Christmas at the Lake

In true Terry fashion, we decided around 11AM on Christmas Day to pack up our circus and go to the lake.  The weather was going to be sunny and in the high 50's the entire weekend.  We knew it would probably be our last weekend of good weather this winter.  Nanny had never been with us up there so it was a perfect opportunity!! This decision prompted some massive clean up, packing, and a little bit of craziness from Mommy.  You can't pack up this circus in a matter of seconds.....especially when you have to take food!!  It was Christmas Day and there was NOTHING open!!

Once we got there we were all as happy as can be. Something about that place brings calmness to our entire family.  It's a great distraction from the hustle and bustle of life!

Nanny stayed two nights with us before she went home.  It was a wonderful weekend that culminated our fabulous 2014 Christmas Season.

This view will never, ever get old!!

Sporting their new My Little Pony PJ's from Georgia!

A day at the park filled with a picnic, playing, and roaming through the woods!

Jumping off the wall.  She wanted this photo to look as if she were jumping in to the water.  

Running through the woods!

 Two little birdies on the tree branch.

Cutest birdies that I ever did see!

Daddy caught this HUGE catfish later in the afternoon.

Karcie wasn't too sure about this ugly thing that was grunting at her.

Kamdyn wanted to touch the slimy thing though!!  Yikes!!

Running from us on the golf cart.  Silly girls!!

Hanging out with Daddy on the dock.

Smores and hot chocolate!!

Sissy kissies!!  Nothing sweeter!!

Christmas Morning with Nanny!

After the girls saw everything that they had gotten from Santa and played with most everything, we moved those gifts to the side because Nanny had a tree full of gifts for all of us to open.  As long as I can remember, my Mom has NEVER known of a "small" Christmas.  Each year, I was blessed with more than I ever deserved.  She always had the perfect gifts for me and there were always BIG surprises.  I will never forget Christmas as a child.  They were magical even as I grew older.  I always strive for Christmas to feel and mean the same to my girls as it always did to me. I certainly hope that the girls will remember the memories more so than the gifts!

I know that on this particular Christmas, they couldn't wait to tear into those gifts underneath the tree.  It was like a second round of Santa!  And wouldn't you know, she still spoils me with lots of gifts.  Richard always racks up, too!  I wouldn't trade one second of the time that we all spent that morning.  It was so wonderful and happy!

WOW!!

Makeup kits!!  Mommy's first question was, "Are these going to Nanny's house?"  

Endless Curl Barbie!!

Happy, sweet girl!!

Nanny bought Kamdyn her first pair of  basketball shoes just as she did for me MANY years ago.  I hope she will learn to love basketball just as much as I did!  My shoes were never that cool though!

Opening the gift that Karcie made for me at Preschool.

Karcie was a proud little peacock!  I love it!!

This was, by far, my most favorite gift.  My Mom bought me one of these awesome hair dryers about 5-6 years ago.  I used it so much that it broke right before we moved to Apex.  I've been using cheap hair dryers ever since.  I finally opened this today and realized immediately what I had been missing.  It dries my hair so quickly and making flat ironing my hair 100 times easier!!  Thanks, Mom!!

New outdoor speakers for the lake!!  And a new Bass Pro Shops hat chosen specifically for him by Kamdyn and Karcie.

Beautiful Christmas chaos and mess!

Georgia mailed the girls their gifts because we weren't able to see her at Christmas.  We Face Timed with her on Christmas morning so she could see the girls open their gifts!!  I love technology!!

Christmas Morning!

Once again, Santa did not disappoint this year!  The girls didn't really have long lists this year.  Nothing overly extravagant.  In fact, Kamdyn's most wanted gift was the 2015 Guiness Book of World Records!  What?!?!  Karcie's most wanted gift was a Snow Glow Elsa.  Santa threw in tons of other surprises and even managed to remember a few things that the girls had asked for earlier in the year.   

I love capturing the look on their faces when they first see everything all over the living room.  It's magical and never gets old! Just as in years past, Richard slept with Kamdyn on Christmas Eve.  It's their little tradition.  Karcie was super excited to see that Santa ate almost all of his cookies and drank every bit of his milk.

Richard spent most of the morning opening up all of the wonderful "never-easy-to-get-in-to" toy packages.  

It was such a low key wonderful morning and we were so glad to have Nanny there with us!  I think it's the first time that she's ever been there to see their excitement on Christmas morning.  She and my Dad usually came over later in the morning after we had finished with all of our Santa gifts.

It was a Merry, Merry Christmas, but we certainly missed Pop Pop!

Kamdyn asked for a bedside table months ago.  She forgot to ask Santa for it.  Good things he's magic!!

Karcie loves some dolls!  This was a doll Christmas for sure along with a Frozen Christmas.

The tree with gifts from Nanny!

Christmas morning before seeing everything!!

The look of amazement, joy, and magic!  I love it!!

Look!!  He left just a little bit!

Satisfied with Santa's cookies and milk.

Checking out her gifts!

Look!

An Olaf Snowcone maker!!

Digging into the stockings!

Pure happiness!

She could not wait for Richard to get Snow Glow Elsa out!

She loved her!!  Her family was tired of Snow Glow Elsa after about an hour.  One can only listen to "Let It Go" for so many times!  ;)

Our little bookworm couldn't wait to get her hands on this!!

Can you open this now, Daddy?

Time to make an Olaf snowcone at 8 AM!!

Happiness in a cup!

Kamdyn has also been asking for luggage for forever!  Mommy and Daddy got this for the girls and Georgia monogrammed each piece for us.  Now all three of us have matching small, medium, and large monogrammed rolling suitcases!!  Daddy, when can we fly on an airplane and put these easy to spot suitcases to use??  Orlando?  February?  

Nanny and her girls on Christmas morning!

Karcie loved her new Elsa Bath Robe.

The Flutterbye was a BIG hit for everyone in the family!!

Karcie is still a little unsure of the Rainbow Flutterbye.

My precious angel!

Daddy and his tiny angel!!