Jackson and his 2nd cousins - Cade and Jordyn.
We were in the family life center at Ma's church and the kids loved to run around and play.
Before we open presents, we always read the Christmas story from Luke 2. My grandmother said a few words and talked about how this is the most important part of Christmas and how the tradition started over 60 years ago. That day would have been my Pa's 90th birthday, and we know that he was having an awesome birthday in Heaven. So thankful for the hope that we have in salvation and we know that we'll see our loved ones again.
Josh read the story.
And then the opening of presents began. It's mainly the kids opening stuff these days, and I'm glad to see all the new stuff as well.
Ma with her three great-grandkids. Next year, she'll have four! (Sarah's, not mine).
Ma and her grandkids and great-grandkids. (Minus Katie who had to work).
Dad, Uncle Sluggo, Ross, Sharon, Ma, and Aunt Snooks
Ma and her three kids. They are all a mess!
Here's our family - getting this picture was a challenge!
Sarah and Me.
The next day we got ready for church and Jackson wore his special bow tie and suspenders. My grandpa always wore suspenders and bow ties, so this is special to me.
Making a funny face - just like his daddy!
After church, we had our Lifegroup Christmas party and enjoyed lunch with all of our friends. Jackson is in this really shy phase and it takes him a while to get warmed up, but he finally did and had a great time with Brandt Harrison.
That's a hug - not a headlock.
I remember going to the Capitol at Christmas when I was little, so we've carried this tradition over to our family. We went on the 23rd, so we made it right under the wire. We took Jackson to eat at All Aboard, the choo-choo train restaurant where a train delivers your food. He was all about it, and we'll probably go back again soon.
There wasn't much to see this year at the Capitol, which is a little disappointing. Maybe next year there will be more.
One of our old family friend's is a state senator, so we had to get our picture with Senator Caldwell.
Finally - we made it to Christmas Eve! We left for Mimi and Pops' Bryant house (aka The Ponderosa) after Jackson's nap. We played for a little while and then went to Sarah and Josh's church for their Christmas Eve service. It was nice, but a little long, so we went back and got started on our night. Mimi cooked prime rib (it was amazing), and lots of other goodies.
After dinner, we got to open presents! There will be another stocking there next year.
Jackson helped play Santa Clause and passed out presents.
He's not quite sure of Uncle Josh sometimes, and he wouldn't actually give him his presents. He sat them down at his feet.
Showing off his Monsters Inc. toothbrush to Sar-Sar.
Helping Pops open his presents.
After all the presents were opened and dessert was eaten, we loaded up our new treasures and came back home so that Santa Clause could come. Looks like someone was a good little boy!
And this is what Santa brought! A new playhouse. It's perfect for the patio, but we may move it to the yard when the weather gets nice. But for now, it'll stay right now.
It even has a door bell that rings!
Christmas morning was COLD, so we came back in and opened more presents.
This year, he just wasn't trying to rip all of them open, so we took a little break to watch Mickey Mouse and eat breakfast.
Here's some of his loot.
Gamma gave him this play grill, and it matches perfectly with the cottage. Now he can grill just like his daddy!
I love this picture!
We watched movies the rest of the day and was completely lazy. That night, we went over to the cousins' house for the Oxner/Gardner Christmas. This is when we do the fireball, but first we eat and visit. I made this lil smokies wreath. (Thanks Pinterest).
Jackson got to eat first since we were waiting on a few more folks to show up.
I'm so blessed to be apart of this family. They remind me a lot of mine, and have always made me feel so welcome. Jackson has a double-sided legacy of good Christian people.
We brought a few toys, and he and Buzz were lasering the girls in the food line.
After dessert, we got ready to go outside and watch daddy toss the Fireball. We didn't do it last year because it was snowing, so this was his first year to really experience it. He wasn't a fan, but I know in a few years, he'll be begging to get out there and do it with his daddy.
He kept saying "I go inside." ha! I finally went in with him after I had enough pictures.
Jackson is loved by all of his cousins, but especially by Hannah. Too bad this picture didn't turn out - it's hard to get a good one in the dark.
I went back to work on Thursday and Friday, and it was really quiet and I didn't really mind being there. I got lots accomplished and enjoyed the alone time. ha! The Friday night after Christmas, we were at home and Brent and Jackson were playing. Old school roughhousing is a good term. Well, as my mom always said, "Somebody's going to get hurt" and that's exactly what happened. Jackson tripped and fell and hit his chin on the bottom of our end table. It almost cut through his bottom lip and bloodied his nose. There was crying by all parties and we immediately called my sister. She reassured us that going to the ER wouldn't help since he didn't seem to have any signs of a concussion, and the lip couldn't be sutured. He was up every 4 hours that night once the IPB wore off, and his lip was so swollen the next day. That night, we peeled his lip back and noticed that his gums were bruised and still bleeding. On Sunday he seemed to perk back up a little, but I still took him in to see Sarah on Monday morning. She took an X-ray and PTL, nothing was broken and none of his teeth were loose. We got some antibiotic wash to put on his gums and oral antibiotics to take to keep the infection away. It was not really the ending to the great week that I had hoped for, but I am thankful for a very talented sister who has a God-given talent for teeth. I am once again reminded that I choose the right career path.
It was a great Christmas, and most of all we celebrated our Savior's birth. Because without Him, we would have no hope. I pray that we will always have that hope with us during this special time of year.
