Are you ready for some Christmas pictures?

I am usually a good picture taker and like to capture events that are taking place. But I've never been a good photographer at Christmas. I blame that mostly on the fact that I am a spoiled rotten little girl (I admit it) who spends most of Christmas opening presents and don't normally have the time to take the pictures myself. Now ~ that will all change next year as I'm sure I'll be snapping away as Lily Ann opens her presents. But I got to be the spoiled little girl for one last time this year. So mom had to send me all these pics she took from our Christmas events.

The 23rd

My mother's side of the family gathers every year on the 23rd for unbelievably good food and a fun game of (not too) dirty Santa.

Chaos at its best.

Watching people unwrap and steal presents from each other. Fun family times!

I'm pregnant. I finally get a chair!

Granddaddy (or I guess he is Papaw now but he'll always be my Granddaddy) enjoying the game while Jessica and Angie play with Karson

Lucas's drill bits that Dad won but Lucas eventually went home with.... in addition to the man purse. Dad, did you want the man purse?

Lily Ann's future playmates - Mimi, Will, and Karson

My grandmother's tree. I aspire to be her... mostly.

Christmas Morning

Every Christmas morning my Grandparents come over to my parent's house. We all open presents and then my dad makes the best pancakes ever. EVER. Seriously. Those are some good pancakes. I think they're even better on Christmas morning.... just because it's Christmas.

Digging through our stockings :)

Opening the rest of my stocking while wearing my cool new shades. I know. So attractive.

One of Lily's many presents... her bathtub! Yeah. It's super cool. You should get one... you know... if you have a baby. Thanks, Grandma and Granddaddy. :)

Daddy showing off his new Gargoyles... taking him back to his policing days.

One of my favorite presents for Lily Ann: a Cabbage Patch doll. Lily's Mamaw and Papaw 'adopted' her for Lily straight from the Cabbage Patch Hospital, one of our favorite places. Her name is Nicki Lynn (My granddaddy wanted to name me Nicki. Instead he got my middle name: Nicole. Lynn is my mother's middle name.) and she was 'born' on December 25, 2009!

My grandparents got me a Coach purse ~ yes, a real one!! I sort of, kind of already knew about it. But I also got a Coach change purse to go with it that was a complete surprise! I love my Coach purse! I haven't carried it yet, though. I am saving it as an extra special treat for myself once I become a Mommy. :)

A Flip camera from my parents! Believe me ~ once Lily Ann arrives, you will be seeing a lot of videos from this thing! P.S. We got my parents a Flip camera, too. Haha!


Christmas Night

Each year we celebrate Christmas with my dad's side of the family on Christmas night. This year, Lucas and I offered to host at our house. We grilled burgers, ate lots of cheese dip, and munched on some good desserts.

Some of the young ones. And an old one. Sorry, Dale.

Hiding Out Keeping Busy in the Kitchen

Darrell and his daughter, Kortney, playing shuffle board

The Hosts

Yep. That's my dog. I'm such a proud mom.

And yesterday I told you I didn't have a picture of the outside of my house. Well, turns out my mom took one. Not a very good one (sorry, Mom), but a picture none the less. You can see my awesome new reindeer ($5 from a yard sale) but can't really see my door garland, wreaths, or porch decorations. It is something, anyway. And like I said before - it is still up. Yes, now it is January 6th and the decorations are still up. Is it late enough that I can just leave them up until next year now? No? Well, that reasoning seems to work for some people.