A Tender Tennessee Christmas

So, Pat had big plans this year for Christmas. He wanted to surprise my family and show up in Tennesse unannounced. In order to pull this off, we did not tell Brennley until this moment (in the picture) when we woke the kids up and put them in the car at 1am on December 23rd. Brennley was so confused when we put her in the car and kept asking what was going on and where we were going. When we told her Tennessee, she was still a little confused and thought we were going to California. It took her a while to wake up and understand everything. She was so excited to see her cousins and grandma & grandpa.

Brenn did great in the car. She had a blast playing, reading, coloring, and listening to music. 

These were the best moments for McKay - sleeping. He is not a great traveler, but we all survived.

McKay with his cousin Zoe. I did not realize how much McKay loves babies, at least this particular baby. He would not stop hugging and kissing Zoe the whole time we were there. He would walk up to her, bend down and giggle then proceed to smother her with love. he has lots of love!

Brennley could have spent every moment running around playing with her sweet cousins in Tennessee. She had so much fun with all of them. THANK YOU!!!

We were so lucky to spend Christmas Eve doing the nativity program at Geoff & Kate's house. They were so kind to invite us to this spiritual event. Kate provides costumes and parts for everyone and we sing the beautiful songs about our Savior's birth. I loved it!

Brennley with Grandpa & Grandma Lifferth

My sweet sis, Shauna (playing Mary), cousin Will, cousin Julia, and beautiful Aunt Kate in the background.

I think Brenn looks a lot like her cousin Emma, who also provides 99% of her wardrobe through hand-me-downs. Thanks Emma!

Christmas Eve - what a blast! We had too much fun with Josh and Grandma wrapping presents and hanging out. The top hat Pat is wearing is Josh's - he is so stylin! He wore it to a formal dance. We love Uncle Josh and his flower scrubs! Haha!

Christmas morning! Ahhhhh!

Pure excitement!

Our sweetie pie! On Christmas Eve, Brenn and I went on the front porch at Grandma's house to see if we could see Santa's sleigh. And, guess what? WE SAW IT! It had landed on someone else's house only a few blocks away! Brennley got the most serious expression on her face and ran in the house to tell Josh, Grandma, Grandpa, Pat, and I that we needed to go to sleep right away! She ran right to her bed and went to sleep. It was so cute and hilarious!

Santa brought a new bike for Brenn!!

Grandpa Lifferth helping out.

McKay's front end loader! He loves this toy and he played with it for a long time Christmas morning!

Trying out the bike in Grandpa's driveway. With her special new dolly that Daddy surprised her with before we left for Tennessee. 

I was so lucky this year. Pat made me a dry-erase board (he made the beautiful wood frame with two drawers at the bottom). I love it. We had so much fun being with family for Christmas. I can't wait to see family again. We love Texas, but sure do miss our families.