Until Next Year...

I love a Christmas Tree.   I get so excited putting one up, decorating it and enjoying it all through the Christmas season.   However, today, it must come to an end.   I have taken down the ornaments, carefully wrappped each one up and neatly placed them in a box.   I know, there are very few things in my life that I am OCD about, but storage and my closet are two of them.   We will save the closet for another day!

 

We do not have a trendy tree or a designer tree, its more of a hodge podge of ornaments that have been given to us over the years.   When I say years.....seriously.... I mean years.   My baby's first Christmas ornament hung right next to Amelia's this year.   All of the ornaments are special.  I can recall who most have come from and about how old I was when I got them.  

As I was taking them off the tree today I took a few pictures of my favorites.

 I stole the green ball with the cross and Bible verse on this year at our Department Christmas Party.  Thanks Mrs. Pat!!!

Jeremy and I went to Gatlinburg and I bet you can't guess where we stopped???

Jamey painted this for me last year....LOVE IT.  Also, a very special ornament made by one of my students is in backgound.

The house my grandparents gave Jeremy and I our first Christmas in our first house.  I made the picture ornament at Sunday School when I was three or four.   I am digging the Pilgrim-ness of my dress....thanks Mom!!!

My girlfriends exchange ornaments each year.   I joke and say I have the location ornaments....NYC, NOLA and MS!!!

Memaw gave me this ornament her last Chistmas.  It always goes on the tree near the top.  

Of Course the day would not be complete without a little help from Meow.    Pick it up....He would pull it down.  You would think I would catch on ????

So we will patiently wait until next year and you can put your money on it that the day after Thanksgiving (because I despise Christmas up before Thanksgiving) that our ornaments and tree will be out and up and we will be enjoying them again!

***And if you haven’t noticed…I am having way to much fun with my camera!!!!

The Complete Rundown....

Mad Dash through Mississippi would be more like it!  We loaded up and headed out on Wednesday of last week and started the journey.  

We stopped at Jeremy's Aunt Susan's and Uncle Bruces for fireworks and bonfire.   We decided next year the children have to have name tags....I think there were only around 30!!!

 We finished the evening off at Granny D's and Poppa Marvin's house.  

We hung out there for the next day and had lunch with Marvin's mother.

After lunch we began making our way to Bolton.   We stopped by Papaw Shorty's and Granny Elouise's house for a visit.  

Amelia enjoyed her lunch in the high chair.  All of the Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren have used this chair! 

Bolton bound, we arrived just in time for a quick oranament swap with Kalee, Amanda and Mary Beth.  Kalee is preggo this year!!!  She is due in April.   I am so excited for her and Josh and so glad they are waiting to find out wht they are having!!!

We had our annual Christams Eve snow crab legs and hung out.  No Pictures of the food, but it was good!!! 

Christmas morning was spent at Woo and Pops.  Amelia loved her gifts, but the paper, bows and ribbons were the best part.   She wanted to eat everything. 

Lunch was at Nena and Grandy's with Mom's side of the family.   The grandkids played Dirty Santa this year.   It was lots of fun....can't wait to play again next year.    Maybe next year everyone will be a little meaner...

Here are the girls with there loot!

Oh!!! I almost forgot to mention the Wii.   Pops got a Wii.   It was a total surprise.  Mom went out on a limb....Lets just say that when we watched the news Sunday night, we had no idea of all the events that had taken place since Friday, because the TV had not been turned on.   We had been bowling, playing tennis, golf and even boxing.  

  

We forgot how competitive our family is.   I will not be surprised if next time we make the trip home, the furniture in the den is moved against the walls because Mom and Dad needed more room to play the Wii.   

We had a wonderful Christmas.   I enjoyed being around so many family and friends.   I took tons of pictures...so I got annoying!!!   Here is a link to all the pictures that I did not post.

 Okay...You Can Put The Camera Down Paige

Just a Preview.....

I think the smile says how much she wanted the Christmas Tree.

The outfit was precious....but the box was DELICIOUS!

Ribbons and paper and bows...Oh My!!!

Oh yeah....and the big kids got soemthing too......

We Wish You a Merry Christmas....

We officially kicked off the Holiday Season at our house today.   Santa's little elf (the ones who where the brown uniforms) dropped by to bring me my Christmas present!!!  Just be prepared for lots of pictures as I figure out how to work this thing!!! 

