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.