E,E, and Little E Stringfellow: January 2014

More Christmas

The Saturday after Christmas we celebrated with all my sisters and my dad at our home. We had so much fun getting to see everyone. And, our newest addition, Sloane (aka Sloaney Baloney) was there. Love babies - especially niece/cousin babies... :)

We played this ridiculously fun and entertaining (and at times violent) game. I wrapped a present inside a box, inside a box, inside a box, inside a box......you get it. I think it was like 5 or 6 boxes. The first person rolled the dice and what ever number they rolled was the number the next person tried to get. When you rolled that number you got the oven mitts and a turn to unwrap the present. Once the next person rolled that number they took the gloves from the person who had them and started unwrapping... you get the picture. So, the person who was unwrapping kept switching. It was fun and like I said turned a bit violent (you have to know how competitive my family is) - especially towards the end. Here are some pictures but video would have been ideal for this to get the hilarity of it all. The best part is no one knew just how many boxes there were so each time a box was opened, everyone was in suspense as to how long this was going to take. Okay, I've said enough.

Nell's turn

Dave's turn

Celia

Doug

Alexandra

Dave again

that is my dad ripping the gloves from Nell. This was just after Nell tackled Celia for her turn.

Dad ended up victorious...all for a blanket. I should mention that my Dad is the most competitive of us all so I won't mention the violence he inflicted on his most precious children/grandchildren to get the prize. Nell also put Celia's life in danger at one point at well. Let's just say no on ended up at the emergency room so all is well :) I kid. I make it sound very violent. It wasn't that bad but it was very very funny.

Then we did a dirty Santa give exchange... Dave ended up with this hat. Go Titans!

Nell got this great microphone that makes your voice sound like an elf.

Wait....maybe dad ended up with this hat. I don't know - you know how the dirty Santa game is...don't get too attached to a gift. It'll get stolen.

And....some pics of my precious niece, Sloane. I just think she it too adorable for words. I do.

Quentin got this head lamp which he loves..... :) all the men were after that thing but Quentin ended up with it.

We started a tradition last year where rather then buy gifts for each other, we bring stuff to donate to a charity. This year we picked Nurses for Newborns. Since Sloane spent some time in the NICU, we donated them to this organization in her name. We bought all sorts of stuff newborns need.

Sloane with all the loot

Later that day, we went to see our Mammaw. I just loves these pics... Mammaw with her youngest great-grandchild

could you just eat her up? I could.

Sunday, my cousin (and neighbor) stopped by to meet Sloane and their daughter, Brooklyn, played with the younger kids. A fun time was had by all.

That rounds out Christmas at our house for 2013...

Great time, good laughs. That's about all you can ask for.

Christmas Day

Christmas Day...Santa came.....presents, presents, presents. It was fun. Good time with family and spending it in our new home was awesome. In our new house she has to walk through the living room to get to our room so she came running in screaming "Santa came and he brought me a HUUUUUUUUGE Hello Kitty doll!!!" That was fun to wake up to - even if it was early.

Just some photos of the day...

Underwear in the stocking..what kids doesn't love getting underwear for Christmas?

Hello Kitty slippers

Can you tell someone likes Hello Kitty in our house?

DS games....

The ever popular Rainbow Loom...she's been asking for this for months.

I love these open mouth surprised reactions....priceless.

She helped Erik and I open up our gifts, too

Later that morning, we headed over to Erik's parents. All the little girls got matching set outfits for their American Girl dolls. Elaina wore hers for at least 3 days straight after Christmas

Our nephew Zach got an Alabama chair....his thrown. We still love him even though he claims to be an Alabama fan :)

That's all I got from Christmas Day.....

Christmas Eve

Behind....again.

Mid January and I have not blogged about our Christmas. *Sigh* Don't know what's wrong with me. But, better late than never, I suppose.

Christmas was so awesome! This year was very exciting for us. I think it's partly because Elaina was REALLY into it this year and partly because we are in our new home. Either way...we were just excited. We got to host a lot of family and friends in our new home and that was awesome.

So, let's get on with the pictures...

Christmas Eve morning, our friends Dave and Tonja came over with their daughter, Christine - who was in from Alabama. Christine is SO sweet and loves Elaina...the feelings are mutual. We adore her! We love to see her and we were grateful she took some time out of her trip to spend with us. Christine helped to make the birthday cake for Jesus. Elaina picked blue icing this year....good for blue teeth, tongues, and lips :)

The finished product...

Later that day we went to Christmas Eve Mass with my mom and Gale and Kate and her two kiddos. Afterward, we headed back to our house for dinner and presents...

I love this picture. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I just adore our niece Alexandra. She graduates high school this year! I need a moment....okay.

My mom always plays this game where we read Twas the Night Before Christmas. You get a word and when your word is read, you get a turn to pick from a present or steal...you know, the dirty Santa game. Erik, as the host, put on the Santa hat and read the story aloud.

Elaina ended up with a Chik-fil-a card...shocker!

Elaina and her Granny...

Elaina got a minion...She was super excited about this present.

Quentin

So, we taped Alexandra's cash present to the side of some almond. She is allergic to almonds. Didn't know that - not sure how that fact was missed...Sorry, Alexandra.

After everyone left, we prepared for Santa's arrival....Always an exciting time.