We Still Believe

In our family...we still believe.

Party of Two...Does Russ look a little sleepy?  Ha!

That's right!  Us kids range in age from 22 to nearly 30, and we are still believers in Santa!  Since Christmas fell on a Sunday this year, Kristin and Lee live in town, and Russ came straight in from work Christmas morning...there is no group picture on the stairs in our pajamas like past years.  In fact, we opted to see what Santa brought AFTER church.  Morning people we are NOT!  My mom did cook a wonderful Christmas breakfast!  Everyone came over for breakfast before church...including Russ who surprised me with an early appearance.

Smithites

Santa came during the night.  But, since he knew our plans to wait until after church, he was kind enough to find all the blankets in my parents' home to cover everything.  I love surprises, so I wouldn't even look with everything covered.  But, for those who did look, they couldn't see!  Ha!

After church, we were still full from such a huge breakfast.  We all met in my mom's office to prepare to see what Santa brought.  While there, we had a few surprises.  Last year my mom gave my dad some recordable books of The Night Before Christmas for him to record his voice reading the story.  This year, the married children (me and Kristin) received our recorded stories so that our children will always have my dad reading The Night Before Christmas!  LOVE IT!

Me, Kristin, and Daddy

Maw Maw had some special surprises for Baby J too.  I already mentioned it in my five month post, but I'll revisit in this one too.  She presented us with the baby pillow all the grandchildren used at her home when we were little, and she also gave us the baby fork and spoon we used at her home too.  They are Raggedy Ann and Andy!  So cute!  She bought some gifts for the baby.  She gave Baby J a Christmas outfit for next year and a generous contribution to his/her adoption fund.  She also presented us with two Cabbage Patch dolls...a boy and a girl.  She had us read the adoption creed aloud so that she was here for "the adoption."  I think she is worried to death that she won't be around by the time Baby J comes.  I just know she will be.  She may be praying more than any of us! 

Maw Maw, me, and Russ

Once the special presentations were made, it was time to gear up for Santa!  Rhonda was here this year to watch all the excitement.  She stayed with Kristin and Lee for Christmas.

Rhonda and Lee

Look what Santa brought!

Our Santa loot

Kristin's stash

Part of Dustin's stash

My stash

Lee's stash

Santa still comes to see my mom!

My dad must have been good this year too!

Russ's pile

Farley's goodies

Everyone was super excited to look through our gifts!  My parents had already taken a sneak peak at what Santa brought during the night.  They warned us that Dustin was "Santa's favorite" this year...you know, since he's still not married!  Ha!  We all had more fun with Dustin's gifts than anything!

Dustin on his Comfy Sack

Have you ever seen a Comfy Sack?!  If not, you are MISSING OUT!  This bean bag (which is not made of typical "beans" used in bean bags) is 8 feet in diameter and 3 feet deep!  ENORMOUS!!!

We can all comfortably fit on this Comfy Sack!

Russ thought it was awesome!

Another fun surprise for Dustin was this incredible Cruisin' Cooler!  I'm amazed at the things people come up with!  What's a better way to ride around Mississippi State's campus on game day that to ride on your cooler!?  Not only that...there is a second cooler that attaches to the first one.  It's a train of coolers that he can RIDE ON!  Jealous!

It moves fast too!

When Dustin's corner was full of family members, some went back to look through their own stockings and look closer at their fun gifts Santa left.  We must have been very good...or at least fooled Santa into thinking we were good.  Ha!

Lee and Russ

Kristin showing Rhonda her Santa

Mama having a blast watching our excitement and making sure clothes fit

Santa always finds toys that are just right for Farley!  This tiny dog house serves as a "toy chest" for Farley's toys.  This will be left at Dendy and SuSu's house, but Farley took every single toy out one by one and placed them strategically around the room.  Plenty of options!

He was very excited until Russ started shooting him with his new marshmallow gun!  Boys and their toys!

I am very excited about what Santa left for me!  I had more fun surprises...including another NJ Woods painted canvas for the baby's room, clothes in my new size, and cute reindeer to add to my Christmas decor collection.  So happy!

Do I look happy??

The rest of the afternoon was spent playing with our new toys and putting things away nicely into our rooms or cars.

Farley loves his basketball!

Brodie LOVED racing around the yard with his gigantic candy cane bone!

Since Russ missed our Christmas Eve fun, he had his very own Christmas!  We all sat around the living room and watched him open gifts!  No pressure Russ!  Ha!

The Comfy Sack was a perfect spot to surround him with his gifts!

Kristin and Lee told Russ that "Every doctor needs a nice garment bag."

Russ is also ready to stay warm on the big guys' snowmobile trip!

Our baby's first ornament from Kristin and Lee

I gave Russ a Bop It!  I absolute LOVE that toy!  Russ had never played with one.  Can you believe it?!  What a sheltered life!  We have had so much fun trying to beat the other's score.

I also opened my gifts from Russ.  You remember that he had already given me my main gift the night before.  I was surprised to see he had a few happies!  Now, because you and I are so close, I'm gonna share the fact that I've been dropping hints about needing more unmentionables (as Russ calls them).  Seriously.  I even mentioned it during a Sunday family lunch at China Palace one day.  I picked some out, and Russ took the liberty of wrapping them up.  Each one individually...

So funny!

I also love to see Russ's wrapping!  Some are wonderfully done, and some look like this...

The shopping bag stuffed with random tissue!  Ha!

And, no Christmas would be complete without Dustin going outside to play with his toys.  I told you it went really fast!  Just watch his hair blowing in the wind as he drives his cooler down the street!  Ha!

Such a wonderfully blessed Christmas!  Our families always do too much for Christmas, but that's okay.  Giving gifts is something I absolutely love!  It's the thought of finding something that I know others will enjoy, seeing the smiles on their faces, or hearing their laughter.  Gift giving is one of my love languages.

However, we also take time to remember the reason we celebrate this wonderful time of year.  I'm so grateful for that itty bitty babe lying in a manger.  I'm thankful for the life He lived, and for the sacrifice made for me...and for you.  I'm so thankful that because of this precious gift, we have the opportunity to choose Him and spend eternity in Heaven.

I hope you and yours had a very Merry Christmas!