Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We had a wonderful Christmas! On Christmas Eve, we had dinner with our dear family friends the Richards...my other parents! We went to church at 6:30 with all the Grandparents...very special time. The girls did very well at church. At the end, Jessi yelled "Bye Bye Bye Bye Bye Bye" to the Archbishop. She was very disappointed that he did not even turn around. Afterwards, the girls, Keith, and I rode around to look at Christmas lights. We saw Santa riding on the firetruck. Jessi burst into tears and Laney kept saying, "Can we go home now?" So much for love for Santa! We got home and put out the cookies and milk for Santa. Laney put her reindeer food in the front yard (of course, she was afraid that Santa was out there and did not want to go out). For the love! Then we all snuggled in Laney's bed and read a book. In the morning, the girls actually slept in. We all raced downstairs to see what Santa had brought. The girls were so tickled with everything. It was so great to see them so happy and into every gift they opened. Laney could have opened gifts in 2.5 seconds flat. Poor Jess didn't even open some of her gifts; however, she really didn't care. She just played and played as the morning went. Laney was so excited to hand Keith and I gifts. Of course, she was all about opening them herself. I think the big hit was the dollhouse that Santa brought for the girls. They have loved playing with it. Jess, of course, loves the wooden toilet. Figures! You gotta love that girl! They both received kazoos in their stockings. They have been playing all kinds of tunes. Laney also received a keyboard from her Great Grandma and Grandpa. She has played it constantly...she actually has a little melody. She definitely gets that from the Browder side! Dinah and Papa Shake came over after we opened our gifts. Let the gifts continue! The girls squealed when they got there. Tucker about wet himself! GG and Papa came over as well to enjoy brunch! It was a fantastic morning! After a round of family naps, we regrouped for dinner at Dinah and Papa's house with family friends. After dinner, the gifts continued at GG and Papa's house. Laney thought she had died and gone to heaven. Adam and Erin had made princesses at Build-a-Bear for the girls. They were thrilled! After much fun, the girls collapsed into bed that night. Mommy and Daddy collapsed as well. So many wonderful memories all in one day!