As we've already established . . . I am WAY BEHIND on posting our Christmas . . . I was hoping to finish our Christmas posts by the end of January at least . . . and we spent Christmas in Georgia. So let's just start with the latter.
It all started 10 or so years ago. We had to decide how to spend the holidays. The big ones, meaning Thanksgiving and Christmas. Georgia and Louisiana are a bit more than a hop, skip and jump away so it's not like we could do both. The only fair thing to do seemed to spend one holiday in Georgia and one holiday in Louisiana and then switch the following year. So, with the exception of 2007 when our Christmas baby arrived, and I couldn't travel, that's what we've done. It really has worked out perfect. I was so excited that we would be in Georgia for Christmas this year because it was Jones' first Christmas!
Another reason I was excited about spending Christmas in Georgia was because I knew my Mama had decked her halls, and I was looking forward to being surrounded by some beautiful Christmas decorations since I have obviously dropped the ball on that this year, as we've already established. She put up a new tree this year . . . a 9 footer. It really was a beautiful tree (until I helped her take it down, of course). She put it in the sunroom this year.
I'll share later about Christmas morn . . .
Now, I have to admit . . . we used paper plates for lunch! It almost seemed a shame to do so. The lunch Mimi prepared for us was definitely worthy of the fine china! Cranberry stuffed pork tenderloin, broccoli casserole, home-made mac 'n' cheese, butter peas and fresh creamed corn!
After lunch we opened gifts.
Now that we know Mason probably won't be the next David Beckham . . . and declared he'd rather trade in his soccer ball for a bat . . . 
Pop and Mimi also gave Mason a baseball to go with his bat and batting tee. But it never made its way back to Louisiana. As a matter of fact, we never saw it again after he opened it! Unfortunately, it seems it made its way out of the house with the garbage unbeknownst to us.
It all started 10 or so years ago. We had to decide how to spend the holidays. The big ones, meaning Thanksgiving and Christmas. Georgia and Louisiana are a bit more than a hop, skip and jump away so it's not like we could do both. The only fair thing to do seemed to spend one holiday in Georgia and one holiday in Louisiana and then switch the following year. So, with the exception of 2007 when our Christmas baby arrived, and I couldn't travel, that's what we've done. It really has worked out perfect. I was so excited that we would be in Georgia for Christmas this year because it was Jones' first Christmas!
Another reason I was excited about spending Christmas in Georgia was because I knew my Mama had decked her halls, and I was looking forward to being surrounded by some beautiful Christmas decorations since I have obviously dropped the ball on that this year, as we've already established. She put up a new tree this year . . . a 9 footer. It really was a beautiful tree (until I helped her take it down, of course). She put it in the sunroom this year.
I'll share later about Christmas morn . . .A little later in the day, Rob, Kristi and Jones arrived. Jones is just the cutest thing! He loves to suck his thumb, much like his Aunt Julie did! And isn't this just the cutest shirt? If you'd like one for your child this next Christmas, I know where you can get it!
Jones loves his Pop! And his Mimi, too.
Of course, Hannah Kate loves babies. Especially real, live ones! She wanted to "hold" baby Jones. He leaned over and gave her a sweet hug.
Before we sat down to eat lunch, I read the Christmas story from one of Mason and Hannah Kate's children's Bibles. 
Now, I have to admit . . . we used paper plates for lunch! It almost seemed a shame to do so. The lunch Mimi prepared for us was definitely worthy of the fine china! Cranberry stuffed pork tenderloin, broccoli casserole, home-made mac 'n' cheese, butter peas and fresh creamed corn!After lunch we opened gifts. Now that we know Mason probably won't be the next David Beckham . . . and declared he'd rather trade in his soccer ball for a bat . . . Pop and Mimi also gave Mason a baseball to go with his bat and batting tee. But it never made its way back to Louisiana. As a matter of fact, we never saw it again after he opened it! Unfortunately, it seems it made its way out of the house with the garbage unbeknownst to us.And there was another gift for Mason.
. . . because he got another game to go with what he'd been given earlier in the day. More about that later.
Hannah Kate prefers to pose on her presents! Remember the bucket?
Is this not the Fanciest Nancy doll you ever did see? 
Hannah Kate also got a sleeping bag.
And she, of course, had to sleep in her sleeping bag that night!
He's super excited . . .
. . . because he got another game to go with what he'd been given earlier in the day. More about that later.
Hannah Kate prefers to pose on her presents! Remember the bucket?Is this not the Fanciest Nancy doll you ever did see? Hannah Kate also got a sleeping bag.And she, of course, had to sleep in her sleeping bag that night! So it was definitely a Connell kind of Christmas in 2010. Let's not forget it was a WHITE Christmas, too!