Christmas Around our House 2014

This holiday season was anything far from calm! Not only did we just have the usual Christmas gatherings and functions to attend through school, church, and work, but I also started back to work coming off of maternity leave the 2nd week in Dec. - right smack dab in the middle of it ALL! Geeze! All in all though, my transition back to work wasn't as hard as I thought it would be even though I came back to a busy office. It made the days and weeks go faster which meant I got home to my babies quickly each afternoon. Going to back work after having Henry, I felt like I was more emotional than with Ella, which is crazy. You'd think with #2, it would be easier. When I dropped Henry off at Mrs. Tammy's for the first morning, I teared up big time on the way to my car, BUT a tear never fell so that doesn't count as crying, right? ;) I got myself together and called Tim and went on my way that day and then I was fine! Of course, it helped that I had friends checking on me during the day as well- a good support system always  helps! Tammy lives less than a mile from our house and keeps Henry everyday. She gets me through my days by sending me picts of Henry via text throughout each day. It makes all the difference in the world getting to see my sweet baby boy on my phone during the day!

For Christmas this year, we celebrated with my dad's side of the family the Sat. before the Christmas week in Oxford. Tim and I worked the Mon. & Tues. of Christmas and then headed to my parents house after work on Tues. evening where we stayed one night and celebrated with my mom's side of the family and my immediate family (my parents and sister and her family). We were then home from Christmas Eve and on for the remainder of the week- having Santa come to our home and doing Christmas with the Crosses and Tim's grandparents on the day after Christmas. All in all it was a great holiday and we were blessed to be able to celebrate it at home mostly with family and our newest blessing, Henry. :) See picts below.

After Ella's 1st school Christmas Program at Faith Lutheran

Cookie Decorating at the Cross House!

The Grands getting their music boxes :) Henry's 1st!

Ella  helping me do her class treats for her Christmas Party - Pudding Cup Reindeers!

Christmas at Nan, Tom, & SE's the Sat before Christmas week.....

Sisters & our Girls

Bibby with her youngest grands - Thomas (1) & Henry (11 Weeks)

The 6 Griffin Grands! 

w/ Mama on Christmas Eve @ Bibby & Dee's House

All posing with Bibby & Dee - So HARD to get one where they're all looking!

Griffin (7), Robbye (5), Ella (3), Taylor (3), Thomas (1), & Henry (11 Weeks)

The original 4

Throwing food out for the reindeer

Cookies are ready for Santa - Henry was not impressed.

SANTA came!

Helping Henry look at his new bike helmet

Henry started smiling a lot the week of Christmas. Smiling at Bibby on Christmas morning.

Her FAVE gift was her big girl  bicycle.

Pop came down for Breakfast with us....

Henry snoozing by the fire

And the stockings were hung.....

ALL SMILES!

Relaxing with Daddy

 More picts to come after this post with the Crosses and Blackwell Family Christmases!!! Too many to fit on this one post.