2010 Year in Pictures

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010 was Mason's first Christmas and was so special! I remember last Christmas, I was rocking my nephew Jack and my mom said, "I bet next Christmas you will be sitting there rocking your own baby." Little did we know, she was right!

We spent the night at Mom and Dad's and I was lucky enough to get my very own Silent Night (Mason slept for 10 hours straight!). I remember when I was younger, I was so excited to see what Santa left under the tree, but this Christmas, I was just excited to be with my family. God has blessed us with more than we could have asked for this year... we are all healthy and happy!

For Christmas, Mason got some toys and a Jeep walker from his Grandma and Grandpa Gillispie, although he can't quite reach the floor yet, he loves it because he now has a Jeep just like his Daddy!

Christmas Memories

Christmas Tree 2010

Richard and I were recently sharing some of our favorite Christmas memories.

We both recall waking our parents up super early and being so excited to see what Santa had brought us while we were sleeping. For me, the whole Santa thing kind of scared me. I mean the idea of a stranger sneaking into your house while you were sleeping was a little off. Anyway, I digress...

Richard remembers one of his favorite Christmas presents was a brown leather jacket he got around Jr. High. As he was telling me about it, I could hear the excitement in his voice even to this day. He said not only did the jacket look great on the outside, but that the inside even had a map printed on the inside (anyone who remembers the early 90's knows exactly what he's talking about). He was so proud of it that he admitted to wearing it when he had no business wearing a leather jacket (think 70 and sunny).

My favorite Christmas present also came around Jr. High. My parents had gotten us kids our own phone line and I got my very one candy apple red phone for my bedroom. No doubt, they were probably tired of their phone line being tied up (clearly this occurred before call waiting and cell phones). That year I also got a calculator with jewels as the buttons, I remember thinking it was the coolest thing ever! And, considering I loathe math, that's saying a lot.

Of course, my favorite present ever was about 2 years ago when I got engaged on Christmas Eve! The ring was stunning, but the thought of getting to spend the rest of my life with such a great guy makes me tear up just thinking about it. I had prayed I would meet someone like Richard (little did I know he was right under my nose the entire time) and my prayers were finally answered! We had both been through some rough, lonely Christmas's in the past, and the moment we got engaged somehow made all those tough times worth it. Thanks R for making my dreams come true that Christmas Eve and everyday since.

The Irony of Christmas Cards

As I ignore that nagging feeling of my Christmas cards not being finished, I am thinking back to past family cards. I don't have to think too hard because my mom has an entire photo album dedicated to every Christmas card she has ever sent out. On one hand, this is a very cool idea and a great way to take a walk down memory lane On the other it is a constant reminder of all those bad hair do's (remember when the perm was in?!), acne breakouts, and ugly Christmas outfits. Needless to say, we all have a good laugh when we bust out the album on Christmas Eve.

While our cards always appear picture perfect and portrayed a happy family or 3 happy children, we all know the truth... And every time I get one of those picture perfect cards from someone else, I wonder what their truth is.

What is our Christmas card truth?

The truth is, in that cute picture of us 3 kids holding the puppies, we were gagging because the puppies had bad gas and I think one peed on my sister.

The truth is, in the picture that showed us all decorating cookies, mom was having a meltdown because my brother had spilled a whole container of those tiny silver balls all over the hardwood floor and my sister and I had green icing in our hair.

The truth is, although Mom tried her best to make it work, my sister's perm was that bad! (I've been laughing the whole time I write this because it was so bad!)

The truth is, while we were laughing it wasn't because we were having fun, it was because we were making fun of my mom for not knowing how to work the camera and for my dad yelling "Just take the f^#&*!@ picture!"

The truth is, in that last family picture we took, most of us had a little too much to drink before the photo shoot. Come to think of it, that was probably our best picture.

The truth is, on the card I am sending out this year, Mason had just pooped all over the photographer's blanket.

FFF

Well, Mason has officially experienced FFF (Forced Family Fun). FFF is a long standing Gillispie tradition, and since he is part Gillispie, there is just no way getting around it. The rest of the family spent the evening at Silver Dollar City Christmas, but we skipped out this year, as we didn't want Mason to be too cold (yes, Richard and I are those over-protective parents!).

We spent this weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's Gillispie's and had a great time. Jack and Jill and cousin Jack were there, along with Uncle Josh and Aunt Paula. Everyone (especially Grandpa and Grandma) made such a fuss over how cute and good Mason was. Gosh, I just never get tired of hearing that!

SO BLESSED!

First family photo. Mason is about 4 weeks old. Photo by Pat Lambert