Christmas!!

Merry Christmas to all! Santa somehow fit this dollhouse in his sleigh and down our chimney without so much as a scratch. Santa was so excited about this "surprise" for Makenna, since she hadn't known to ask for it.
Makenna's reaction when she walked into the living room on Christmas morning was priceless. She walked confidently into the room, knowing exactly what she would find--exactly what she had asked Santa to bring her. Well, she looks at everything, then looks at me, and says, "There aren't any Barbies, Princesses, and Ponies." She had sat in Santa's lap and asked Santa for Barbies, Princesses, and Ponies. For a month, to anyone who asked her what she was asking from Santa for Christmas, she would say, "Barbies, Princesses, and Ponies." It was a given. Or was it?
At least, Santa, knowing how Makenna's smart little mind works, wrote her a note expressing how he wanted to bring her a surprise this year because he thought she would have so much fun with the dollhouse, guitar, and bouncer ball. That was all it took! After Makenna heard her daddy read the note from Santa, she was more excited than ever!
By the way, don't feel sorry for the poor child. Other family members filled in the request for Barbies, Princesses, and Ponies. Of course, Santa knew this all along.


This video cracks me up. I could have captured it a hundred times on Christmas day. She rocked out all day with that guitar.

About 1pm we started up my Mom's Christmas at our house (Purple House). Purple House is a great place to have people over. My morning sickness was pretty crazy on Christmas morning, after getting sick the night before, so I was not at my best hostessing. Oh well, we all had fun, and we're all family; so, it didn't phase Mom and Dean a bit to run to the corner store to get me some caffeine free Coke. Yes, that's right--Coca-Cola; Dr. Pepper, my all-time true love, is giving me the heebie jeebies right now.
P.S. We're Having a Baby in August!



After some of the best Sam's Lasagna I have ever made, we all moved to Uncle Steve's for Mom's extended family Christmas. We had lots of fun seeing everyone. Robin's fudge made my whole Christmas. The simple pleasures of a pregnant woman.......

Makenna has been walking with Daddy on his feet. Well, Makenna went over to Gerri and just stepped on her feet. Gerri, of course, was quite surprised! After I explained the game, Gerri was happy to oblige.

Not feeling well, I didn't get very many good pictures. I included this one because it is the only one I got with Amber in it. She is doing really well as a Creative Writing major.


ABILENE CHRISTMAS
Christmas Eve afternoon, the Smith clan all went to Aunt Peggy's house for the extended family Lambert Christmas. This is such a fun group. As you can see, Mark always enjoys getting together with his cousins. They are a spunky group!

We all know how hard it is to get a picture of Randy smiling. Well, ha, ha! I got one!

Makenna and Mark's cousins' boys have lots of fun together. The boys got light sabers for Christmas. I must say, Makenna looked a little jealous of their rowdy fun with the light sabers.




The Smiths celebrated Christmas together on Christmas Eve morning. We all had so much fun. It is nice to be able to let loose with one another. Blair and David left mid morning to search for a house in DFW. We are soooooooo excited that they will be living up here.

This picture of Paul and Makenna is probably my favorite of Christmas.

Makenna gives hugs to Neeny and Poppa.


The Smiths have a pool table at the new house. It is quite a hit! I must say, though, competition can get pretty fierce with this group with any game they decide to play.

We got to go out to Paul's for a while during the weekend. Makenna didn't really want to feed the horses after she got a good look at their teeth.


Makenna and Grandmommy get some hugs.


GIBBS FAMILY CHRISTMAS
We got to spend a day with the Gibbs family on Saturday, having Christmas at Dad's and at Meme and Papa's.
Meme and Papa's Christmas was perfect, as always. Papa cooked some, and he gave me a few sample bites before we had dinner. Well, Makenna got a little jealous of Papa's attention to me, so she asked him if she could have a bite. She loved it, and kept asking him over and over again for more. Needless to say, she stole the attention.


Makenna was coloring a picture the other day of a My Little Pony riding a scooter. She brought it in to me and said, "Do you think I can get one of these for Christmas?" She pointed to the scooter. I said, "I don't know. What do you think?" She said, "I think Santa can fit it on his sleigh. It looks pretty little." Well, Meme and Papa hooked her up with the scooter. She was pumped!!! She also loved the purple ballerina outfit. Of course, if you ask Makenna if she is a princess, she will say, "I'm a princess, ballerina, cheerleader."


Uncle Gary holds the babies.




Taylor was trying to flex to be funny while putting together the scooter. I don't see the muscles at all! ha, ha!

Ryan's favorite toy growing up was a yellow metal, yes, metal Tonka dump truck that Meme and Papa gave him one Christmas. Ryan pushed it everywhere--- backwards. Ryan actually wore out the first metal truck, and Meme and Papa purchased him a second one. So, it was only fitting that Meme and Papa get Branson a plastic (they no longer make the metal ones, big surprise) Tonka dump truck for Christmas.


Christmas at Dad's--- An always fun and, most of the time, mildly violent event.

Taylor and Megan found some soft, cheap boxing gloves at Big Lots and passed them around to all of the male members of the family. Round after round of boxing match ensued. I was pretty confident in my man's ability in the ring, as he has the longest reach. He said that he used the "Ali" approach and just kept a straight arm fist right in the face of his opponent at all times. Really, I'm glad that Mark is also quick because Ryan nearly took Mark's block off a couple of times. Like I said-- "mildly violent event."

Taylor's a lover, not a fighter. It is so obvious in this picture. Dad is the meanest one of the group. I didn't get a good shot of him. This was just the precursor to the dart guns that came later, compliments of Ryan and Laura.

Baby Branson was looking so sweet that I just couldn't resist. He is not even seven months yet and is crawling like crazy all over the place. I remember Ryan being a crawler.

Deb got the babies precious matching Christmas duds.






Lastly, Makenna had her first real baby sitter during our Coaches' Christmas party. Since Neeny and Poppa moved back to Abilene, we had some searching to do for a good babysitter. This girl is an absolute sweetheart. Her name is Amanda, and she is the freshman in college daughter of a counselor at Mark's school.

Mark was explaining to Makenna that she would have a babysitter. Mark said, "She will play with you and have fun with you." He then said, "Amanda will play barbies with you and puzzles." Makenna said, "I thought you said it was a 'she.'" Mark said, "It is a girl." Makenna said, "Then don't call her "A Man." She cracks me up! Mark had to explain that the girl's name is Amanda.

Just yesterday Mark talked to coach Gober, and Tyler is wanting to babysit Makenna. Can you believe our flower girl will be babysitting our sweet thing? That makes me feel old.