New Year... New Style! :)

 Well, with this new year, I've also gotten a new style! :)

I'd thought about cutting my hair and then I finally decided to do it!

Before..

 After..

Great job, Tab!  Thanks! :)

Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas!!! :)

Of course, we had to start the day with pictures.. 

and there will be plenty more as the day goes on! :)

 

Of course BEFORE we open the presents,

we have to get pictures in front of the Christmas tree! :)

 Think we have enough presents?! ;)

 Have I mentioned before that I LOVE being an aunt?! ;)

 Now it's PRESENT TIME!!! :)

 Cool shades, Brooklyn! ;)

 A soccer ball from Aunt Anna :)

 Emily got a pillow pet!  She LOVES it!

 A blanket for Brooklyn from great Grandma Gardner :)

 Stephen enjoyed opening his gifts.. :)

 A dress from Aunt Tina

 I think Emily had the most fun opening her gifts.. :)

 Of course, Christmas just wouldn't be the same without Pepsi..

 And licorice for Mom! :)

 Guess what were Levi's favorite presents?!  

And he got A LOT of them!

 "Thank Heaven for Little Girls.." :)

 I got Levi some p.j.'s.. :)

 Something must've been funny.. ;)

 Finally!  Some socks without holes! ;)

 And, of course, one has to share 

the joy of Christmas with others! ;)

 More books.. :)

 Steve's already enjoying his Outback gift card! :)

 Mom opening up her mother's ring from Dad..

 She was quite surprised!

It is beautiful!  The ring has eight stones to represent each of her eight

children.  Each child is represented by their birthstone.

 What a mess!!!

 Steve was already enjoying his birdseed that he got for his bird feeder! :)

 We went to the Rains house for an early 

Christmas dinner, games, and presents!

 I guess Paul liked Emily's pillow pet.. :)

 It truly was a Wonderful Winter Wonderland! :)

 Philip tried to get a picture with Emily..

 That's a little better! :)

 Trying to get a picture with my phone.. :)

 Emily took this picture of what I thought was just me..

little did I know that Philip had sneaked in, too! ;)

 All the events were just too much for Dave, I guess.. ;)

Actually, I believe he was just faking here.. 

how could one sleep with all this noise?! ;)

 I LOVE "my little man"! :)

 Imaginiff Luke were a shoe.. what kind of shoe would he be?! :)

 Paul & Philip loved getting Anna's thoughts on her "ideal house"! :)

 Levi loves music!  He'll just sit, playing and playing.. 

of course, the demo is on.. but he definitely has potential! :)

 Time for presents, once again! :)

 Presents from Philip.. :)

 We won't even try and explain this one..

honestly, I don't know?! ;)  Definitely made us laugh! :)

 

Levi got a coat from Uncle Philip.  

Of course, he had to model it for us! :)

Tina & Stephen got Grandma Wilson (Stephen's grandma)

a blanket for Christmas.  She put it to good use right away,

and the boys enjoyed the present, too! :)

 "Well.. I should probably go now since 

Uncle Dave is taking the phone from me.. " :)

 A unique way to rub a back, but hey!  It's a Rains' way! ;)

 A very fun, full day!  Ready for bed anyone?! ;)

 Hope your Christmas was a special time with friends & family,

and filled with many special memories for years to come! :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! :)