THESE ARE THE GOOD OLD DAYS: Christmas in Pictures

I'm home alone tonight as Mom is buying groceries while Lydia is at the movies and Dad is on a duck hunting trip. The house is in a disarray as the tree has been taken down but nothing else really has. There are a few boxes piled up by the back door and my Christmas presents are piled up by the love seat. Suit cases are out around the house as we're getting packed for a quick after Christmas trip to Abilene early in the morning. All of this is the sight of a Christmas come and gone. On an upbeat note we have many pictures to remember such a special time and it is my joy to share them with you now. Enjoy!

Our Christmas started last weekend on a little family weekend get away to the Gaylord in Grapevine. They have a fabulous ice sculpture exhibit and Mom hopes to make it a tradition to visit every year. Took so many pics that I had to be pick and choose. These are my favs.

Posing in front of the pretty (and warm!) fireplace

Lydia, Dad and I in the ice cave

The whole fam on the way out of ICE. Everything in this picture is ice, including my hands at this point.

Christmas Eve came and after the candle light service at church we went to Carthage to Uncle Jake and Aunt Lacy's for the Jones Christmas.

Mom and Aunt June looking on as Lydia opens her goodies

Aunt Lacy recovering from knee replacement and checking out her new slicer

We always open presents from Mom and Dad on Christmas Eve night. In our earlier years this would just be a few gifts as Santa would visit during the night. Now this is all of our gifts from them except for a few stocking goodies on Christmas morning.

Lydia and I with our treasures. I got a lot of teacher stuff and Lydia got a few things for her room and other various things she asked for.

Dad looking on as Mom digs into a gift

Dexter finally got the Santa that has been in his stocking for the past few weeks. He violently rips the stuffing out of any stuffed toy he gets and is content with playing with just the skin until Mom finally throws it away. Santa was still fairly stuffed in this pic but his remnants are laying beside me now wet, tattered and completely empty.

On Christmas day we headed back to Carthage to the Getsay's for the Thomas Christmas. We had a great lunch and opened the presents that our Secret Santa had selected for us. Aunt Kim had me and I received a beautiful jacket and more teacher stuff. She did good!