Christmas 2009

The Miller Family had a very fun and very Merry Christmas!

On Christmas Eve night, we went to the candlelight service at our church. They do a Kids' service and a traditional service...of course, we went to the kids! We really enjoyed it and McCoy did, too. He loved holding his candle, with assistance of course, and clapping and dancing to all the music. After the service, we came back to our house for our traditional Christmas Eve chili. We also had MeMe, Dig, Uncle Kyle, and Aunt Jessica over! We had a great time visiting and eating! MeMe and Dig brought over one of McCoy's gifts a little early and he was thrilled! I bet you can all guess what he did for the majority of the night!

I also wanted to start a new tradition for McCoy. Since Christmas is Jesus' birthday and that's why we were celebrating, we had a birthday cake for Jesus, sang Happy Birthday, and McCoy got to blow out the candles. He loved it! He really doesn't understand this year but I think in years to come it will be a great reminder for everyone of the true reason for Christmas.

"Happy Birthday Jesus!"

On Christmas morning, Kirk, McCoy and I opened presents at our house. McCoy was so excited to come downstairs when he woke up and see his new train table that Gigi and Pop had gotten him. I'm pretty sure he said "choo-choo" and pointed at his table ALLLLLL morning!

"ChooChoo!"

Several months ago Kirk and I decided that we were not going to do gifts for each other this year...however, my wonderful husband, who is AWFUL at keeping secrets and I am amazed that he kept this one, stuck a present under the tree for me while I wasn't looking. He spent over a month making a box for me to put McCoy's school papers in. He painted it and dug through pictures from McCoy's birth until recently (yes I need to get my pics organized) all without me knowing! It was the sweetest Christmas gift I have ever received and also the first to make me cry! Here is a picture of two sides just to give you an idea of what it looks like...

I don't know what made me cry more...looking back at all those pictures and thinking of how McCoy is growing way TOO fast or knowing that I have such a sweet husband!

After we were done with our gifts, we went over to MeMe and Dig's for some more fun! Linda had made brunch for everyone before we opened gifts. The kids had a picnic on the floor. I think at one point McCoy had a sucker in one hand and a piece of bacon in the other! After brunch we opened some great gifts. Dig and MeMe gave all the kids robes and we wanted a picture with them all wearing them. You would've thought the robe was trying to attack McCoy because he was having none of it! We finally got him in it after we bribed him with a sucker! What can I say?? The boy likes his suckers!

Picnic with Anna Grace

Cuties in their robes!

What a surprise! He has a sucker!

After a fun afternoon, we decided to make a surprise trip to El Dorado to see my family. My parents thought we were coming the day after Christmas, but we surprised them and showed up Christmas night around 6:00. It was definitely worth keeping it a secret because when we showed up, mom started crying...joyful tears of course! On Saturday morning, we had Christmas morning all over again and McCoy loved all his new toys! His favorite, not a surprise, was his gator golf set.

Trying out his new clubs

Yogurt and a DVD with Cissy! He LOVES her!

The Christmas Parade...Gigi in the background with cymbals!

Why, you ask, do I not have a sweet family picture in front of the Christmas tree??? McCoy STILL refuses to take pictures! I'm hoping this is a phase that will end soon!

We had such a Merry Christmas and loved spending lots of time with our families! And now we're looking forward to a fabulous 2010!