Ganna and Pa Paw: Christmas 2011

Christmas 2011 was a success I guess I can say. I think it was action packed all the way from the time everyone got here till the time they all left. I meant to get pictures in order but as you see, I failed at doing that and there is no order to them at all. The Christmas at the Cagle's started out with everyone going out to Air Tractor and enjoying a steak lunch served by Donald and then a treat for whoever wanted to take a ride in an Air Tractor. Jordan and the kiddos were the brave ones. Of course Morgan is up for anything there is to do. All of them thought that ride was awesome and I had fun watching them. We came back to the house for our family to open gifts and have our finger foods, which by listening to the girls, that is their favorite. The kiddos were really into opening their gifts this year so we let them go after theirs first and then we did ours afterwards.

Christmas Eve, my side of the family came over for the traditional turkey and dressing Christmas meal with all the trimmings. Morgan had wanted to hold hands and get in a circle and sing Christmas caroles all day so finally I said ok Morgan wants to sing Christmas caroles and we got that going. That was the most fun and heart warming thing I have done in a long time. Morgan went around hugging everyone and it made me cry. That will definitely be a NEW tradition around our house for each Christmas to come. After that each child opened a gift with pj's and a Christmas book in it (another tradition that Ashley wanted to start), so another new tradition it will be. Actually, I love traditions and always welcome new ones as we have had to give up a few of our old ones because of changes with the family and time involved, but that is ok as long as we add new ones.

The next morning Santa Claus came to visit. Morgan and Kennedy were the first to wake up and we enjoyed watching them with their Santa. Then Miss Leighton joined us and much to our surprise, she crawled right over and started playing with her new little toys with a smile on her face. Cooper was a sleepy head that morning but finally woke up and everyone joined him in his new big tent and they spent a lot of the day playing there. We all got dressed for church and made it home and enjoyed enchiladas for lunch. The boys added a little hunting in and Morgan decided she wanted to try that too. Everyone ate what was left of the food before heading home that evening. I can say there was not much of anything left, but that was good because that way I didn't have to worry about cleaning it out and throwing it away. I seemed to get teary eyed when they all start leaving (just can't help myself) I think it is a little sadness and then a lot just pure exhaustion. That evening Donald and I tried to pull the trundle bed out and we were both so worn out that we didn't even have the strength to do it and had to call Jordan to come help us since they were still at the house.

Donald and Morgan got up the next morning at 6:00 and went hunting and I even got up and snapped her picture. Ashley and Jordan and Little Leighton headed out that morning and it was just Kennedy and me. Donald cameback to the house with Morgan and he took the girls back to Abilene that afternoon.

I can say that we shared lots of laughs, watched some good ole home videos, made new memories and I hope each and everyone cherished the time that we were together as family.

Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year.