Christmas Wrap Up (and back to normal, somewhat)

I am just now getting around to sharing some pictures from Christmas.  Sorry!  I just have not been in the mood to do anything.  I'm not sure what is going on but, I struggled with putting up all the Christmas decor.  And then, I struggled with taking it all down.  And then, I just did not have anything to say.  And then................. get the picture.  I'll let you in on a little secret.  I still have not put away this.............

Yep!  It's still there.  Hopefully I'll get to it this week.  I also found a wreath on the back door.  Forgot about that thing when all the rest came down.  Okay, enough with all that.  Let's get on to seeing some Christmas cheer.

 My kitchen helper.  This my niece Makayla and she's 18 months old.  It was her first visit to Chelle and D's house since she lives in Florida.  I tried to make that apron fit.

 Later Makayla and Elizabeth was getting their make-up "did".  That was fun.  Makayla kept saying "mo, mo, peas, mo".

 And since she loves books, Mema read her a story.  Did I say this kid loves books?  Over and over again.

 Later when it was time to open gifts, she entertained us with all that an 18 month old can on Christmas Eve.  Yes, that's an air mattress in the back ground.  We have between 15 and 18  people over three days at our house and they had to sleep somewhere.

 Jackson in all his awesomeness.  He just loves to dress up for special occasions.

                                                    My mother-in-law and her sister

 Every year, before we open gifts, my father-in-law reads from Luke 2.  We've done an Advent wreath for several years and this is how we conclude.

 Makayla thought that Michael needed help with opening his gifts.  And Michael was happy to let her help.

                                             Shorts, everyone needs some new short.

 Jackson opening his donkey calendar.  I wish that I would've gotten a better picture of his face because he's laughing really hard.  It's an inside family joke.

 And here's Pop opening his best gift, an Alabama football signed by the entire 2011 National Title team.  Yes, he loved it.  Roll Tide!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It was a Roll Tide Christmas.  Everyone got something Alabama except those dang Seminole fans who shall remain nameless (Josh and Kari).

 And now we come to the aftermath.  This was a few days ago.  Jackson and Susie needed a nap.  That dog is so rotten.  That is her favorite blanket because it is an electric blanket.  Rotten I tell ya, rotten.

 After all the Christmas stuff was put away, this is how my living room looked until yesterday.  To be honest, it was nice to let everything be empty and undecorated for a few days. 

                                                            Lonely mirror

 Yesterday was the day that I decided something had to get done.  So I move the furniture back to where it was originally, with a little something new.  I'll get to that in a minute.  I really like this arrangement because the room looks so open and it appears bigger.

 Now the new.  I decided that I just had to have a sofa table and that I did not want to spend much money and that I did not want to have to refinish or paint anything.  So I went to Walmart and bought 2 of those el cheapo short bookcases.  There ya go!  A sofa table on the cheap with little work.  Okay, I was just lazy.

Mirror no lonely no more.  I'm not sure if I'll keep it this way but, for now, I'm happy with it.  It's different than what I had before. 
Next week we will start back to school so for the rest of this week, I'll be cleaning and preparing lessons.  Oh, and before I forget, Monday night is the BCS National Title game.  Roll Tide!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Beat those Irish!  If you're an Irish fan...............Sorry.
Till next time.