good times....

....good food & great friends!!

sunday night, while we were still in georgia, we were able to meet up with some awesome friends & adorable children for dinner....it was so nice for all of us to be able to get together!! plus, it has been a while since we have seen all the kiddos.....and we all wanted some baby grey loving too :)

audrey looks like such the big girl holding grey.....and she was quite protective when everyone was loving all over him....bless him, it's tough to be so cute!

eat.him.up!

our attempt at a group shot.....the adults look good, i guess next time we should let the kids know we are taking a picture....oh well....priceless with all the kids!!

this dinner was a great way to finish up our visit and christmas celebrations....good friendships like these will sustain, no matter the miles between :)

christmas @ mimi & pop's.....

.....was a success like all the rest!

today the kids got things kicked off by cooking us breakfast....tenderloin, biscuits & gravy.....yummy!

a little playtime in the basement and then as soon as uncle blake & megan arrived it was present time!!




the kids were very excited about their gift from blake & megan!!!......of course, brett & i are pretty stoked too :)

more gifts....man, my children are truly blessed by all our families!!

audrey was so excited about her guitar.....grant liked his little red one too, but there was one problem....it wasn't as big as his sissy's!!

mimi fixed the guitar issue after a few *disagreements* with the guitars......she had for seen this possible problem & had a bigger one set back for him just in case.....perfect!!

audrey also received the Wii Sing It game....fun, fun.....grant was the back-up band :)

after presents, playing and a little football watching.....it was time for a late lunch....homemade pizzas!!

grant & audrey's delectable delight before we cooked them up!!

we've had a great time visiting with everyone.....seems hard to believe it is finally all over....i must say though, my kids do manage to get christmas stretched out for about a week....lots of celebrating with everyone & lots of fun.....but i am about ready to get home & settled to actually enjoy all the blessings we have received this week!!

from tumbleweeds to mimi & pop's house and everyone in between....thank you for an amazing christmas!!! we love you all and have thoroughly enjoyed spending time together, catching up, reading your cards, sharing sweet *happys* with each other and all in all, remembering the TRUE reason for the season...

more christmas fun...

...at mamaw & papaw richards' house!!

audrey & ansley playing with all mamaw's *pretties*......some of these "play" things she lets the girls doll themselves up with are probably at least 60 years old.....but when it comes to her two sweet great-grandgirls, anything goes...

uncle blake brought the gator over for rides around the neighborhood....the kids, especially grant, were quite excited!!

in the midst of the christmas fun, we had a birthday to celebrate.....yesterday was also mamaw montaree's 87th birthday....wow!....i hope i am half as spunky & beautiful as she is when i'm that age.....though i come from some good grandma gert genes, so i should be just fine :)

the joys of the new baby at christmas.....sweet drew!!

papaw with all the great-grands...

the ladies...

audrey & grant opening a gift from dear ol' uncle blake.....my, oh my....i'm sure you will be hearing more about these gloves....for . the . love .

ok, so my sweet baby boy looks like such the big boy.....he played so sweet with drew!!

papaw giving audrey a ride.....they both love doing this!!

we had lots of fun....it is always nice to visit & catch up with family that we don't get to see nearly enough....now today is the last celebration....christmas with mimi & pops!! stay tuned :)

christmas day....

....he came, he came....santa came!!

first the thud as she jumps from the bed....door slams open....pitter patter down the hall....then one of the most precious sounds of all.......he came, he came!! of course, amusing to brett & i were that we had been awake for at least 30 minutes, just lying in the bed waiting for one of them to wake up....we were as excited as they were!! we sent audrey in to wake up her brother and off they went....

john deere boots, bicycles, dinosaurs, mp3 players, trucks, bath robes....galore!!

grant's cute chapstick was in his stocking.....charlie brown....and audrey had sally...so fitting for us!! grandma gert sent audrey an awesome doll....

after all gifts were inspected, loved on & opened....we devoured our traditional christmas morning monkey bread.....with a little sausage on the side this time :)

....next on the agenda.....grammy's house!!

we had an absolutely wonderful christmas day.....not too much drama, just a whole lot of family fun & loving....this pic below is hilarious.....michael was passing out presents and grant wasn't waiting quite as patiently as the others....

payton was *beyond* stoked about his FatHead gram's gave him.....

.....and here's a throw back for all you thirty-somethings out there.....the new & improved LiteBrites.....they are flatscreened and cordless!! i loved my LiteBrite growing up....i hope audrey has as much fun with hers!

remember that adorable doll from grandma gert?.....well, she & sissy were also giving matching dresses!! so.stinkin'.cute!!

more precious....because my sister makes me....pictures....one day my family will be quite happy that i am so obnoxious with my camera :)

as i said above.....absolutely great day....oh, and don't even let me leave without mention food....gosh forbid....our dinner, oh our dinner!! HUGE baked stuffed shrimp with mom's homemade lasagna....oh.sweet.goodness!!

we are now in georgia celebrating again with more awesome family! more pics of that soon....i'm exhausted!!