Christmas Day 2011

It is tradition that Uncle Larry joins me, mom and dad for Christmas morning breakfast.  We have done this since Jade and I were very young.  The last few years we have been blessed to add Nana and Mike.  Recently, we even added Linda, Richard and Rochelle. 

We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast complete with breakfast casserole, biscuits, bacon and gravy.  Nana and Mike went to Donna's after eating to visit with Brandon, Candace, Kaylee, Brielyn, Blake, Linsey, Paisley and Breagan.  Linda and Richard went back to McCalla to see want Santa had left for Cameron.  Rochelle and Sushi were in Huntsville with his family.

Mom, dad and I opened gifts.  We all received Kindle Fires and they shocked me once again.  I received a GORGEOUS master bath cabinet that was designed by Mr. Wentzell and everyone at the shop helped build it.  I also received 3 Pandora charms, Alien perfume (complete with my name engraved), Wii games, CDs and a 10x makeup mirror.  I gave mom and dad several joint gifts along with their traditional custom calendars and some individual gifts.

We headed to McCalla shortly after opening presents to meet up with Casey, Lindsay, Cameron, Nana, Mike, Uncle Larry, Linda, Richard, Sushi and Rochelle. We all received several nice presents and just enjoyed being with each other.  I surprised mom and Nana with hummingbird paintings (nope, I didn't paint them).  We all surprised dad with a "Prince Charming" t-shirt from Cameron. =)

On the way home, we stopped off at Wentzell Cabinets so that I could see my cabinet in person. 

I AM SO BLESSED.

Christmas morning

Cameron

Mom getting her hummingbird picture from me

Nana getting her hummingbird picture from me

Dad and his Prince Charming shirt

Me playing with Cameron's castle =)

New Master bath cabinet, granite top and framed mirror from mom and dad

Christmas 2011 with Presley Stephens

What a wonderful time of the year!!!

I got to see my niece Presley on December 18 to give her Christmas presents from mom/dad and me.  Mom/dad gave her Baby Genius DVDs - she loved them :)  I gave her footed PJs and a princess blanket.  A traditional gift for all my nieces and nephews is a Hallmark ornament for their tree.  I started Presley out with the Madame Alexander doll ornaments.  Below are some fun pictures of Miss Presley.

Christmas services

Mom, dad, Nana and I met Kathy Fish, the night before Christmas Eve, at Church of the Highlands for their "A Highlands Christmas".  It is a beautiful service complete with singing "Silent Night" by candlelight.  BREATH-TAKING!

I wanted to help get food ready this year for Christmas day, so I prepared 2 breakfast casseroles and a ham on Christmas Eve.  After packing mine and Roscoe's stuff for mom and dad's, I got ready for church service at GFBC.  I met mom, dad, Nana, Linda and Richard at church.  We enjoyed a beautiful service complete with fantastic music from my orchestra friends. =)

After church we headed to Nana's for dinner.  Dad and I took Roscoe to mom and dad's first.  We had salad, lasagna and bread for dinner. It was delicious.  Then it was time for a serious game of Mexican Train.  Johnnie and Donna joined us a little later for their dinner.

After a few rounds on Mexican Train it was time to head to mom and dad's to get ready for Santa, HA!
We were blessed to have Linda and Richard spend the night with us. 

I made stocking for mom and dad - a tradition I started several years ago.  Mom and dad (Santa) made stockings for me, Nana and Uncle Larry.

I am so blessed to have a wonderful family and I thank God each day for them!

Family Christmas 2011

Tradition is very important to me and mom/dad.  Mamma Mae and Daddy O started a tradition years ago that we all got together for Christmas.  This includes the Birmingham, Hayden and Huntsville families.

Mom and dad have carried on this tradition since Mamma Mae and Daddy O went to heaven.  This Sunday was the annual Family Christmas!  As usual, we had awesome food and desserts.  We have some excellent chefs in our family.

Family Christmas is even complete with Santa!  Enjoy some pictures from the day!

1, 2, 3, 4 (Cameron yelling)

Nana and Mom

love this picture!

Ro, Lindsay and Santa

Santa

This way Aunt Connie...

Cameron was so excited!

Santa and an Elf

GFBC Orchestra Christmas Party

I was able to spend Friday night with some of my favorite people - GFBC Orchestra!  Our party was held at Janelle's moms house.  They had a beautiful spread and had ornaments for each of us.

John attended the party with me and we had a great time!  We play 'White Elephant' or 'Dirty Santa' and as luck would have it John was the first one to steal a present!

