Christmas Day in Kentucky

Tradition continued as we celebrated Christmas morning at Gramma and Granddad Mike’s house.  Everyone came over around 9:00 for a good ole’ fashion breakfast with homemade biscuits, country ham, eggs, and gravy.  Justin’s girlfriend, Lynsey, joined us this year, so we had a kitchen full including her, Justin, Gramma, Granddad Mike, Granny Martha, Granddaddy Charlie, Papa, Granny Katherine, Craig, Charley and myself.  We always celebrate Christmas morning with Granny Martha and Granddaddy Charlie, so once breakfast was over we got started with Granny Martha’s special gift. Calling her “not-very-cooperative” this year would be the nice version of the truth!  She has been an old Scrooge starting with not giving us any ideas on what to get her, not wanting to make candy, not wanting us to decorate, and really not wanting to cook anything!  So she sarcastically said one day that she wants a couch and new chair for Christmas, then laughed it off like it wasn’t even a possibility...does she not know who she is dealing with???  Her wish was our command!  (Well, Granddad agreed to it and bought it, but Gramma and I made it happen!)

Of course no Christmas gift, especially one that wasn’t in yet, would be complete without a little poem...

“Every time we asked you what we should get, you weren’t very helpful and threw a hissy fit,

So in 2013 don’t be such a grouch, and enjoy yourself on your new chair and new couch!”

Obviously the loved it...and we told her that she had to be good all year, so we will see!

After the big surprise, we opened the rest of our gifts from Granny Martha and Granddaddy Charlie starting from youngest to oldest.  Miss Priss helped everyone open their gifts.  She was so excited to open her new rain jacket and boots, Little People Princess Castle, and Juicy Jammies.  Lynsey was so sweet and brought Granny Martha, Gramma, me and Charley presents.  Charley got an adorable, stuffed puppy and the cutest mittens.  

Miss Priss wasn’t very interested in picture taking, but I guess I can’t blame her considering all of the excitement and fun new toys!  I guess if I get bored, I can play “what is Charley hiding in this picture” one day....notice the kitchen utensils!  

Christmas Eve

We celebrated Christmas Eve the same way I have my entire life, starting with a brunch at Granny Martha and Granddaddy Charlie’s house then dinner at Granny Katherine and Papa’s house.  The only difference that I have noticed the older I get is the amount of work that actually goes into making the day run smoothly for the ladies.  Holy cow...its a job!  Men in general, and especially in our family, simply have it made during the holidays (with the exception of Granddaddy Charlie...that man is a trooper!!)  Granny Martha wasn’t feeling well, so I got up early to help Granddad get everything ready, because Mom had to stay home and cook all of the stuff she made.  Nevertheless, everything was finished and ready by the time everyone showed up...Granny even started to feel a little better after Granddad and I made a quick trip to get her some extra strong headache medicine!

Christmas Eve Brunch

My Super-Star Best Buddy wasn’t happy with me since I accidentally stepped on his finger :(

Christmas Eve Dinner

Papa wasn’t too happy either with “sandwiches” for dinner...however, we have been doing finger foods for the last several year, but this year he got mad!  Apparently a kitchen full of food wasn’t enough for him!

Overall, we had an amazing day with all of our extended family.  Charley got to spend quality time with her aunts, uncles and cousins and it was definitely a Christmas Eve that was very merry!!!!

Christmas Eve Eve

Christmas Eve Eve has sort of turned into the time when we celebrate with Gramma, Granddad Mike and Uncle Justin...which has been great to have a day or night devoted just to enjoy each other’s company and give and open all of our presents before all of hustle and bustle of multiple places, traveling, cooking, presents, etc.  This year we went to Cracker Barrel for dinner and took Miss Priss to see the Christmas lights at Mike Miller Park before going home to open presents.  Charley definitely makes opening presents extra fun...don’t get me wrong, a few years ago Gramma was so excited she did a toe-touch, so things were fun then, too...but seeing everything through Charley’s eyes puts a whole new sense of “magic” back in Christmas...and who doesn’t love magic!?!

Not sure why any of us got Charley anything other than “num-num’s” (M&M’s), but her stocking was filled with great stuff...a cute purse, num-nums, “prempess” stickers, Minnie Mouse puzzle, Minnie Mouse pez, Minnie Mouse camera and Minnie Mouse jammies...everything was super cute!!! (Gramma and Granddad Mike (mainly Gramma) always have the BEST stocking!!!)

Charley gave Uncle Justin Tervis Tumblers for his apartment.  

Granddad Mike has been on a mission to get Charley a cap since she loves his...little did he know, Charley got them coordinating caps...his was camo Under-Armour and her’s was camo and says “Too cute in camo!”  He LOVED it!

Gramma’s present from Charley was a little extra special since it was her Gramma/Nanny present!  It was basically a stocking in a box including JS silver earrings, MAC eye shadows, “Blessed” bracelet, long white cami, and the finale was Tory Burch studs!  Gramma LOVED hers too!

Craig had an extra special Christmas and got a Keurig, cologne, boxers, socks,  another pocket knife, a “cool” shirt,  Dunkin’ Donut K-cups, safe, and money for our new TV (aka the money pit, but that’s a whole other story!)  He also got Polo jammie pants from Justin that he loves!

I had the best Christmas (like always) and got a new lamp for the house, this awesome vase, Juicy perfume, money for the never-ending TV, fab earrings, MAC pallet, lipgloss, PINK tunic sweatshirt,  and a Juicy scarf.  Justin got me Fiesta mugs, which are perfect for the Keurig!

I almost forgot...I just mentioned Charley’s stocking...Uncle Justin got her a new stool for her bathroom (which she loves a little too much and we constantly catch her “brushing her teeth” aka eating the toothpaste), and Gramma and Granddad went a little overboard and got her a Minnie Mouse 4-wheeler (that she drives straight into the wall of her playroom :), the clubhouse to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, play food for her kitchen and a Minnie Mouse get-ready set with all things girlie.  Its a good thing that Gramma and Granddad had already planned on going back home with us, otherwise we wouldn’t have made it back with all of our stuff from our first get-together!  Merry Christmas Eve Eve!