ARE YOU READY???

FOR A PICTURE OVERLOAD?? Because that's exactly what you're about to get! Someone told me at school the other day that they couldn't believe I hadn't done a Christmas post yet! Well...I've been putting it off because I knew it'd take me F.O.R.E.V.E.R to download all the pictures I wanted to post! We had a wonderful, crazy busy Christmas! We always do, but this year it was a little different having to pack up the whole house everytime we went somewhere...but it was soooooo worth it! Harper had a wonderful Christmas and she loved, loved all her wonderful gifts! She got several baby dolls and she would just squeal at the top of her lungs waiting on her daddy to get them out! Then, she got a dog that talks and sings...oh my! You could've heard her a mile away! She was so excited!

After Christmas with our best little friendies, our next Christmas was with my family. My mom gets up on Christmas Eve and cooks a huge breakfast. It reminds me of when we went to my MaJean's when I was little. The past few years it's been good...but now, with the girls, it's perfect! It feels so nice sitting around a big table with the whole family having fun. Here are a few pics from there...

Maddie got really quiet and went off into my old bedroom. We didn't know what she was up to and this is where we found her! ha:)Aunt Wendy and HarperMaddie's gift from Poppa and GrannaOur gift to Madelyn...but she didn't want to be that close to Harper lolThe infamous dog from Uncle Ryan and Aunt Wendy...she LOVED itI said this was the photo of the year! CRACKS ME UP!

We always just go comfy to my parents' house, then we get ready and go have Christmas with my mom's family. It alternates every year between her sister and brother's house, and this year it was at her sister's. We had such a good time. The adults draw names and we buy for all the kids. Harper got a crawling baby doll that she just loved along with some blocks and other sweet clothes and things. She racked up!

We had to have a little photo session before all the fun began...because that's just what they do! ha:) Here's great grandmother (NaNean) with her great granddaughters..But they'd rather play with each other than take picturesNaNean with all the grand- and great grandbabies..NaNean and her babies...The soon to be newlyweds with their picture mama gave them...Then the "real" fun began...yeah right! The lights kept flickering throughout the night, but then they went off for good...for a good while! lol It wouldn't have been too bad, but my cousin and Emily's fiance are quite the pranksters! Everyone who knows me knows I am a huge scaredy cat and absolutely hate Halloween! Well, they went back into the back bedroom and put on Halloween masks! I.JUST.ABOUT.DIED!!! lol Seriously, I ran in the kitchen and told my aunt to make them stop! They were laughing hysterically of course! So, anyway, once they quit picking on me, I had to feed Harper cereal...in the dark! ha:) Not an easy task! But we made it work.So after all that fun, we decided to head home since we have at least an hour drive. So we came home and crashed and got ready for the next day! WHEW!!!

So, now for Christmas...we had to be at Brandon's parents around 8:30ish, so we had to get up E-A-R-L-Y, so we could do our Christmas before we left.Finally got those stubborn stockings hung....ha! :)Then it was opening time! We had so much fun helping Harper open all her gifts. However, I don't have just a whole bunch of pics because Brandon was busy videoing the whole time! lol He had to use our new Christmas present! lolCan you tell it was early? Harper got lots of goodies....a sippy cup, some plates, some clothes, books, a bathing suit, a cell phone (that she loves like her momma!), a pearl necklace, and her two big items from Santa..

A toy box to store all of her goodies...And somewhere to sit while watching Mickey Mouse..I know this year it was more for us than her, so I tried to get her stuff that she needed also. Like our house is tiny....T-I-N-Y, if you didn't know, so we needed the toybox for storage!

So after opening all of our gifts, we headed over to Brandon's parents house. Again, Brandon had to try out our new toy, so we don't have any pictures from over there either. His parents bought us a video camera for Christmas so we could capture all the fun things Harper is doing these days! But, we are still learning how to use it! lol I love it! So, I'll have to get some pics from Aunt Randi and load them and blog even later about that!

After that, we headed to Brandon's grandmother's for their Christmas! I also enjoy this because we get to see some of the family that we don't see that often! But it is crowded so we have to move from place to place to visit with everyone!

Grandmother Fuston was so excited to see Harper...So was Aunt Linda...And Aunt Lillian....but Harper was interested in Stephen too...Then Harper got around and visited all the little girls too! And Sally even got to feed her...

After there, we had one more stop....are you counting....yes that's FOUR places on Christmas day! This time we had Christmas with my dad's family at my parent's house! We had finger foods and played games and had so much fun! It's always hilarious playing games w/ my family...my mom tries to get out of playing and then the rest of us...well...you just have to be there! ha:)Todd and Tiffany got each of the girls the Fancy Nancy Christmas book! I love Fancy Nancy so I think I was more excited than anyone! lol

This is Harper's new thing and it drives me nuts...but it is kinda funny, and of course the grandparents let her do whatever she wants!

Afterwards, we went home and C.R.A.S.H.E.D! We were all so tired so we slept in the next day. I always love to go out and see all the specials the day after Christmas and I had wanted to be at Wal-Mart at 6 or 7 the next morning and yeah...that didn't happen! ha:) But we did go later on in the day and found a few things!

And so, the end result of Christmas (and honestly this isn't even all of it)....Say it with me....ridiculous! lol But she is very loved so in turn, she has a lot of stuff! And, I promise, it didn't look near as bad once I got it all organized and put away! But, I'll have to admit, for the first few days after Christmas, I was going a little crazy with all the stuff we had laying everywhere!

And on to a few things that were pre-Christmas...

I LOVED our Christmas cards this year! A girl that's going to school for photography did our pictures, then designed our cards for us....love them!

Front...Inside on top flap...Inside on bottom flap...And on the back...

And, since we had to make room for baby in our small house, all the "extra" stuff had to go outside! So, since Brandon doesn't really use his office as an office, I decided to turn one corner into my sewing/wrapping area! Needless to say, it was a crazy mess during Christmas...

And then there was all the cooking that takes place during the holidays....

Oreo suckers that were to.die.for....And then, as you can see, my fridge was packed with all kinds of goodies...casseroles, turtle eggs, veggies, and more...oh my! lolAnd, last but not least, Annabella gave Harper a plate to write her letters to Santa on and I love it! Since Harper can't exactly write yet, I wrote it for her...but she told me what she wanted! lol

Don't you just love everything Christmas? I just hate it when people say they're glad when it's over or that it seems like a chore...that's such a shame! It's all in what you make it and I promise...I'm like a kid at Christmas! I love everything about it...the decorations, the yummy treats, the gifts, the wrapping paper, the lights....E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G!

Sorry this is so long, but I just had to share! I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas!

xoxo, Kara C: