Merry Christmas 2010!!

The Meeks' family had a wonderful Christmas!! I realize I have "skipped" a year full of posts so I am going to try to update soon - maybe like a year in photos or something "simple"!

This Christmas started out like no other as it was the earliest we have ever put our tree up - my family thought I was crazy to put the tree up before Thanksgiving, but I couldn't wait. This was also the first Christmas that Drew and Mikayla have had trees in their rooms - Drew a blue one and Mikayla a pink one. Our family also met Holiday for the first time this year. Who is Holiday you may be asking? Our Elf on a Shelf! Drew and Mikayla had a wonderful time searching for Holiday each morning as he returned from visiting Santa at the North Pole. Another first for this year? A White Christmas for our family in SC!! We were over at my mom and dad's (also known as Mimi and Poppi) for one of our many family get-together's of the season on Christmas Day when the snow started falling. It was absolutely beautiful - breathtaking, really. The kids loved the sight of snow and had a lot of fun playing in it as it was falling. We also enjoyed a yummy dinner, and presents while there.

Leaving milk and a brownie for Santa!Look what Santa brought!He came!Drew's surprised face.Mikayla loves her Barbie Doll House!Sweet! Drew tries to figure this one out!

Once it started sticking, we headed home so they could play more. They didn't get to play much as both Drew and Mikayla were asleep by 7:00. I guess that's what happens when you are up at 5 am to find what Santa brought!! The favorites this year were an iPod Touch and PSP for Drew and a Barbie Doll mansion (that is bigger than her) and a DSi for Mikayla. Mommy wonders if they have really been that good?!?!

Christmas Day at Mimi and Poppi's with the Browns!Drew opens a gift. Mikayla (sitting beside my Grandma Nell, her Great Grandma and Uncle Jonathan) opens a gift.

The Saturday before Christmas, we had our annual get-together at my Grandma's house (my dad's mom). We enjoyed fellowship with family, finger foods, and presents. We had so much fun with the family, and these are memories we will always treasure!

Craig plays Drew's DS. Me and my sister!
My Grandma (Drew and Miki's Great Grandma) always loves her calendar we get her each year. In fact, she always requests it.Mikayla shows off her pretty necklace.Drew likes his sleeping bag.Mik likes hers, too! Drew cracks up at his Poppi dancing during Karaoke.

On Christmas Eve, we went to Mimi and Poppi's house for our annual Brannon get-together where we also celebrate my sister, Jennie's, birthday. We had hot dogs for dinner that my Uncle Ted brought from the Hot Dog Cafe. We enjoyed laughing and playing with Mimi, Poppi, Uncle Jonathan, Mindy, Conor, Jackson, Rylee, Aunt Jennie, and BJ. We also were overwhelmed with gifts, and we enjoyed the BEST "birthday cake" dessert pizza ever that my mom made! Daddy opens his gift from Mommy!Doesn't he look sharp?Uncle Jonathan, Mindy, Conor, Jackson, and Rylee love their gifts.Drew and Mikayla open some of theirs.Drew, Conor, and Jackson - my whole family can tell these two boys apart, including my own two children. For some reason, I have the most trouble with that. All I know is they are both sweet, sweet boys!BJ, Aunt Jennie, and sweet Rylee.Craig and Daddy having a discussion!Mimi looks on as Drew and Mik open gifts.Rylee shows off her Barbie - while she carries all of "Rylee's suckers".Mikayla (and Drew) are excited about this gift!Craig finally smiles for the camera!Rylee shows off her fingernails that Mikayla painted.Me and Conor (I think) are building a tower.Rylee was not a happy girl because she wanted my camera. I LOVE to see her do this - my family laughs because they say I was the "queen" of these tantrums as a little girl. I know that is so hard to believe...Craig tickles Jackson (I think).

Christmas morning after seeing what Santa dropped off over here, we headed back to Mimi and Poppi's to see what Santa left over there! We then brought all of our goodies home so that we could put them away before heading back for dinner.

Wow! Look at all Santa left for us at Mimi and Poppi's!

Poppi and daddy look on...Craig gets tickled as he opens one of the gifts Santa left for him at my mom and dad's house.

Today, the day after Christmas, we went to Greenwood to see Nana, Uncle Ovid, Aunt Susan, Katie Beth, Rob, Claudia, Uncle Chris, Aunt Julie, Haston, Uncle Jason, Aunt Angel, Belle, and Ella. We weren't sure if we would be able to go or not because of the snow, but we were fortunate that the roads were not bad. We were so glad to be able to make the trip! We enjoyed laughing and talking, a delicious brunch, and again were overwhelmed with gifts.

