The Freenys: Christmas and New Year's 2006

We didn't take very many pictures at Christmas this year. I think we were both too tired. Brad had to work right up until the weekend of Christmas this year, and for the first time in my life, I didn't have a Christmas break. I only had two days off for the holiday. So, with so little time, we had to make the most of it. Our Christmas began on Friday, December 22, when Brad's cousins from Memphis, Justin and Lyvie came down to visit. We met up at the Hodge's house to open gifts with Brad's parents, grandparents, sister, Nicole, and cousins, Justin and Lyvie, and Greg and Ashley, and their adorable son, Mason.

On Saturday, we went to the Taylor family Christmas at Britney's grandparents' house in Jackson. There was lots of food and nearly everyone came this year. It was so exciting to see everyone. That afternoon, we (the Freenys) finished up some last minute Christmas shopping and wrapped gifts that night and watched Love Actually.

The next day, on Christmas Eve, Brad and I, along with Brad's parents and grandparents, attended the Journey's Christmas Eve service. We met at the old Capri Theatre in Fondren and had hot chocolate, sang Christmas carols and read the Christmas story from Luke. It was a lot of fun. We even got to see a little dancing.

Afterward, we went to eat a Waffle House (a Freeny/Hodge tradition) and came back to Brad's grandparents' house to play games until midnight. The next morning, we opened the remaining Christmas presents and went to the Howell family Christmas dinner. This was also exciting, because everyone came there as well. I was able to visit with my cousins from Greenwood/Grenada, who I don't see that often anymore. We were given a great cookbook compiled by Mamaw Howell that has pictures of the family and us growing up along with the recipes. We also watched old videos of our plays and a fashion show, which made us all laugh.

Christmas night, Brad and I went home to our apartment and did our Christmas together. I gave Brad a Nintendo DS lite and Mario game that he had asked for, and he gave me several children's books that I love in hardback, as well as a behind the scenes book about Wicked, the musical, and Season 2 of Grey's Anatomy. I also got a really beautiful pottery lamp from Pier 1 that I had asked for. Below are some pictures from our Christmas together. Here we are opening the stockings for Bailey and the cats.

Bailey was so excited to see her stocking.

This "spoiled" stocking fits her just right.

Bailey got a new bone and some tennis balls. She also got a new winter coat.

The cats weren't so excited about their stocking, until they saw the puffy balls inside. Here is Zoe trying to catch one.

Bailey posing in her new overalls, a gift from one of Brad's students. So CUTE!!!

Brad is trying to entice the cats to pose with their stocking, to no avail.

NEW YEAR'S EVE 2006!

Brad and I went to his sister, Sonya's house for New Year's Eve. We played games, such as pictionary and bingo, until nearly midnight. Then the kids (Brad, Steven, and Seth) went outside to shoot fireworks. When those were gone, we came inside to watch the ball drop at midnight. This year, Brad wasn't too busy with fireworks to kiss me at midnight.