Christmas Finale - CedarRock

We really got together on New Year's Day,

But I back-dated this post a day anyway.
For when I send this blog to print, we'll be able to read,
about ALL the Christmas gatherings this year with family.

We gathered after church all together at the farm,

to have a great meal and open gifts at the barn.

It was a mild, relaxing day with little time on the road.

For we enjoyed our Christmas travels, but it was nice to stay close to home.

The kids' gifts had a "theme" this year.  Sam's began with a book about all the animal sounds.  We have really been working on that lately.  So far, he's really good a what a duck, a kitty cat, and a lizard says.  His next gift was "Sam's First Deer," a singing six-point deer with light up dimples, just like his.  Wonder what his last gift will be...

Cameron's gifts were all monkey themed to match his new room.  Monkey pajamas, a talking/flipping monkey, and a monkey pillow pet for his new big boy bed.

Dad really likes themed gifts.  They get him really excited.

Kimmie reads a quick story to the boys.
Their attention span is short, gotta change state often.

Ethan and Evan laugh about the funny stories they
made with their new MadLibs books.

Somehow I didn't get any pictures of Kayden and his new TAG reader he got.  It has a magic pen and several cool books to read, a perfect gift for the newest READER in our family!

Cameron snags Kimmie's chapstick and shares it with Sam.  You know, to be as
rough and tough as these boys are, they sure to do love chapstick and lotion...

We are a family of outdoorsmen (and women), and it has become tradition for PawPaw and Kimmie to purchase the grandkids a lifetime Sportsman's license for their one-year-old Christmas, which leads me up to Sam's final gift.  This year was Sam's year!  Now, Sam has a hunting and fishing license to hunt in Tennessee for the rest of his life.  No renewals.  No expiration dates.  Pretty cool gift huh!?  He (and his daddy) really thought so too.  Thank you Kimmie and Pawpaw for a wonderful Christmas this year!

Christmas 2011 - Mississippi

When we woke Christmas morning, another trip we would make.

To visit our family in "Sippi the state."

Breaker, breaker 1-9, "Wonder-Wanda" come in,

This is "Speeder" to "K-bug" What's that, come again?

For the whole two hour drive this is what we would hear,

While we practiced using Kayden's new walky-talky gear.  

From our car to theirs, back and forth we would talk,

"Tiger Pride" to "Innocent Passenger" Hey, watch for cops!

Til finally "Sparky" said, "I see someone's house,"

"Whopper Lover" to "K-bug," "We are here!  Over and out!"

It's quite the miracle how our family keeps getting bigger and bigger every year, 

but we all still manage to fit in Grandmom's living room on Christmas Day.

After several rounds of gift-giving, Sam is getting the hang of how to open his.

Thanks Uncle Allen and Aunt Donna for the hoodie blankets.  They are a hit!

Brayden loves Iron Man, and my boys love their game tables!
Thanks Aunt Becky and Uncle Lee!

Sam learns how to "transform" a robot.  

Actually, I think he just wanted Bekah to hold him.

Grandmom took a shinin' to the gag gift of dirty Santa.  

She will look great wearing this to the garden this summer.

JJ made several homemade gifts this year.  For Sam, she made this jacket complete with stegosaurus spikes down the back.  I should get some sewing lessons from her.

Kayden, Cam and Brayden each received handmade superhero capes.  

I'm sure somewhere there's a picture of me at this age playing 

on this same water tank with that same big smile.

Super "C" and Dino-boy wearing their gifts from JJ.

And, it wouldn't be a proper departure without "the grandad wave" 

to see us off on a safe trip back home.

Next stop, home.  Well, actually Nani's house again to spend the night and break up a long drive, then back home the next morning.  

We clocked a many a hour in the car this Christmas.  My boys came home with more gifts than they know what to do with.  It would be easy to get caught up in the schedules and shiny packages.  However, it was the car rides, this time, where we celebrated the real meaning of Christmas most.  We sang every Christmas hymn we knew, and did I mention Evan has the voice of an angel?  We sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.  We gave thanks for the greatest gift of all and the fact that we have lots of family and friends who choose to celebrate HIS birth with us.  

Christmas 2011 - Alabama

To sweet home Alabama, ready or not, here we come.

