the 4 DaYs oF cHRisTmAS...

YES 4 days..Lord have mercy! it was a whirlwind kind of weekend full of laughter, sharing, gifting, eating, praying, listening, drinking, more drinking, shopping, driving, talking and the best of all FAMILY!

We traveled back home to phoenix for christmas and really enjoyed every moment spent with family and friends. now that we have moved FAR FAR away seeing the ones you love is more meaningful but goes by way to fast . we could of stayed for weeks to catch up with everyone but we had to get back to the farm..cows don't take holidays!! 

Day 1:

The Night Before Christmas Eve

We started out having our family of four christmas in texas the night before we left for phoenix. The boys opened up their gifts from mommy and daddy and mommy and daddy opened up their gifts from each other. We sipped on some chocolate wine (not the boys) and listened to christmas music. 

I have no fireplace:( i really, really want a mantle! i dream about just how i would decorate it every holiday..some day in my dream farm home. but my dear friend lindsay surprised me with this gift and it was perfect for hanging stockings and got to love the quote!!

max and his john deere tractor

natey looking away from the camera..to distracted by all the presents i suppose
drives me crazy how each toy is packaged and you practically need a whole tool box to disassemble.

action photo of the boys..watch out for flying cows!!
cows do fly in our barn of a house!!

stocking time

just what mama wanted, a texas shaped waffle iron...really i had it on my christmas list. you are never to old to make list's:)
thanx love of mine!

daddy is going to need that hat for chilly days on the farm

boys loved all the new tractors, cows, barns and did you see the life size lion's in the background..those were a gift from gg and ge.

Day 2:

Christmas Eve

Headed to Lubbock (1 1/2 hours away from our house) very early in the morning to catch our plane to phoenix. Arrived in Phoenix around 11am headed to my parent's house, changed and loaded up the car with kids and gifts. We celebrated nathan's granny Shirley's 80th birthday at Sierra Bonita Grill and visited with the Moroney family..sorry no pictures. It was such a fun party and to see pictures from the past of all the kids, grand kids and granny shirley as a young women was just great!! Then we headed off to papa joe and eva's house to spend time together and exchange gifts.

this dog was a hit with the boys. it sang and danced to "who let the dog's out".

Now we are at the Gingg Christmas Eve Celebration at my grandparents house...REALLY wish i would of taken more pictures!!

All of the GREAT grandchildren and my sweet cousin Katie!

Charlotte Belle and Max

(i just love nathan and katie's faces they are making to them)

Tim + Nathan = Best Friends

Charlotte looking especially adorable in  her Christmas dress and Max in his duds too!

Day 3:

Christmas Day

We stayed at my mom and dad's house for the weekend and the moment the boys, more like lil nathan, woke up they wanted to start opening up presents...max doesn't really get the concept of opening up presents quite yet. Natey being the sweet boy that he is waited patiently and even helped hand out gifts and made sure to open ALL of his presents, max's and really any he could get his hands on. 

my mom is a creative genius and one of her many talents is her beautiful christmas tree and decorating.

breakfast with Gingg the family

as you can see the boys love tractors..these are actually my brother's from over 20 years ago. my mom keeps everything!! now i see why!

momma and her boys christmas morning

my little present helper

 the 4 of us

uncle rock wearing his new north face sweater!

kody and heidi celebrating christmas

papa rocky and mimi

YES, that is a shotgun my mom is holding.,,that is what my dad surprised her with this christmas! and she looks very happy!! how romantic?!?!?

BRoThERs

i heart my new slippers from my husband and boys

dad being dad...silly



 on our way to nana and papa's house...boys took a snooze.

dad and rock

auntie heidi got a little carried away feeding max blueberries

 heidi and rock
yes, rock's eyes are open. hard to tell i know.

great papa hoge and max

 great nana hoge enjoying her great grandson



after our afternoon visit with nana and papa and the hoge family we went over to pat and beth moroney's house(nathan's aunt and uncle) for the moroney christmas party. once again no pictures!!! i take my camera everywhere but sometimes i just don't have enough hands to do it all. forgive me. anyone reading this who does have picture send them my way please:)

Day 4:

the Day after Christmas

Uncle Justin , Auntie Jen, Conrad, Connor and Caden all came over for breakfast and more gift exchanging!!! the fun never ends in our family!

CoUsIns

Conrad looks so proud to be holding his little cousin Max!

Connor, Caden and Nathan..so handsome!

Then off we went to GG & GE's house for Christmas #2 brunch (nathan's mom and step dad).

As you can see i am surrounded by women with amazing decorating capabilities!

Other than the hostess with mostess!! check out all the scrumptious eats! how i miss jan's cooking!! but lucky for me i married her son, nathan who is also an amazing cook!

our nephew and the boy's cousin, Donovan

put the rocks down child!

max in his uncle rock's wranglers

Later in the afternoon we jetted out to the Hayes house to hang out and the isaac family also joined us!!

Natey and Jackson "sharing" and helping each other unwrap the present! good boys!

that's right Jackson your mama dressed you just right for the occasion (as always)...."Everything is Bigger in Texas" just like this BIG blog posting!

as you can see we had one heck of a weekend and we miss y'all already!!

Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.

~Anthony Brandt