and the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

Ok, not exactly but all the other traditional Christmas things!

We (me and Leigh) left Saturday after I got off work and went to Birmingham where we met Mom and Dad at the BJCC and all went to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This was my third time to go and I honestly LOVE it! I am so glad that I finally got to share it with some of my family and hope next year that Louise and Dirt can go too! They did drive up there and meet us after the concert and we all ate together and Louise left with us and we all went up to Mom and Dad's. Dirt had to work so he had to come back to Montgomery.

Sunday all of us went to church at the congregation where Daddy preaches, Trenton Church of Christ. After night services was the ladies party that Mom always organizes and it was so much fun! All three of us were glad that we got to be there for that!

Monday the five of us left (in one car might I add!!!!) to drive the fourish hours to Jackson, TN to have Christmas with my Mom's side of the family. It was good to see all of them and my Grandma really hasn't been feeling well lately and I think it did her a lot of good for us all to be there at the same time. When I get around to posting pictures (I know, I know) I'll post one that was taken while Grandma was playing the piano with Aunt Beth and Mom sitting on either side of her while we are all singing Christmas carols. I know that, that picture will always be precious, just as the memory will be.

Tuesday we left and drove back to Mom and Dad's, stopping to do that horrible, obligatory, pre Christmas Eve, last minute shopping. We finished wrapping presents and that's also when Dirt came up and met us. Way too late we all went to bed. The next morning was our Christmas!!!

Santa OBVIOUSLY wasn't watching too well, as we were all rewarded MUCH better than we deserved. I'll definitely be posting pictures of some of my gifts but I will tell you my favorite three: a new digital camera from Mom and Dad (it's so nice that it almost makes up for the fact that it was replacing one I just got LAST CHRISTMAS!!! ugh), some Rachael Ray cookware from Leigh, and a digital photo frame from Louise and Dirt. If you can believe it, that's just the beginning! We were able to pull off a HUGE surprise as we bought Mom and Dad a laptop and printer!!! Surprised would be an understatement! Theirs was DEFINITELY deserved though!

I left to come back here after Christmas because I had to work Christmas night, Louise and Dirt went to Dirt's parents, and Leigh went to Nathan's. That brings us to today where Santa has brought me some sleeping pills and twelve hours with nothing to do but sleep and nothing to disturb me!!! It was JUST what I asked for and JUST what I needed!

I hope all of your Christmases were just as wonderful and filled with all of your favorite things. Please remember police officers, firefighters, 911 dispatchers, doctors, nurses and all others that don't get to be with their families today to help protect and help you and yours. ESPECIALLY, our servicemen and women who give SO VERY MUCH to keep us all safe. Please keep all of these in your prayers and if you happen to see one today (or anytime really) please just tell them thank you. At work last night I had some random citizen call in just to tell us thank you. I can't describe how rare that is or how good it made us all feel.

MERRY CHRSITMAS to all and to ME a good night! (obviously day but that doesn't rhyme :^)