For Christmas at Nani's is second to none!

She was ready and waiting there with Papa Ron,

For the Burtram's and Mersing's to hurry up and come on!

More presents were waiting when we arrived,

but first a group picture of the grandsons, all FIVE!

But posing these boys is a tough thing to do,

And after much effort, here's the best I could do!

At Nani's house, whoever has on a Santa hat helps hand out the gifts!  

My boys and their servant hearts...

Sam tried a new technique, claiming gifts by sitting on them.

All the gifts are handed out and we were ready to open.  

Why yes, that is Southern Miss winning their bowl game in the background.  

Go Eagles!  SMTTT!

Ethan was thrilled about his Alabama pajama pants.

Kayden, on the other hand, was not so thrilled about his Tupperware box.  

He almost went to bed without seeing what was actually inside.

Cameron had the biggest gift under the tree....

Sam's gift was a singing, dancing, musical instrument playing Elmo, just perfect!

It turns out Cam got a tricycle, Kayden's "Tupperware" box was filled with new 

binoculars and a set of walky-talkies (which would come in handy on the next road trip.)

 Elmo was a big hit, but Sam immediately 

took the drums and microphone for himself.

Cameron was so excited about his helmet, he went ahead 

and put it on before we could get it out of the package!

 But, perhaps the best gift of all, was Michael's Auburn hat and coffee mug given 

to him with gritted teeth Christmas love from Papa Ron, the avid Alabama fan.

At Nani's house for Christmas Eve we would stay,

then it's back on the road to Mississippi on Christmas Day.

Christmas 2011 - The Cabin

We loaded the truck and headed East,

to a well-hidden cabin and a fine Christmas feast!

With the GPS set, nothing could stop us,

from our game of Dirty Santa in our Christmas pajamas.

The cabin was beautiful with plenty of room for all,

exploring caves, family games, we had a ball!

 A first in the Smith family traditions, we (well, Grammy) rented a cabin for us all to stay in for the holidays.  The cabin was actually a renovated mill.  The old water wheel was just through these doors.  There were so many rooms to explore and play in, we got lost frequently.  

The front porch overlooked the water and valley below.

Kimmie helped Cam and Sam try out all the cool stuff on the porch.

My "thinkers" went straight to the Lego table in the
balcony play room and began creating things...

While the "do-ers" went straight to the bedrooms to play on the bunk beds.

The cabin even had a crib for Sam and this adorable wooden bassinet rocker.

Grammy said she didn't have any Christmas pj's, so the Burtram/Mersing 5 picked out these for her to wear to play Dirty Santa.  She loved them!  Ethan and Evan finally got those footie pajamas they had been wanting.  Score one for Anamana, and thanks!

Another score for Anamana on the broom for Sam.  He LOVES brooms, now he has his own (and will quit using mine.)  Sam also wore the Santa suit this year that has been passed down from Scout, to Kayden, to Piper, to Cameron and now Sam.  

The whole family gathers to play Dirty Santa...

Cam and Sam decided this bed was just right for them.

The next morning, we went out exploring.  (We actually took a midnight cave walk the night before, but I didn't get any pictures.)  Anyway, we saw the chickens on the farm next to our cabin.

We walked across this bridge.  Doesn't this just call the names of a house full of adventurous boys and their heart-attack prone mothers?!  So narrow...no hand rails...just keep calm and breathe.  Being a boy-mom can be hard on my blood pressure.

The beautiful waterfall view on the way to the cave...

These pictures don't do the cave any justice since they are black in the background, but we are standing (sitting) in front of a huge cave opening that winds all the way through this mountainside and comes out on the other side of the property.  Just gorgeous.

Ethan and Michael went into the cave as far as they could see, but we later found out it went on much further.  Where's our spelunking gear when we really need it?!

Posing in front of the water...

With so much to do, there was no time to nap.  But, when you're only two, lack of sleep is bound to catch up with you sooner or later.  For Cameron, it was at the table eating his chili when he finally couldn't fight it any longer.  Think he was having any fun there?

We so enjoyed our time at the cabin and wished we could stay longer.  There was so much to do and explore.  What a wonderful way to spend some really neat quality time with family.  Hopefully we get a chance to go back sometime.  Thanks Grammy!

Time for another road trip...