I am so blessed to have met such a wonderful group of friends!  God is good ALL the time!

Me and John

my gift I came home with thanks to The Strickland's

Me and my BFF

Our ornaments

Angela, Sam and I being silly

Christmas came early...

Just before Thanksgiving, mom and dad surprised me with an iPhone!!!!!  They wanted to give it to me early so that I could get used to it and have it while in Disney.  This allowed me to leave the work phone (blackberry) at home and I wasn't tempted to check work e-mail. 

It is AWESOME!

I already have the empty box wrapped and under my tree so that I can open it Christmas morning.

Thank you mom and dad!!!!  I love u!

Disney 2011

The Sunday after Thanksgiving and the Iron Bowl -- it was time to see MICKEY MOUSE!  Lindsay, Casey and Cameron left for Orlando on Saturday.  They were patiently waiting for Nana, mom, dad, me, Linda, Richard and Rochelle to arrive.  We had a 6:50 am flight on Sunday morning!  OUCH!!

We met them at the hotel around noon and headed to Epcot!  We were able to get on the Disney's Dining Plan for free.  It includes the following each day: 1 snack, 1 counter service (meal, drink and dessert) and sit down dinner (meal, drink and dessert).  Not sure how I am going to act not having a dessert 2 times a day now, HA!

Our 1st dinner was the night we arrived at O'hana's (my fav) and it was just as good as I remembered.  Monday, we went to Magic Kingdom and I saw Pluto!!!!  Before we left, we saw Santa!!  He was amazing and talked to Cameron for a while.  After taking a picture with Cameron, he offered to take a picture with all 9 adults and Cameron.  Bonus: he had Nana sit on his lap too =)We had dinner at Saana (Lindsay's fav). 

Tuesday started out at Animal Kingdom, very early b/c Lindsay though it opened at 8 -- nope try 9.  Somehow Rochelle and Lindsay got me on "Mt Everest" roller coaster.  My stomach wasn't the same all day. :(  We returned to Magic Kingdom to have dinner at Cinderella's Castle.  The dinner was amazing and several princesses came out to speak to Cameron. All the ladies were given wands and the guys were given swords. That evening we attended Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party complete with cocoa and cookies. 

We started Wednesday out at Downtown Disney to order our Christmas ornaments and do a little window shopping.  Dinner was at Askersur's Royal Table in Epcot completed with more visits by Princesses.  I was wearing a BAMA sweatshirt and Belle asked me if that is the school where they said, "Roll Tide"?  LOVED IT!!!  We spent Thursday at Hollywood Studios and Cameron was able to see several characters (including Mickey)!  We missed our dinner that night and had it rescheduled it for Friday. 

We had breakfast Friday morning at Chef Mickey's.  The food was yummy but I think we were all excited to see Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Pluto!  After breakfast, we went back to Magic Kingdom to let Cameron enjoy the rides that were more on her level.  We finished Friday night at Coral Reef which is a nice restaurant with a beautiful view of an aquarium.  

Before leaving Saturday morning, there was one quick trip to Magic Kingdom.  Linda and I went to shop, because we had a 20% coupon that was good until noon.  Lindsay and Rochelle wanted to ride the "Runaway Mine Car".  Linda, Rochelle and I left the park at 1 and met up with mom, dad, Nana and Richard at the hotel and boarded the bus to the hotel.  After a plane delay, we finally got home around 8:30.

It was a wonderful trip full of memories that I will never get.  Seeing Cameron's eyes light up when she saw the princesses or the characters is something that will stay with me forever.  Spending time with my family is one of my favorite things and I was able to be with them for 7 days in the "Happiest Place on Earth"!!!  We all had a great time.  We are tired.  But, TOTALLY worth it!

Iron Bowl 2011

I hosted Iron Bowl 2011 this year!  This allowed me to stay with Roscoe even longer before leaving him for a week while I went to Disney.

Watching the game was me, mom, dad, nana, Richard, Linda and Rochelle.  A little after halftime, I was glad to see that Angela, Blake, Sawyer and Sam stopped by to finish watching the game with us.  Did I mention, they are Auburn fans???  We had a good time and no feelings were hurt :)  They surprised me with an Alabama snowman wreath and gave mom/dad a football platter along with 2 mugs.

After Bama won the game (42 - 14) it was time to leave my baby boy.  I was sad but knew he was in good hands.  Jamie, my cousin, would be staying at the house with him while I was gone.  So thankful that mom suggested I ask her to stay with Roscoe.

two words:  ROLL TIDE!!!!!!