star!

Or maybe a biker! HA

At this point, Graeme was so tired and completely engrossed in his fire truck that he was literally lying on the couch playing with toys on top of him!

Making cookies for Santa

An attempt at a grandchildren shot

Jack gave me 3 seconds instead of 2, so I got at least one picture with all of them! He was NOT interested in a picture at that point. HA

CHRISTMAS MORNING!!

Still in a morning daze, but totally excited about his train table! He has only left the train table in the last two days to watch a Thomas video. Everything else is second rate at this point! ha

She was more excited about him opening her present, than he was! I love her excitement for others!

Since we may not see snow at all this winter (frown!), we brought snow to Daddy on Christmas morning.

Merry 1st Christmas!

Christmas morning breakfast

On to Christmas at Grappy and Granddaddy's house!

I am in LOVE with this hat. Aunt Lydia crocheted this for Jane. She is good.... really good.

A hug for Santa!

I wish I had gotten a better picture of Ceilidh's dress. Aunt Susanna gave her and Jane BEAUTIFULLY coordinating dresses. Ceilidh's dress has her initials monogramed on the bodice.