Christmas 2012

Another Christmas has come and gone. This one came and went in a flash too. It was much different than past Christmas'. Within 24 hours everything was done - 5pm on Christmas Eve and we were home and relaxing by 5pm on Christmas Day. 

Christmas Eve was dinner with my sister. Usually both of them come, but this year Holly and family stayed in Chicago. It was great to see Heather and Jimi (Jas didn't come either! :( ), but Christmas is always more fun with little kids running around. Emery and Charley were definitely missed, as were Holly and Eric. 

I also didn't attend the Christmas Eve service at church. I was a little disappointed about this. My grandma and uncle didn't go because of the fog. It was very foggy around here, so choosing to stay off the roads that night was a wise decision - especially on those back roads. But, still disappointed that I didn't get to go to Candlelight Service because it is one of my favorites. Singing "Silent Night" by candle light - so lovely.

My family :)

On Christmas morning, we actually had to get everyone up. Nothing like years past where we were up at 3am. :) We exchanged our presents. This was the first year Santa didn't bring anything. :(

Christmas morning

Molly and John - their first christmas!

I almost have a full tool chest now! 

Bowie's obviously been a good girl this year.

As always, we headed up to my grandma and grandpa's for Christmas morning breakfast. Now that we're all older, we eat first, open gifts second. It wasn't always that way. I think Christmas morning breakfast is the one part of Christmas that my cousins and I look forward to the most. My grandparents make every breakfast food possible and it's all delicious. We all sit around the kitchen table together and eat and it's just wonderful. That's the only way I can describe it.

My favorite thing about Christmas - breakfast at Mam and Papaw's!

Pre-gift socializing at Mam & Papaw's.

A few years ago we started a tradition of playing games at Mam and Papaw's. Now that we're all older, we are no longer playing Barbies and baby doll's in the back bedroom. A few years ago we did Pictionary. We played Family Feud one year, and this year we played Taboo. I love Taboo. Let's just say my team has never lost. 

She's trying hard to win at Taboo!

Cousin picture. :)

We always take a family cousins picture each year (above) and another tradition that we have is taking my picture with my grandma's nativity set. I've done this every year since I was born. She didn't do it with any other grandchild - just me. (Obviously the favorite, right?)

yearly picture with Mam's nativity.

I love the packaging! :)

Overall, I had a great Christmas Day. I spent the whole day with my family and it was just really special to be with all of them. 

That evening after we got home, we were sitting around watching tv. Some of us in different rooms. And I got to thinking about my Grandma Primer and just being younger. We would always be getting dressed in our party dresses to go to her house and spend the entire evening there with so many cousins that I hardly ever see anymore. When I think of Christmas, I always think of going to her house in our fancy clothes, then driving home hours later, so tired and worn out from a crazy day. I miss her and the Christmas' we spent together.