Christmas, Christmas, Christmas!!!

Here are a few of my favorite christmas pictures, the rest is in backward chronological order-starting from Christmas night to Christams Eve day-I'm so bad at that!!! Anyway, here it is!!!

Christmas night was spent at Nana's with 30+ members of the family on her side. It was chaos, but fun. We had a great dinner-turkey, ham and all the fixins. The highlight of the night as always was the "dirty Santa" gift exchange. The gifts were great-and some really funny and the entertainment was uforgettable!!! We look forward to next year!!!

Harrison eating cake Nana with Harrison

Mama with sweet Nicholas

Uncle Beak with his 2 buddies

Christmas morning was at our house and Nana came over early to watch as all the excitement happened (Papa was out of town visiting his ailing mother). Aunt Gigi and Uncle Beak came over in time to see what Santa brought and to eat brunch with everyone.

Uncle Beak, Aunt GiGi with Grant and Nana Nana posing with Harrison

Grant and Nicholas with Uncle Beak and Aunt GiGi

Look at the wonder in those eyes!!

Nicholas with his new "big dog" sitting on his new "roller coaster"-which was the hit of Christmas morning

Christmas Eve-so quiet and calm

Christmas Eve night was spent at Pepka and Gigi's. Uncle Beak and Aunt GiGi were there along with Charles, Catherine, Brian and Jackson. We had a wonderful dinner, the kids roasted marshmallows on the deck (while Pepka and Gigi were setting up all of their presents). All of the kids toys were assembled and set up ready to go (which as a parent is great!!!) The kids played while the adults then exchanged gifts. The kids had fun and were so excited (in anticipation of Santa Claus).

Blake and I with Dad
Gigi holding 2 of her 4 boys!!!

Daddy with Harrison

Pepka with "Jane Doe"

Harrison with his Elmo kitchen

Grant always camera ready

Uncle Beak and Aunt GiGi posing by the front door

Uncle Beak playing with Harrison

Grant and Nicholas-such sweet boys (most of the time)

Our first Christmas celebration was on Christmas Eve during the day with Amber. We went out to lunch , then headed back home to exchange gifts!!!

Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Thursday afternoon after Grant's Christmas party at school, Ted and I took the kids' (Grant and Nicholas, Amber was so nice to keep Harrison for us, he'll be old enough next year) to Alltel to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes. I have seen this show before (once in New York when I was a teenager and several times in Branson, but I must say I can never see it too many times. It was a great show and the kids' really enjoyed it!! They especially liked the part with all of the dancing Santas, I'm sure the Rockettes kicking their long legs will be their favorite part in years to come (I can wait for that though)!!!

The Boys' School Christmas Parties

Grant's Kindergarten Class at Baker Elementary had their class party on Thurs. and everyone had a great time. They had fun eating pizza, eating sweets and decorating gingerbread houses!!! Yeah!!! 2 weeks off, maybe I'll get to sleep in some!!!

Nicholas' Christmas Party at his pre-school (Asbury Methodist) was on Wed. and Grant was out of school (because of the ice-although the roads were clear) and he got to go with me. Nicholas had a great time eating sweets and playing "pin the nose on Rudolph" and of course he loved having his big brother there.

New York!!!!

There's nothing like the Christmas season in New York City!!! I was lucky enough to celebate my birthday (although a week early) in New York along with Ted (of course) and Chris and Katherine Mason. Katherine and I have the same birthday, December 20 (she's the older 1 though only by a few hours)!!! We went to Las Vegas to celebrate last year and this year we wanted to step it up a notch in the big city. We had a fabulous time!!! Everything was so beautiful decorated for Christmas. We walked and walked and walked and tried to fit in as much as possible. Here are some of the highlights (carriage ride through Central Park, tour of the Empire State Building, Broadway show-Jersey Boys, Dinner at Tavern on the Green-although we thought it was kind of overrated, shopping along 5th avenue, Rockerfeller Center, China Town, eating a great italian meal in Little Italy, Grand Central Station, riding the subway-an experience in and of itself, etc. etc. etc. Katherine and I couln't have asked for a better birthday trip, except for maybe a few more days!!! We're already thinking about where we'll go next year!!!



Ted and I posing at the old Seaport near downtown

The Brooklyn Bridge

Ted and I in Little Italy

Chris and Katherine in Little Italy

Carriage ride through Central Park

The famous Oak Room Bar in The Plaza Hotel. Our bill was $65 for 2 "drinks", a Diet Coke and a water!!!

View from the Empire State Building

In our Hotel Lobby on our way to Tavern on the Green and to see "Jersey Boys"

Inside Saks 5th Avenue

Katherine and I outside of FAO Schwarz.

Radio Center Music Hall

Tree in Rockerfeller Center (right where the Today Show tapes)

Ted and I posing in front of 1 of the many trees in the city.

"The Birthday Girls"