Drew and cousin, Haston. I loved that they were both in camouflage.Papa Fred, Nana, and Kylie The girls - Katie Beth, Belle, Ella, Mikayla, Claudia Grace - loved playing in Claudia Grace's room!

Christmas 2010 brought many firsts for our family, but it was also filled with the traditions we have come to love over the years. I am so thankful for the blessings in my life, beginning with my Savior Jesus Christ! He has given me a wonderful, thoughtful husband, a handsome, healthy son, and a beautiful, healthy daughter! I am also blessed with the best mom and dad in the world, and a mother-in-law who is precious! The rest of our family and friends are such a blessing in our lives as well! Happy Birthday, Jesus, and thank You for the greatest gift ever!!

I love, love, LOVE Christmas!!

I had taken the kids to McAdenville to see the lights the year before, but by the time we got there after waiting in line on the interstate, the lights had been turned off for the night. So, I promised the kids that we would go back the next year. So, one Friday evening in December 2009, after getting some supper, Craig and I took the kids to see the lights. I LOVE McAdenville and would go every year - we had taken the kids once before, but only when Mikayla was 1 and Drew was 3 so they really didn't remember it! It was so much fun to go back as a family and enjoy the beautiful lights and the beautiful night together. I think it is something our children will remember for a long time.
Sitting in traffic, waiting for our turn to enter, Drew and Mikayla were so patient!
My favorite house - I think this is beautiful!

The trees decorated on the lake are really pretty. This picture was taken by Mikayla out of the sunroof.

When we passed this truck, Drew had to get a picture of it. There were lights all over it and they were playing Christmas music from their stereo - very festive!!

One of the many Nativity Scenes along the way - this one is beautiful!!

We had so much fun, and I can't wait to go back this year!!

Christmas at Grandma's 2009

We always celebrate Christmas with my Grandma (my dad's family) the Saturday before Christmas. Last year was no different as we all gathered for dinner, fellowship, and the best part for the kids - presents!! My dad's side of the family is large and we all live reasonably close - Spartanburg, Inman, Boiling Springs, Chesnee, etc. with my Grandma living directly across the street from my mom and dad, but it is hard to get everyone together at the same time. Christmas and Easter is always a time where we can all be together! My daughter and her silly pictures - you can thank her Aunt Jennie for that! BJ, Jennie, Destiny, and Mik just "hanging out".
Jacob, Christina, and Drew love playing together any chance they get!

Some of the kids opening their cards from Grandma - yahhh for money!! Uncle "Shark", not Mark, Destiny, and Jennie having fun. My daddy always loves to aggravate the kids, hence the name, Uncle Shark.

Sweet Keyleigh and Destiny check out their money. I am always amazed by how much our sweet Mikayla and our sweet Keyleigh look alike. Of course, Keyleigh's dad - my cousin and I act a lot alike too, so we might be in trouble!!

My sweet Grandma watches as all of her "Great-Grands" open their cards from her!!

My daddy, his sister, and his sister-in-law (behind) have a pretty surprised reaction when my mom, my brother, my sister, Craig, and I (along with Drew and Mik) present my daddy with one of his Christmas presents (the one from all of us) - a 50" flat screen TV. It worked out wonderfully because Craig mentioned to me about getting that for my daddy, even if we had to get it ourselves, but when we called my brother he said YES. He had been thinking about getting daddy one by himself as well. Then, after talking to my mom and sister, we decided we would do this as a family!

Reaction #2 - We got him this time!!

Reaction #3 - we were really afraid he would be angry with us for doing this for him. My daddy has always been the one who has worked so hard to provide for his family - always putting others ahead of himself. He certainly never suspected this, and we decided to present it to him at Grandma's so that he would not be too angry (since we were, after all, in front of his whole family). My aunt KK and my Grandma are right there giving him lots of support as he takes this all in.

We walked the TV (well, my brother and my sweet hubby did) back across the street and we had to get it set up that night. My sister had written our daddy a sweet, wonderful, tear-jerker of a card to go with it, and my mom had made a beautiful red bow to go around it. My dad has definitely enjoyed this gift this whole year, and hopefully he will be able to enjoy it for many, many years to come!