We decided to have our family Christmas here before hitting the road.   Amelia opened her gift.   She loved the paper...tried eating it, but was really interestin getting in the box.

She got a walker/toy that makes lots of noise!!!  WOOHOO!!!

After the excitement of opening gifts we loaded in the car to head to Zoolight Safari...I also wanted to test the camera out.

Amelia was in awe of everything.  

Deer in the headlights type of stare the entire time.

We had to turn and pose with whatever distraction behind the camera, so she would even look.

The "Alabama Snow"  she was not sure about.  

We enjoyed our trip to the zoo and a quiet evening together as a family.   The next few days will be a whirlwind of traveling and spending time with family and friends.   I would not trade it for the world.   I am going to enjoy the next few days and I will catch you in the New Year, maybe sooner.  

So from our family to yours.....We Wish You a Merry Christmas....And a Happy New Year!!!

The Hutchinson,

Jeremy Paige and Amelia

Curiousity Got Em' Both

We we have been busy getting ready for Christmas.   Don't worry, no one can peak at the gifts, Meow Meow is guarding them carefully

Amelia has started eating dog/cat food meat.  I couldn't help but notice that no matter what type of meat it was....it was all the same color.  

 

It looks aweful, smells worse and I don't even want to imagine how it taste.   Luckily we have found a few more appetizing combinations since the first sampling of dog/cat food umm I mean meat.

However, with the introduction of "meat"  we did find one  HUGE fan.   He comes running when the can is opened.   We are having a hard time feeding the moving target and keeping the cat out of the bowl and off the table!!! 

Someone has been very curious these days....Everything either goes in her mouth or she tries climb over or pull on it!!!

We are guessing that Meow feels he needs to thank Amelia for sharing her food?   No, not really!  We just felt like torturing the poor cat!!  The video would not upload so the pic will work.   This was right before she went for the tail!!    She really wants to be friends....really.

Happy Birthday Mollie!!!

Today my sister is no longer a teenager....she joins my brother and I as a twenty somethings. Really hard to believe that she is Twenty!

It has become a tradition that I call her and sing Happy Birthday to her on her phone.   I have rapped, done a country western version, even my own version of opera.....No matter the version they are all HORRIBLE!!! 

With all that said....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOLLIE!!!

A Good Laugh!

Here Comes Santa Clause

Don't ask me what I was thinking when we headed out to Bass Pro Shops to go and see Santa....apparently EVERYONE and their third cousin was thinking the same thing. I checked the Internet and the website said they were giving "speed passes". Basically you could shop and then when your time arrived, go to the front of the line. Just find an elf and they would give you your pass. Not so much....... Apparently this did not go over well with the hundreds of parents who didn't check the website and didn't know this fact........they speed passes were discontinued! (I am imagining a scene from a Christmas movie where everyone scrambles over the last toy, or Black Friday at Wal-mart)

We were there, Amelia was in a good mood, and Jeremy could wander while we waited. So we stayed. The line moved incredibly fast.....Disney should take note of the setup! Our attempt was successful, our picture is great and I enjoyed watching ALL the people.

We also made a surprise visit to Allen and Amanda's while we were out that way. They were in the Christmas spirit putting up the tree. We had a nice visit and Amelia really showed he smiley self.

With all her jumping lately, we decided to pull out the "Johnny Jump Up" So made my day. Enjoy the videos.....

6 Months Old!!!

Wow....time has flown. Amelia is growing and growing and growing and developing such a personalty. Not sure where she gets that from! So on her 1/2 birthday, I feel it is necessary to post a picture that in 15 1/2 years she will not be happy about can you guess which one....oh yeah...did I mention she really has the best little personality!

Happy Birthday !!!

To who you ask???? The Blog!!! It's Been one year since I officially joined the world of bloggers....oh, what a wonderful year it has been. I have enjoyed updating, ranting and just posting silly useless things for my enjoyment. I am glad many of you have come along for the ride. I love when people tell me that they keep up with is through the blog....hey and its okay if you read it and don't tell us....blog stalking is perfectly okay with me (I do it).

So, please, continue to snoop, stalk, browse, keep up, whatever you want to call it. I will continue to update the blog.

Thanks again for stopping by The Hutchinson's and stop back by soon!!!