Coon Family Christmas

Tuesday, after our adoption finalization, my mom's side of the family celebrated Christmas together.  It was a wonderful celebration as we celebrated our little Family Day!  My cousin, Clancy, hosted everyone in her home for lunch and to exchange gifts.  This family laughs a lot!  And we play a lot!  So we spent lots of time doing what we do best before lunch. 

Susu and Millie Janalee

Uncle Howard (my mom's brother) and Millie Janalee...she loved his beard!

The men gathered in Jack's "man cave" while the ladies and Millie Janalee visited in the kitchen and helped Clancy make finishing touches for lunch.  Jack is a fireman, and he was recently nominated to appear on Mississippi Firefighters Memorial Burn Association calendar .  I'm not sure exactly what the name is.  He was featured in March, so we all spent some time admiring his picture too.


I don't think this is from the calendar, but it was on the association's page.

Daddy, Dustin, and Uncle Howard in the "man cave"

Aunt Patsy, Susu, and Millie Janalee visiting in the kitchen

After a delicious lunch of yummy finger foods, the gift-giving began!  We usually don't go too overboard.  The cousins have always exchanged gifts.  But this year...oh my!  I suppose once a new baby enters Christmas festivities, things change.  Ha!  Millie Janalee was very blessed with lots of cute clothes, a teeny tiny bracelet to match one I received, and other fun goodies.  Including even more hairbows!  I've heard it said, "The bigger the bow, the better the mommy."  Hahaha! Well, if that's true...poor "big bow Millie Janalee" has a great mommy.  Hehe!  The rest of us received some fun gifts as well.

Dustin in his new toboggan

Fun jewelry



Millie Janalee's cute new bracelet to match mine!



Millie Janalee loved her new clothes!

The rest of our afternoon at Clancy's revolved around Millie Janalee...as you can imagine!  Ha!  Clancy hasn't had a chance to play with Millie Janalee in a while, so she enjoyed lots of one on one Christmas cuddles and playtime with her!

My sweet thumb sucker!  Love it!

Clancy and Jack love their special ornament from Millie Janalee!

 OH!  The photo shoots!  There were some major photo shoots going on, and there were lots of extra hands to get our sweet girl to look at the camera and smile.  My personal favorite...Uncie Bucket!  His tap dance/Irish jig was just the ticket to get Millie Janalee's attention!  Haha!

"What in the world is Uncie Bucket doing?!"

"Aunt Clancy" showing Millie Janalee the pretty angel ornaments

"I know just how to wrap these people around my little finger!  Hehe!"

"Yep!  It's MY first Christmas!  Everyone look at me!"

Bless her heart!  Some day we will have to tell her the world doesn't revolve around her.  But not today.  Today, the world does revolve around her.  Haven't you heard?  Ha!  I am so thankful for extended family who loves our daughter just about as much as we do!  Such special memories with special people!  Thank you, Lord, for these blessings...and many more!

Clancy, Millie Janalee, and Aunt Patsy

The Coon family Christmas originated in a family home in south Jackson.  In a neighborhood that is now a little unsafe.  In a living room and kitchen decorated with the latest in 1950's decor.  With two loving adults creating memories for their family.  The Coon family Christmas originated with my Nonnie and Pops.  Things have changed as they got older, and last Christmas was certainly marked by the loss of our Nonnie.  But, our love remains the same.  We were hit suddenly with my Pops' admission into a geriatric psych hospital for a short stay to regulate his medicine at the urging of his doctor.  We were sad that our Christmas would not go as planned, but we were determined to make it work.

I dare any nurse to try to put limitations on our family Christmas as we all (all 9 of us) marched into the locked floor with gifts and bags.  The signs warned us that bags were to be taken back to the car.  Hmmm.  That didn't work for us.  Honestly, my mom had called ahead as he was admitted to be sure we could celebrate with him.  So, we were allowed in with our gifts in tow.

The gifts were nice, but not nearly as nice as the sweet new baby we brought to his room.  "Oh my goodness!" were the words spoken by my grandfather as he eyed her sweetness.  He watched her, held his hand out to touch her, and rubbed her little feet during our entire visit.  I'm not sure he knew exactly who she belonged to, but he knows he loves her.  And I love that!

So, we didn't enter his room two at a time like the rules said.  We didn't leave our bags in the car like the sign said.  We celebrated!  We celebrated LIFE...Pops' life, the life of his first great-grandchild, and the life of Christ! 

What's a Coon family Christmas without celebration!?