Christmas with the Ketchums

 And now for our last and final Christmas celebration. We went down to Yazoo City the day after Christmas to celebrate with Michael's family. I guess I was "recovered" because I snapped TONS of pictures there! Here are just a select few to give you an idea of the fun! There are now 6 grandchildren at the Ketchum's from age 6 on down, so Christmas is madness, but FUN madness! The kids take turns opening presents. Its so fun to watch them get excited about each present.

Matthew starting out the festivities!

Clara Beth

Joseph checking out his blocks with Pops.

Kaylea and her new boots.

Andrew showing off his new toy! The boys put their present up over their head every time they opened something. So cute!

Thomas and Daddy opening a present.

Diving into his giant stocking from Nana and Pops!

Hanging onto his new truck!

Nana opening her super cute tote from Todd and Nicole!

Matthew and his birthday loot!

Michael and Andrew playing games.

Pops taking a snooze while Matthew plays his new DS.

The youngest of the Ketchum men!

All the grandbabies! (Andrew, Matthew, Thomas, Joseph, Clara Beth, Kaylea)

The Whole Burks Family Christmas

 Christmas night, the extended Burks family came to mom and dad's for dinner and presents. By this time, I was very tired and did not get many pictures. Here are some of the better ones I got. Excuse the shadows...

Luke was very excited to show off the shirts Uncle Stan got!

Thomas opening his present from Aunt Cindy and Uncle Keith.

Nanny and Pa opening a gift.

Thomas testing out Grammy's new personalized mat.

Thomas putting the wrapping paper on his head...because isn't that where it goes?

Sweet boy caught being mischievous behind the tree! Excuse that he's busting out of his outfit. It was bought in September, and he just barely squeezed into it by December!

Christmas with the Burks Juniors

 After Christmas morning at our new house with just the three of us, we headed to my parent's house for lunch and Christmas with them and Stephen's family. The kids were so funny. We had to make them open their presents, and they were much more concerned with what the other one got. Even though it was the same thing most of the time!

Digging in his stocking with Daddy

Starting to open his presents.

Distracted, and now playing with his packages.

Luke is letting his Daddy do all the work.

Thomas thinks this box makes a nice seat.

Thomas LOVED playing in the balls!

Helping Luke open his present.

The aftermath.

Checking out his new toy from Uncle Fatty, Aunt AE, and Luke

The best seat in the house!

Santa Clause Came to Town

 Santa came to visit Thomas! We had so much fun watching him discover all his fun new toys. We decided that we would participate in the Christmas tradition of Santa. Both of us grew up with Santa and looked forward to watching our children enjoy it. We haven't quite ironed out the details of how it will work as Thomas gets older as we want the focus of Christmas to be on Christ's birth and not on what Santa will bring. For now, he got 3 toys from Santa like the Magi brought 3 gifts to Baby Jesus and he got a stocking. The rest of the gifts picture are small presents from us. I would like to say that I am very proud of my shopping for Thomas. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the shopping of Christmas and wanting to get the most fabulous gift for your child. I shopping consignment sales early in the fall and purchased all of Thomas' larger gifts there for very cheap. Then I was able to order several new, smaller toys from us. I managed to get everything pictured (except the Elf on a Shelf) for less the $150.

Santa's gifts are on the right. The others are from us!

He loved these little blocks. We had to drag him away to look at his other toys!

Cute boy!

I'm gettin' outta here!

Garbage bags are way more fun than toys!

Can we do this every morning!?

Silly boy!

Decorating OUR Christmas Tree

 We moved into the new house the weekend before Christmas, so we got to decorate our very own Christmas tree as a family of three! We got a "new to us" tree which is much fuller, taller, and prettier than our old Charlie Brown tree. However, we don't have nearly enough ornaments to fill it up! AND I wasn't dragging all of them out for one week. So we just put up the child proof ones and a few special ones. I think Thomas had fun, and that is what matters!

Watching Mama hang the ornaments

Tasting the angel

Hey Blue Eyes!

Whatcha doin' up there Mama?

We got Daddy in on the action for the tree topper, an angel I made who knows how long ago!

Mommy and Thomas in front of the finished tree!

Thomas and Daddy reading the Christmas Story from The Jesus Storybook Bible!

McCrary West Christmas Party

 Every year my mom's office has a Christmas party at Burnt Oak Lodge (where I had my wedding reception). They are so sweet to invite us to attend as well. Here are the family pics from the evening:

Decorating Grammy and Poppa's Tree

Hanging the first ornament

Helping Daddy get the ornaments out of the box

Checking things out with TJ

Playing with an ornament

Observing the action with Poppa

Stealing an ornament while Grammy isn't looking!

Thomas and the finished tree!