I can't believe Christmas has already come and gone! We loved having the family here at our new home in the mountains this year. It was fun decorating a new house. It was also a lot of work getting ready for the invasion! We really did enjoy it, though. Sean and Misty arrived late Christmas eve, about 11:30. We watched the end of A Christmas Story and then went to bed after midnight. We were up around 7:30 Christmas morning to give each other our stockings and gifts before the rest of the family arrived. Sean's big gift from us was a camera that is waterproof and shockproof - I call it Sean-proof! (He has already destroyed two others.) He wants it to take fishing, of course. His other big gift was rather special. Doug has taken up woodcarving, and at Sean's request, he carved him a trout, shown here. I painted it, so it really is from both of us, though Doug did the hard part! It turned out well, and Sean was really pleased with it. Misty received a plethora of smaller gifts, mostly clothes. Dixie got a new stuffed duck to destroy. She loved it - carried it around in her mouth all day.
After we opened gifts, I made waffles for breakfast and then Misty and I started cooking dinner. I had put the hams in earlier, so all we had to do was make the casseroles. We watched the Disney Christmas parade while we worked.
The rest of the family arrived just around noon. My sisters brought lots of food with them, and as soon as we could get it all served, we ate dinner. Afterwards, we opened gifts again. Our house soon looked like a wreck! Everyone got lots of nice gifts. One rather unusual gift was the one we gave Mama - a stuffed pug dog that breathes and snores. Mama just loves pugs and would really like to have one, but she can't take care of a dog, so this was the perfect pet for her. She slept with it that night.
Speaking of dogs, this Christmas literally went to the dogs. Besides Dixie, we also had Spooky (a black minature poodle) and Daisy, a chihuahua. They demanded lots of attention! They also provided plenty of entertainment. Of course, Blackie and Dallas had to stay outside, but they got some attention as well.
For entertainment, we played games - Balderdash, monopoly, and triple solitaire. The guys either slept or watched ballgames. We munched on sweet stuff all afternoon. That evening, Sean, Misty, Doug, and I went to see Marley and Me at the theaters. It was very good, but don't go unless you take a box of Kleenex with you! We came back and watched The Dark Knight on DVD with the rest of the crowd. I know, we really know how to pick feel-good movies for Christmas! That's what happens in a family where guys rule.
I fell in bed exhausted that night and slept great. The next morning we had a big family breakfast and then just crashed. The guys went out to explore some local thrift shops - they were desparate to just get out. When they returned, we ate some more, and then Cindy and her crew left, followed by Sean and Misty. Mary Jane and Mike watched Rush Hour 3 with us that night. The next day was remarkably warm and the sun returned. Mary Jane, Mike, Doug, and I ran around all over Hiawassee looking for bargains and found some great ones. We stopped at Hawg Heaven for a barbeque sandwich. When we got back, we spent some time with Mama and Daddy, and MJ made pralines. Then they went home, too. It sure is quiet now that everyone is gone! It was great having the family here for Christmas.
We also had a wonderful time the weekend before Christmas with Doug's family. We celebrated on Sunday evening at Doug's parent's house and spent the night there. The night before we enjoyed seeing all our friends at the Lavender's Christmas party. That morning I had joined the Breakfast Club at IHOP for the first time in months. Doug went to see Pastor Joe at Angel Food and had breakfast with him. The day before that (Friday), we met Dennis and Charlise and her mom in Clarkesville on our way back to Athens. We ate lunch and had a great time shopping together. The best part of Christmas is spending time with all the people you know and love! But the most important thing to remember is that Christmas is all about Jesus, and that was really made clear in the sermon we heard at Athens Church the Sunday before Christmas. Today we were back in our home church for another great Christmas message and beautiful music, another part of Christmas I especially love.
I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday as well. 2008 has not been the best of years, but that shouldn't stop us from enjoying the simple pleasures of life, especially the people who mean so much to us! Please keep in touch in the coming new year.
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