New Year's Eve (a.k.a. Nye Family Christmas)

We always celebrate Christmas with Jason's family on the Saturday after Christmas. This year it fell on New Year's Eve. I think I had Jason take me, Charlotte, and Henry home around 9:30pm. He, Chloe, and Sophie stayed until 11:30pm. It was a fun, long day, and we just couldn't quite make it until midnight.

Aunt Susie helped Charlotte open some of her presents.

Noah opened his gifts... then helped with everyone else.

Here he is helping Grandpa.

Henry Jay was taking in all the chaos. Just last year on this day we let Chloe share the news that we were having another baby. My how time flies!

Sue with her Hobby Lobby gift card. She has become an avid scrap-booker.

Jenney and Joe (Jenn was checking out Joe's gift card to Bravo! and Joe must have been explaining something to someone.)

What kid doesn't like to play in a box?

Let's just close you in there, Noah.

Look at that face! Isn't he just a doll? Precious!

Every year we take the same family photos. This is Sue and Dick with their grandchildren (there are 13, but Brad and his wife Danielle were not able to make it this year).

The whole big gang

Mom and Dad with their kids

Now just Mom and Dad (I am SO blessed to have them as in-laws!)

I love this picture! Something was obviously pretty funny. Mom was cracking up! (Christy was going through their Christmas cards.)

And finally, bunny ears

Happy New Year, everyone!

Snow!

We finally got a little snow! Too late for a white Christmas, but pretty nonetheless.

Christmas Day

Our day in pictures...

I took 99, so feel lucky that I'm only posting 18. Although, if you don't want to see my pictures, then quit looking at my blog! :-)

Waiting for us to let them downstairs... love Chloe's expression!

Listening to Jason read the Christmas story from Luke

Chloe made sure that Pupcake got a Christmas present too.

Checking out what Santa left: a movie, a few books, a stuffed animal each (Santa stuffs the stockings and we buy them three gifts).

Henry's stocking was not quite as full as his sisters' this year.

Charlotte ready to open her big gift...

The Barbie dream house!!!

Henry Jay enjoying his new toy (it helped entertain Cooper too)

Chloe and Sophie's "big" gifts were laptops. I realize that this might seem over-the-top and extravagant (and it probably is), but they were the most inexpensive little laptops we could find and will be used for school too. Judge us if you must.

Jason opening his gifts (notice his "Christmas" pajama shirt: an Apple t-shirt)

Sophie getting creative with the bows

Papaw joining in

Mom was excited about her movie.

Uncle Tom with Ruby and Charlotte

Mom bought all five girls a Hearts for Hearts doll. They are a product of World Vision. "When you buy a Hearts For Hearts Girls doll, a portion of the purchase price is donated to children’s causes in those countries."

My Grandpa Hampton holding Henry and Marilyn holding Cooper (and my dad in the background holding Pup)

Wow, that's a bright flash!

Anna and me with Grandma Harrod

Christmas Eve

This year on Christmas Eve Jason and I, our kids, Anna, Tom, Cooper (Audrey and Ruby spend Christmas Eve with Daddy Roman), and Mom and Dad went to the 6:00pm candlelight service at LifePoint Church. It was a beautiful service! After church we went to dinner at Steak 'n Shake. Perhaps making the girls try to sit still in a restaurant after sitting still through the church service was not wise because they were a bit squirrely. And I probably should've fed Henry before we went because he ended up being VERY hungry and therefore a little grumpy, and I ate my food at record speed. Once we had survived enjoyed our dinner, we all headed back to our house for snacks, games, and A Charlie Brown Christmas. By that time Audrey and Ruby had joined us too. This year we decided not to have Mamaw and Papaw spend the night since we would all be getting ready for church the next morning, then we ended up not going after all. Anyhoo... It was a lot of fun to be together on Christmas Eve (as evidenced by all the big smiles)!

We actually made it to church early enough to take some pictures!

One more picture (in the sanctuary this time) before the service

I wanted to have a picture of Henry Jay too... maybe next time I'll even take his seat belt off. Geez!

Anna and Mom at Steak 'n Shake

Chloe, Sophie, Charlotte

Me and Jay

Dad and Tom

The Nye kids in their snowman jammies

Christmas Cookies

The girls spent part of the morning decorating Christmas cookies. I know, nothing like waiting 'til the last minute! But we'll enjoy them this evening when my family comes over after church.