Christmas Day 2011

Christmas Day was laid back for us this year since Kevin had to work day shift (we usually run all day it seems). We were lucky enough to have his company until 11 AM! That made me so happy because I had really gotten myself down knowing that Paisley may not awake in time for Daddy to see her reaction to Santa. Kevin and I got up like it was a normal work day hoping Paisley would too. The alarm clock went off at 5:30 AM and up I got to take a shower. Kevin jumped in after me and Paisley awoke not long after Kevin got out. She wasn't quite ready to get up but we kept telling her that she needed to get out of bed to see what Santa brought. I'm not sure that she really understood until we made it to the den where she saw all of her new toys. We captured this on video and I am going to try my best to load it so that y'all can see her reaction. She was so very excited and her reaction made my day! Paisley checked out most of her stuff, opened our family gifts, we got her dressed and off we went to give Aunt Sister her "joke gift" from Kevin (I forgot my camera) and then we headed to Me-Maw and Paw-Paw's for Christmas breakfast and more gifts. That was our day, Kevin headed out for work and Paisley and I stayed home to play with the new toys and rest up for the rest of our Christmas vacation! We are so very blessed! Hoping to blog the rest of our very busy December soon (if you aren't already tired of checking out pics after this post)...we did so much! Santa ate all of his cookies and his Reese cup brownie and drank most of his milk!

Our tree with Paisley's new Minnie's and Mickey that her Grandaddy Allen and Great Grandma and Great Grandaddy gave her on Christmas Eve (that's another blog post).

Santa came!

The very 1st thing she spotted was her purple DS and talk about excitement! Big Cousin Tucker has a DS that she loves and has been asking for so Santa thought the Purple Leapster Explorer was a better fit. She still calls it her purple DS and that's the only thing she ask Santa for! She is enjoying it very much and is doing very well with the 3 games she received!

Trying to take it all in!

Every single time we go to Walmart (before Christmas) she ask for 2 things...a bike helmet and the other you sill see below! Santa remembered this...so a princess bike helmet she received!

She has spotted her fish! She loves the fish when we go to Walmart! We ALWAYS have to check them out! Santa remembered that too and brought her the closest thing to a real fish...it really does look real and swims around!

Look how excited she was!

And here's the other thing she looks at every time we go to Walmart....a princess microphone!

Playing her DS!

Daddy and Paisley and Santa too were very good to Mommy this year!

Helping Mommy open her gifts!

Now it's Paisley's turn! She wasn't that interested in what was inside...she just wanted to open every one's gifts!

Daddy was in shock...a signed MVP Dale Murphy of the Atlanta Braves Jersey! Now to get a display case!

Excited about going outside to see what Santa left!

A "My First Trampoline"! She LOVES this!

Paisley trying to get Winston to come on in and play at Me-Maw and Paw-Paw's...I don't think he had quite woken up yet!

Claire and Paisley discussing what they got from Santa!

Christmas Breakfast!

Baby Tripp...his very 1st Christmas!

The Lionel train around Me-Maw and Paw-Paw's foyer tree was a huge hit this year anytime a grandchild was around.

All the presents around the tree before the chaos began!

Reed getting ready to open gifts...all smiles!

Reed loves Baby Tripp too!

The Benson's on Christmas Day!

Claire and Winston checking out Tucker's gift!

Paisley in her bag of gifts!

Tucker opening away!

Claire opening her Barbie Doll...she LOVES Barbie Dolls and when I gave her a birthday gift the beginning of December she looked at me and said "where's my Barbie Doll"? SO guess what...we gave her a Barbie Doll!

Winston loves trains so we gave him at travel Thomas the Train track to carry on his Winter vacation the week after Christmas!

Reed checking out his tool box/ flashlight from Me-Maw and Paw-Paw

Paisley in her princess attire from Me-Maw and Paw-Paw and Aunt Mandy...she LOVES it! You will see quite a few more pics in my post of her all dressed up!

Baby Trip got his block Christmas Tree with his name, birthday, birth weight, etc that Me-Maw made just as all the other grandchildren have gotten!

And here's the princess again...isn't she adorable!

Claire and Paisley talking about their princess attire!

The Princess is getting sleepy from all the morning excitement!

My sister always plays "elf" in handing out all the gifts!

Mom (Me-Maw) got a Nook color...is she excited or what!

Paw-Paw got ski bibs and ski clothes for his winter ski vacation the week after Christmas!

Winston and Paisley playing with his train!

Paisley loves Baby Tripp too!

Paisley trying on her apron!

I told you she loved her princess stuff!

I LOVE these pics of her all dressed up!

Dinner and a Movie on Christmas night...her choice!

She had to try on her bike helmet and yes I had to attach the free bike bell that came with it!

Getting all prissed up at her vanity set!

The Legendary Santa

Just before leaving home all dressed up for Santa!

Waiting in line before entering Santa Land...look at the excitement on their lil faces!

The professional shot with her lil "cheese"!

Posing with the Snow Queen...it wasn't until after we had visited Santa that I realized my camera had gotten on the wrong setting so that's why many of them are fuzzy!

Look how proud she is to be sitting on Santa's lap...this is when she looked over at me b/c she knew I had my camera!

Trying to remember what she was going to tell Santa!

She looks like she was wondering why Santa was squeezing her so tight...I LOVE this picture...I think it's so sweet!

Tucker and Reed's turn...poor Reed! Looks like it had Tucker a bit worried too!

Posing with the bears after seeing Santa!

All changed and ready to go to Bass Pro and Uncle Harry and Aunt Peggy's 50th wedding anniversary celebration!

But wait...1st we must ride Santa's sleigh coaster!

The Saturday after Thanksgiving we made our annual trip to visit The Legendary Santa. This was the very 1st time that we had been on a Saturday so we knew that we would probably have to wait. We arrived just after they opened the doors but there was already a line so we didn't get to see Santa come down the chimney, I want Paisley, Tucker and Reed to see this at least once while they are small children. I just remember this being so amazing as a child! The kids did pretty well and we only waited an hour. It was not our 10 and 15 minute wait in years past but I still won't complain since my sister and I waited 3 hours plus as children waiting to see The Legendary Santa! Paisley was so excited waiting and as we got closer she was still excited! She talked with the Snow Queen then ran right over to sit on Santa's lap! They snapped a picture with a smile and then she began to look at me since she knew I had my camera and forgot all about what she wanted to tell Santa. I snapped my pic and went back up with her to help her remember what she wanted to tell Santa! We then waited for Tucker and Reed, Tucker wasn't so sure as he got closer. Tucker and Reed spoke with the Snow Queen and were great until Whitney sat Reed on Santa's lap! He was not happy at all! Whitney went back up and held Reed and he was immediately just fine. Tucker told Santa what was on his list and helped tell him what Reed would like too. As we left, they discovered that the Santa coaster was running so since it was a nice day, Kevin went back in and bought 3 tickets! They thoroughly enjoyed their ride. Then it was off to Bass Pro for lunch and then my Aunt and Uncle's 50th wedding anniversary celebration.

I do still exist!

Hello all! I know it's been awhile since you've heard from me...I DO STILL EXIST! We have just been crazy busy with very little free time in our schedule! I know many of you can relate! I have so much to blog about...we had a wonderful Thanksgiving, hope you all did too! We've had a visit with the Legendary Santa, my aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary celebration, the Franklin Christmas Parade, Lunch with Santa, and the Children's Christmas Cantata which was Paisley's very 1st and I am so proud! And of course our schedule doesn't get any better so I will have much more to tell you about! Hoping to at least blog what I've spoken about this week! Merry Christmas to you all!