the one on Christmas.

I love living in North Carolina.  My main reasoning being the weather.  For each season, I feel like it is perfect... except for this year.  The weather this Christmas season has been so hot.. not a fan.  Mom & I were talking the other day and I was mentioned how different Christmas would be in Florida or in New York.. solely because of weather.  Anyways,  Christmas has been a little different this year.. but incredible none the less.

Christmas Eve we always go up to my grandparents house (mom's side of the family), we were eat Brunswick Stew & laugh like crazy.  When all of the family is together, it's a big ol' time... which makes the gifts seem obsolete. 

&& my uncles are so, so good at making Sam feel welcomed & loved in our family.. & I am forever grateful for that.

 All the grandaugthers got old aprons! 

&& the older granddaughters got one of our grandma's old skillets & a cookbook!

She may or may not have been dropping a hint.

Christmas schedules and traditions change every year..  some times multiple.  One of the changes in traditions for our family was that instead of Twice New Secret Santa.. we played Twice New Dirty Santa.

 It was a complete success.  I brought the tobacco stick star (pictured above) and came out with old camera & a scarf made of old t-shirts!

Once we got back home.. the kiddies exchanged with one another.

&& then Santa came the Simmons residents & it was a glorious morning! Pictures were pretty boring so we are just gonna move on!  Mom & Dad received their gifts from their babies & Im pretty sure they were thrilled with them!  So for the rest of the day we just sat around the house, watched movies, played cards, cooked and rested.

Later on, I went to Sam's house to exchange with him.. &&& he got me a bike!

eeek! :)

yes, the giant adidas sweater is indeed part of my Christmas dress outfit...  really, Sam & I were about to go for a quick bike ride!

For supper, we went to my grandparents on my dad's side of the family.  Where we ate goooood food && even better dessert!

With the cook, herself!  I sure hope some of her culinary genes didn't skip this generation!

Anyways, there is a clip into some Christmas day events for the Simmons household.

I hope you & your family had an incredible Christmas!

Let's continue to celebrate -- Jesus is here!  Alleluia!