341/365 Part Two

341/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

Let's just get right on to it...


Christmas morning! Mom walked out, wide-eyed, and said, "Santa came!"


Santa came with some sweet kicks for me.

Then we had breakfast: venison sausage, chocolate gravy and biscuits, scrambled eggs and mimosas. The strangest meal you've ever heard of.

Next came one of our Christmas traditions: be ready to walk out the door for grandparent's house, be late, but decide to take pictures in front of the tree anyway, be cheesy.


We always laugh like "how stupid is this going to look!" when we hug, but then we end up liking those pictures best.


And here we are in the winter frost! Brrr.


And here we are with our laser dog!


Then mom and dad joined us.


And Gracey smelled remnants of sausage on my hands.

Moving on!


Loads of shrimp. Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas...


My cousins love Christmas!


My sisters love Chelsea!


My mom loves her, too.


There is no telling what Jonah is playing or what Joel is eating.


Sweet cousin love. Did you know that I was her maid of honor like, five years ago? I'd do it again if we were polygamists!


Kasey got a Cinderella dress, a Belle dress, and an Aurora (Sleeping Beauty - yes, I know her name) dress. I gave her bitter, jealous glances all night. Here, I told her to pose like a cute little girl with her chin resting in her hands. Then I told her to sweetly ask, "Where is my prince?" to which she responded, "WHERE is MY PRIIIIIIIIIIINCE?!?!?!"

Eeek. I know a lot of people who can relate to you, Kasey.


We posed some more.


We travelled to the 60s with my grandparents.


Can you believe I've made it this far without posting a picture of Keane? Here he is with his parents and both sets of grandparents.

By the way...


Keane weighed 5 pounds last year.

Way to grow, cuz. Way to grow.


Yes, this is the cutest moment you've ever seen.


This is pretty cute, too.


If I were really cheesy, I'd say that Keane is a gift...

(Keane is a gift.)


This year's cookies were not our best looking but ummm wow, they tasted good. Of all the sweets there, I was so into these. How often can you say that about a sugar cookie? ALWAYS mix vanilla and almond extract.


The deer lost his head on the ride over. It's okay, he was dead already.


New tradition? (Check my uncle Jay - nice touch.)


And check last year. Also, check the fake gold eye lashes....

We nixed that idea this year.


Brandon liked the cookies.


Lauren liked the cookies.


Chris took a perfect bite of his cookie!


And my cousin, Justin...


He liked the cookies but I don't know how he ate them considering he literally filled his plate with some sort of awesome cherry dessert that his mom made. I'm talking, a serving the size of his hand, at least. And that's why he needed Joel to hold the plate for him.

At some point we had communion and a sing-a-long with Andrea Bocelli.


And we also opened presents! Lauren has the same reaction...


As Emmalynn.

Christmas is always magical.


I wrapped seven presents for Jesse and put them in different places under the tree.


BAM! I win. Or, he wins.

There you have it...that's what I got. Some of these pictures are from Rachel's camera so thanks for those, sis. Even though I deleted them all. Love you!

I was thinking today that my faith is really pretty crazy. God became man...He walked among us...He never, ever messed up...He suffered so that I wouldn't have to. It sounds absolutely insane and yet, I believe it. And I believe the root of it all is love. So love and tidings and baubles and bows and cheers and hugs and kisses to each of you!

Well, kisses only to some of you. I have a reputation to uphold, here. And some of you might not brush your teeth that often.

Merry Christmas!