Christmas Traditions

We are going out to eat..

Every year, the fun begins with Bella's baking...peanut butter balls, no-bake cookies, biscotti, gingerbread men, and a healthy sampling of new concoctions.  This year's new menu items included chocolate-dipped meringue thingies....Bella ran across them on the Food Network...they tasted like pure sugar to me.  I suppose they were yummy if you are into that type of thing.  Me? ..not so much.  But they looked very pretty. 

We always spend Christmas Eve and the day before with my mom and dad and family.  This always proves to be lots of fun.  Santa has even made a habit of showing up a couple of days early to surprise the kids at Nana's.  This year was especially memorable for Abby.  Abby's only request of Santa this year was for a 'ping-pong paddle,' the type that has a small rubber ball attached to the end of it.  Santa and his elves were a bit challenged to find the goods.  Luckily, the elves were successful and Abby received her gift, presented to her by Santa himself.

Christmas Eve involved a lot of visiting...we visited Gran and Papaw and the rest of my family in Clintwood.  We ended up drinking too much punch and eating way too many sausage balls, bologna salad sandwiches, biscuits, and other goodies.  

This year, we were treated to some entertainment, which added to the fun.  Gotta love some karaoke!!

 Christmas Eve night we returned home to get ready for Santa.  Our most important task is getting Santa's cookies and milk ready.  This year Santa's reindeer even received a treat...Abby made some reindeer food for Rudolph and the guys at pre-school.  We finished up our long day by watching a few minutes of, what else, 'A Christmas Story.'  

Christmas morning we all woke early to see what Santa had left...and to open our remaining gifts. After that, we went back to the kitchen and prepared yet some more food to get us through the Christmas Day and fun with the rest of the family.  

Christmas is an important and fun time of year.  We get to visit and hear from all of our family and friends, especially those that we don't see often enough.  But, Christmas also gives us an excuse to eat too much. After all was said and done, and despite all of the fun and fellowship, we came to the conclusion that we were also grateful to finally get away from all of the food.   

An early Christmas

OH the excitement....a mysterious box appeared on our porch on a sunny afternoon three days before Christmas.  Uncle Scott is legendary for sending some of the coolest and best gifts around.  Once the girls' curiousity peaked there was no way around it...Christmas had to start just a few days early.

Thank-you, Uncle Scotty!

The most wonderful time of the year

Christmas is finally here....with all the wrapping, baking, and gifting going on, it's difficult for one guy to make it.  

Fortunately, I am able to turn to one of our favorite movies for the inspiration I need to get through...I have a role model to help me cope.

A Christmas message for us all...

 

Abby's Debut

Abby made her debut on the dance stage on December 15th...check out her moves.  She was very excited and proud of her first performance.