Each year, we spend Christmas Eve with my mom’s side of the family and then Christmas with my dad’s mom.  This year was no exception.

This year I was off work on Christmas Eve since Christmas was on Saturday.  That meant I got to go to my grandparents’ house early to hang out (and, this year, help cook).  This year we decided to have Mexican food.  My uncle made chicken enchiladas and I made beef.  Yum!  (I got one of Trisha Yearwood’s cookbooks for my birthday and decided to give her jalapeno bites a try too.  I’m still partial to the bacon wrapped cream cheese stuffed jalapenos but these did go over pretty well and were easy to fix.)

This year we decided to make sure we took lots of pictures of the family and make sure there were several with my grandmother & grandfather included.  I’m pretty sure we spent a good 30 minutes taking all of the pictures.  We even managed to get multiple pictures this year of some that practically refuse to have their picture taken.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Me, my younger sister Lindsey, Mom, & my youngest sister Shelby

Lindsey & her husband (my bro-in-law) Grayson

Me, my sisters, & my grandmother “Nana Pat”

Me, my sisters, & my grandfather “Papa Jay”

The Grandkids (minus Jeff, who lives in Scotland)

Nana & Papa Kissing under the Mistletoe – I’m just gonna say that I’m not sure I’ve ever witnessed my grandparents kissing.  Expect for the occasional adorable hand holding that we witness, they just aren’t into PDA.  Evidently, earlier in the day Christmas Eve before anyone was there to witness it, they did this.  Nana had him reenact in front of all of us.  It was hilarious but so adorable!  I’m glad I got the photo to remember it.

Shelby & Papa “Dancing” – We call this dancing.  It lasts only about a minute but Papa gets into it and, as you can see by the smile, has a blast.  It’s moments like this one that I so enjoy witnessing.

Unfortunately, we didn’t take a single photo Christmas Day.  It was a great day, though.  We also have the traditional Christmas dinner – turkey, ham, dressing, mashed potatoes & gravy, etc, etc.  Mom made a lemon pie this year, which was yummy!

I hope you each had a great Christmas holiday.  Thanksgiving & Christmas are the best times of the year for me.  It’s just a festive time and I love getting together with family and friends.

If you want to see all of the pictures we took on Christmas Eve, check out my Christmas photo album.

This was the view out the front door of my house on Christmas morning.  While I remember a couple of Christmases where it snowed a little bit, I don’t remember actually waking up to a blanket of snow.  It was a gorgeous sight!  I was glad that everyone was coming to my house Christmas, though, because there would be no way I would drive myself anywhere in this!

As mentioned, my immediate family and my dad’s mom came over for Christmas dinner and gift exchanging.  Having a house to host dinners in is something new for this holiday season so I was excited to have everyone over.  I got some great gifts for Christmas.  My dad built me a dining room table that seats 8 with a bench that seats 3.

How were each of your Christmases?

Merry Christmas!

I hope each of you have a wonderful Christmas!

A Baby Changes Everything from Ronnie Floyd on Vimeo.

A modern day retelling of the Christmas story.

Song: Faith Hill, A Baby Changes Everything

Shot on a Canon 7D.

The Christmas holiday is all about traditions in my family.  The traditions range from the locations of the celebrations to the food that is eaten and even to the gifts we are given.

Let’s start with location.  Christmas Eve evening is always spent at my mom’s parents’ home.  For me, Christmas day is spent at my parents’ house.  My dad’s mom comes for lunch, and we all exchange our gifts at this time.

Food is a major part of the get-togethers in our family (and I’m sure yours is no different).  My mom’s mom makes spiced tea for Christmas Eve.  My mom typically makes at least a couple batches of pumpkin bread and gingerbread cookies during the holidays.  Our Christmas day meal also typically consists of the “traditional” meal of turkey, ham, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, deviled eggs, and a vegetable (cream cheese corn this year).

Yes, you are seeing a $5 bill on a Christmas tree in the photo above.  My mom’s dad’s dad started a tradition when my mom was small of putting money on the Christmas tree.  My grandmother has carried that tradition on for us grandkids.  We used to get $1 but, at some point, she increased the value to $5.

What about you and your family?  Do you have any special traditions that you love and look forward to each Christmas?

Here is my photo album from Christmas 2008.

Here’s a cute screen capture from A Charlie Brown Christmas.  While this isn’t my favorite Christmas movie, it definitely ranks up there.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppOXpyhM2wA

What’s your favorite Christmas movie?

Oh yeah, in case you forgot my favorite Christmas song…

Mary, Did You Know?

Words: Mark Lowry
Music: Buddy Greene

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered
Will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby
You’ve kissed the face of God

Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding
Is the Great I Am

Oh Mary did you know?

Shelby sent me a text message this morning with those words.  What prompted the song lyric quote?  Well, it’s snowing in northwest Arkansas today.  It started about the time I got up around 8 o’clock this morning and has been snowing and/or sleeting ever since then.

Last weekend, we went to my mom’s parents’ house and decorated for Christmas.  Mom, Dad, & Shelby put their Christmas tree up on Friday.  Shelby & I decorated a small tree for Dad’s mom last night.  I started putting my tree up last night.  Add all of this decorating and then the snow together and it puts me in the Christmas mood.  (It isn’t that we normally have snow at Christmas but we haven’t had really cold Christmas-like weather until today.)  Here are some pictures of the trees & the Christmas cookies Shelby and my cousin Rachel decorated last weekend.