Christmas 2007

Every year my whole family make the terribly long (OK, so a 3 hour car ride's really not that bad) trip NORTH (and maybe Orlando is not what most people would consider to be north). This year was no exception. We loaded up the zoo (two noisy birds and one hairy little dog), package the car with all our Christmas treasures, and jumped on the road the Sunday before Christmas. Luckily, most people seemed to leave on Saturday, so there was little to no traffic.

As soon as we arrived at my sister's house, I see the cutest 4 year old I've ever seen (and no, I'm not biased) run out the front door with her arms wide open yelling "AUNTIE!" Aren't children the best?? I just love going to my sister's house every year for Christmas. Its one of those traditions that's even carried on throughout my married years. After all these years, I still haven't missed a single one.

Besides, kids are what make Christmas fun. My eldest niece and I have the same agreement every year since she was two. If she sees Santa, she will make sure to wake me up, and if I see Santa, I will make sure to wake her up. This year was no different. And like every other year, neither of us saw Santa. He did leave her some really nice gift though. She was awfully good this year. Overall, Christmas this year was exactly the same as last year. I hope next year is exactly the same as this year was. It seems like I would eventually get tired of the same thing every year, but every year is always so much fun.

Here are a few pictures from the weekend.

Ashley LOVES being in front of the camera. I always tell her "work it girl, work it!" and then she starts all kinds of goofy poses.

My grandmother, Pat Ford. I love her!! She's an artist, you should check out her work!

Cute baby girl!

Do you think he likes riding in that thing? He kept giving me this look like, "Mom! SAVE ME!!!"