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Mama's Family Christmas

Christmas with Mama and Julie is always a huge highlight at Christmas. We do it a little early now that we have Henry and choose to be home on Christmas. Mama and Julie's family still do their exchange to each other on Christmas Day, but the ones to us and from us are ripped opened and enjoyed while we are in town. As you can see in the background of this photo...Randall is almost elbow deep in his Jelly Belly's. He was making all sorts of "recipes" with them and refused to share the good ones with us.

My pretty girl with her new red sweater dress. She loved it and wore it to church on Christmas Day with her knee boots. Mama said that Anna is me made over but looks just like her mother. Nothing brings me more pleasure than to know my sister is raising me! Hee Hee. She is a leader and not a follower. She is a wealth of knowledge and shares every bit of it with you! She also has great common sense and sense of style for a 7 year old. She is a lot like me and that is not all that bad, really. :)

The reaction from the twins when they opened their Otter boxes was priceless. Seeing pure excitement on their faces and hearing them exclaim about it was one of the best responses toward a gift I have seen all Christmas. Heaven knows they deserved it...sweet boys! This picture almost makes my aunt heart cry. I adore their hearts and smiles sooooo much.

If you gave this boy a stick he would have that same smile. "Smile Sammy" is shouted by all the girls for a reason...just sayin! (He doesn't read this. If he did I would be a dead Aunt Abby. HA!) My sister has done stellar raising these children. Samuel is such a cutie with his new Arkansas shirt. He also asked for waterproof matches and I think they actually excited him most. So funny!

Little Henry was a bit overwhelmed and unsure about all the ripping of paper, shouts of excitement and stuff...lots of stuff. He would take 5 baths a day to play with this new Elmo sub if we let him. He loves it and all the other things his Juju, cousins and Marmie gifted him.

Henry calls his Uncle Stephen "Bruder Seben" and I love it! I also love this "gift apron" Anna gave him. She found it in Mama's kitchen. Someone had made it years ago and mother thought it would be a great gift for Anna to give her Daddy. She couldn't wait until Christmas morning, she was so excited. He filled it up with all his goodies. Hilarious! I love Christmas with Stephen and the child-like fun he brings to the festivities.

We are blessed to have our Mama. She and Daddy did so well teaching us the real meaning of Christmas and to be thankful no matter what. Gifts are from the heart and love is not measured by money, things or presentation. We are teaching her 5 grandchildren the same thing and it is precious to watch. God is so good to our family in the valley and peaks of life.

Abby

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