More with our Holiday Visitors

Ok, these are a little out of order and way overdue, but I keep the blog as my "scrapbook" so I feel the need to post everything! We had a wonderful Christmas and it was even better because Dede came to visit. Dawn is my stepsister and after 3 years in Georgia we finally got her to come visit us!! The kids love when Dede is around! Of course we made a trip to DacKids.

This is what happens when Meme inappropriately grabs for something to hold on---poor Dawn!

Dede and Will reading his new book.

William loves to pillow fight with my Dad. Everytime they come visit them must spend at least an hour wrestling and pillow fighting. Meme gets caught up in the action too. My Dad, always comes downstairs exhausted trying to get a quick break! William also sleeps really well!They have a blast!

Meme & Papaw brought a big Mickey Mouse snow globe a few years ago. He would play the music over and over again! One time William sat on his and broke it so they brought us a new one this year. Maren loved it!

Meme & Papaw brought a mini Christmas tree with lights for their room. They also had 4 little nutcrackers. Will loves the nutcrackers. One day while he was taking a nap Walter, our Elf on the Shelf snuck upstairs and put the nutcrackers in bed with him!

Mae & Papaw spent lots of quality time together. He was the trooper who got up with her almost every morning! Thanks, Dad!!
We got lots of packages in the mail for Christmas. One of the last ones was from Nana. She swore it was the "must have" toy for the season. She was right, what looks like a really simple toy kept the kids quite entertained!!

I told you these were going to be a bit out of order. This was the night Meme & Will constructed the gingerbread house. It took A LOT of icing to get this thing to stay together!!

Here's more Maren & Papaw time!

Meme & Papaw show off their gift from William & Maren. Rudolph is made from William's foot and Maren's hands. William wrote Merry Christmas all by himself!

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve the whole New Orleans Crew got together at the DeFuscos. Some of us had family to celebrate and some others didn't so we gathered together as a family of our own. We had a great time! Santa even stopped by to visit the little ones.

I tried several time to get a picture of Mae in her Christmas dress. This is the best I could do in these two pics. I love the one below because she is loving on Baby, my doll from when I was little.
Sorry Mom, this is the best picture I could get of her in her new sweater. Do see the eyes she's giving me?
Daddy's girl!

Eyes open- check
Looking in the same direction- close enough
In frame together- check
No one is crying- check
It IS a Christmas miracle!!

A little time with Aunt Mel

As the crowd gathered the camera ladies got going....

Brian & Heidi
Ron & Rona
Me & Michael
The guys hanging out by the fire pit

Jack & Poppy getting a little cuddle time.

Have I mentioned that she gives the best hugs!

Here are the infamous camera ladies

Gracie in her beautiful Christmas dress

(I left the shoes out of the picture just for you Rona)

Will & his Papaw

Mason & William

Emily & her Mimi

This one of our many attempts to get a picture with our girls!

SANTA ARRIVES!

Some kids were happy to see Santa....

Some were NOT!!

Either way, they all enjoyed their goodies.

The DeFusco Family

Thank you for opening your home to all of us!

Christmas Eve 2008

(It was nice to not rely on the self-timer this year)

I think she had fun!

Will had been patiently waiting to decorate the gingerbread house he had assembled with Meme the night before.

The beautiful finished product!

Leaving out cookies and milk for Santa.

Reading The Night Before Christmas with Meme & Papaw