Christmas with My Family

We had Christmas with my family very early this year.... like two weeks early.  Brian, Thomas and I were staying in Tennessee for Christmas and Mom and Dad were going on a little trip over the holidays so we enjoyed a(n) way too short early Christmastime visit.

My parents, Mommy Bette and Pop, along with my niece, Ashlyn, got in town around four on Saturday afternoon.

We enjoyed family-time at its best.

One thing you must know about my family.  We LOVE University of Alabama football.  Exihibit A) in the photo below I am trying to get a photo of Mom and Dad with Ash and Thomas.  Mother is telling Brian about how current UofA offensive coordinator Kirby Smart is just a few years older than me and that his mother was an english teacher and Dad a coach at that same high school that Mom, Dad, Mendy and I graduated from. 

Thomas had a ball opening presents.  I think Dad got him really revved up, tearing all the paper up.

It was really funny, as Thomas opened things Dad would move them out of the way.  Thomas kept coming back to this one toy that Dad put under the buffet.  We were so afraid he was gonna bump his little head.

Ashlyn even let Thomas help open a few of hers.

Exhibit B) This was the Saturday night that the Heisman Trophy was awarded.  We were so excited to see Mark Ingram win Alabama's get their first Heisman.  While watching we (even Brian!) made plans to attend the Spring A-Day game- Dad, I'm holding you to it! 

I love this picture.  I just love Ashlyn.  She is growing into such a polite and sweet young lady.  She is so gentle and kind.  That night she slept on the couch.  It was her choice. I went into check on her and she if she wanted to come get in bed with me and she was snug as a bug.  She sleeps harder than anyone I've ever known, she always has.  The next morning she crawled in bed with me, Brian, and Thomas.  I'm sure we bored her to pieces watching Fox News Sunday. 

She took Thomas into the (I don't really know what we are going to call it- it was the dining room and now we've turned it into another living room because we are turning the living room into a play room) front room while Brian and I got ready for church.  Thank you Ash!

We had such a great time with everybody.  Being with you all makes life really good. I love you.