Wonderful Christmastime

Wow! Christmas has come and gone in a flash!

Let me start out by saying, I have missed blogging. Life happens and you get busy, right? Of course that's what happens! Also, a warning: There are MANY pictures on this post. More than normal, just so y'all know. I could have done two different posts, but I wanted to do a 2012 recap in a day or two, so here we go!

Our house smelled just like a bakery a few days before we left for the South Arkansas Christmas trip. Russell and I made cinnamon rolls together. What fun it was! I mixed up all the ingredients, rolled out the homemade dough, and Russell helped me so much with the slicing and organizing, finishing it off, etc.

 Pioneer Woman is the best for sharing this glorious recipe. It truly is a labor of love, but SO worth it!

 In the middle of the process. This is noncaloric, just so you know. Ha!

It was nice to make ahead of time, then freeze them.

 Oh, let me interrupt this blog post to show you my Christmas nails! Not perfect, but I love this color!

Friday, we traveled to Jackie and Ricky's (Russell's parents), and spent time together. The interesting thing about the visit is there was not any electricity!

 Ricky did use a generator, which was enough power for a few things. Plus Jackie pulled off a great meal! We had apple butter pork loin, mashed potatoes, green beans, and macaroni and cheese! I told her that we should have ordered pizza! :) But it was SO good!

 Ricky and Jackie at dinner

 Look! The Christmas tree was lit, even without electricity! Thankful for generators!

 Russell was enjoying the "semi old-fashioned Christmas". So funny!

We stayed at my Mama's and BA's this year. Later that night we traveled to C-town!

 I had quite a few gifts to wrap. Mama is the queen of wrapping gifts, so I put her to work! I was her assistant, but didn't help much! I tried!

 I loved this pretty vintage wrapping paper.

 

Saturday, I got to meet up with a sweet and special friend of mine, Brittany.

 We went to high school and college together. I remember when we both started dating our husbands around the same time and telling each other about our dating stories! HA! Brittany is so sweet. I was so glad her sweet boy, Braden joined us, too!

 

Russell and I later ran to Walmart for a few last minute things, then he had a very special VIP request to go to Andy's. They serve egg nog shakes around the holiday time.

 He was very excited!

 We put together a few cinnamon rolls and delivered them. I loved this year's material with a big red bow and ornament.

Sunday night, we went back to Mag-town to have Christmas with Russell's extended family.

 Connie and George are so sweet. They are so happy about their new granddaughter, Eve! She was born right after Thanksgiving.

 Me and my love

 Phyllis and me

Now, Phyllis and I love to laugh. Everyone knows we like to have fun and just laugh together. It's quite hilarious!

 Jackie and Ricky with Belle and RJ

 Belle says "Merry Christmas! Woof!"

 Todd is Russell's best friend. It was so good to see him and catch up with him.

 

Christmas Eve

 Mama and I in front of the tree

 Russell and I went to FBC's candlelight service. It was so pretty.

 BA and Mama

 I am so glad I saw sweet Emily at church! She is one of the sweetest people ever!

 I loved making the breakfast casserole for us to have on Christmas day! I like that you can make it the night before. Easy!

 Russell helped me too and also made his fave-sausage balls! They were so good.

 

Christmas Morning

 Cinnamon rolls and breakfast casserole, anyone? I say this is a perfect breakfast!

 

Kelly, Eric, Logan and Lauren came that afternoon.

 Lauren with her gift. We got her a monogrammed blanket.

 Kelly with her gift! We got her a door mat.

 Eric loves Reese's cups. LOVES them. We gave him the world's largest Reese's cups. Ha!

 Lauren is so pretty!

 And Logan is handsome! We had steak for Christmas dinner. Yum! BA did a great job grilling them.

 Mama and Russell

 Lauren got tons of duct tape for Christmas. She made me the coolest purse! I love it!

 Kelly's sugar cookies. She should go in business. Heaven. Just heaven.

 Me with my Santa Baby!

 Mama, me and Kelly

 We were SO excited to see snow! Logan even made a snowball soon after the snow started coming!We were all so excited and giddy, we just danced around in it! HA!

 But it was quite cold, so Lauren and I snuggled under her blanket. Yes, we are silly. Oh well!

 Sisters in the snow! I love her!

Logan is a Lego Master! Lego King! He is so talented at building Legos! He made put this 1962 Volkswagen Van in 2 days! It was fun to watch him put it together.

 

It was fun filled and busy, but so good seeing family we cherish and love.

 

You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest... Isaiah 9:3