Exhausted!

On Christmas Eve we spent the afternoon/evening with our friends the Hayes's. We came home, set out food for Santa, read the Night Before Christmas, said goodbye to Wink (our elf on the shelf), threw the squirts in the bed, set up for Santa, packed, got a few hours of sleep, did Christmas at 7 and were on the road by 10.
We went to South Pittsburgh, Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Nashville. We left Nashville on Wednesday morning and got home around 3:00, and at 6:30, we had a New Year's Eve party here at our house! Brilliant huh???
Yesterday was kind of a blur, but we (except for Brian) went to bed really early last night, so we are all able to function again!
Even though it was very tiring, we had a great time with our families, and I really am sad that it is over.
We had such a good time visiting with everyone! We love having the cousins together and just getting to watch them with their grandparents and great-grandmothers! It really is such a special time for everyone and we love that we all get to be together! Here are some pictures of South Pittsburgh, Chattanooga, and Knoxville...


On the way to my parents we stopped at Opryland to see the How the Grinch Stole Christmas in ice! It was so neat! Addie Grace LOVED the slide made out of ice. It was so much fun! (They made us wear their coats...I HAVE NOT started making my whole family dress alike, although, I'm sure a few of you would not be suprised if I did!!)
On Monday, Mom and the kids did their Christmas baking...don't they look cute?? Mom's apron says, 'Nana and her Elves' in case you can't read it.
We had a great time playing cards, eating and just hanging out!

We have a couple of traditions in my family...one is that every year (for the last 15 years or so) we sing the Twelve Days of Christmas. Everybody draws a number and you have to stand up and sing (and possibly act out) your part. Here are some pictures of my ridiculously talented family!

Our other tradition is that the guys and grandkids have a paper-wad fight with the wrapping paper scraps. The whole time the fight is going on, my mom is running around yelling for everyone to stop "someone is going to get hurt!!!!". I took a few pictures and was about to get up and take some more, but as mom forshadowed...I got pegged in the face (BY MY FATHER!!!) so I decided I'd just try to stay out of the line of fire. Addie Grace and Sawyer were happy to get in on the fun this year!

Hope that your Christmas was just as special! I'm off to take my Christmas decorations down...grrr!!!