Lets Catch Up Shall We?

Its been awhile since my last post - so Happy New Year!

My busiest time at SDEA is the first of the year.  I work late most nights and am swamped until our student conference - therefore no blog posts from me till now.  So, lets catch up...

Warning long post with lots of pictures!!

Christmas!
With three families - we have a lot of traveling to do at Christmas!  So, Michael and I decided to do our first married Christmas together a few days before.  We had a night at home in sweats, made dinner, watched Polar Express and swapped gifts.

We started our night with the most important thing -  reading the Christmas story - the birth of Jesus!

My stocking had DVD's and a Steel City Pops gift card!

I got a purse that I LOVED and a new straightener!

Michael had some cd's, stuff for his car and his hair

Polar Express by the tree

 

I got Michael a new pair of shoes and jeans

Our travels began with my mom's side of the family in Jasper.  We had fun with the kids making pictures...

He is so much fun

And so cute!

A sweet sweet boy

Michael and Ella decided to get into it...

We then headed to Michael's parents in McCalla for his mom's side of the family.  We had a great time playing Dirty Santa and hanging out with everyone.

Michael's aunt & uncle - Bill and Alisa 

Michael's mawmaw - she is so sweet

Michael's dad, Terry- little dirty Santa trading going on

Michael's aunt Janice, mom and aunt Alisa

We gave mawmaw a picture of the family from the wedding - she loved it!

I love her expression looking at the photo

The next morning (Christmas Eve) we opened gifts with Michael's family.  I have loved being a part of the Mayfield family.  They have welcomed me in with open arms!

We got Michael's mom - Debbie - a vest - she loved it!

Elizabeth and her friend, Dan.

Elizabeth, Michael's sister, is such a precious woman - I have really developed a sweet friendship with her.

Michael's dad, Terry, he was fun to watch open his gifts - his reaction to all his gifts was tons of excitement!

We had the opportunity to visit Michael's grandparents, Mimi and Grandaddy on Christmas Eve.  There are such precious people. 

We gave them a picture of the entire Mayfield clan (minus one cousin) from  our wedding.

Then we made the track back to Jasper for my dad's side of the family.  We were back and forth all weekend but it was fun seeing all of our families!

We always open a few gifts on Christmas Eve...

Ella loved her Cabbage Patch Kid named Ella

Brandon was reading up on his flag football set

One of the gifts Michael and I got them was the Children's Storybook Bible

 

Uncles are always harassing this guy...

Ella can read her name now, so she was finding all of the gifts with her name on it...

 

Tracy got a new vaccum

All the guys got step ladders

Its fun with kids on Christmas Eve.  Ella and Brandon put cookies and milk out for Santa and reindeer food out in the yard for Rudolph and Co.

 

We are all ready for Santa!

 

  

 

  

Testing out the new bikes!

Michael and I got $ for our summer cruise!

Ronald got a hunting mask

Brandon had asked for an iPod touch.  Well, Santa decided to hide the gift under after everything had been opened...the excitement on this little guy's face when he found it under the tree was priceless!

Christmas lunch - yum!

After lunch we headed to my mom's for Christmas dinner...
My mom surprised us and decided to dress up like Mrs. Claus - needless to say the kids loved it!

Everyone from our family got wedding pictures or wedding books.  Might as well get our $ worth out of our pictures! :)

 

Brandon got a guitar - Michael showed him some chords

Needless to say it was a busy, but fun filled time with our families.  We are so thankful for them and most importantly for the birth of our Savior!!

First Married Christmas!