the last minute errands; the hustle and bustle of the grocery store; the Christmas tree full of gifts; baking cookies for Santa and his elves….

This year we added a new favorite to our list, the children’s live nativity story at church. Such a precious reminder of God’s many blessings!

These sweet, sweet memories are quite possibly the best gift of all!

The next day, thanks to four free tickets from our local newspaper, we headed into Atlanta to Christmas on Peachtree. The kids enjoyed the train, listening to the carolers sing holiday music, and decorating cookies.

When Danny comes to town, a few things happen…She always brings lots of food, which frees us up from cooking! This time, she came with a cooler full of goodies. There were brownies, chocolates, cheese straws, a pan full of stuffing, chicken, macaroni and cheese, green beans, and black eyed peas. She quickly became Huttie’s girlfriend of choice when she pulled out the whip cream.

The other thing that happens when Danny is around…dance parties. And lots of them!

When the kids weren’t dancing, eating, and listening to stories of Christmas past, they were being forced to pose for pictures from their unrelenting mama. G let me open my  gift a little early this year so that I could capture all of our Christmas fun. I was beyond excited to receive a new lens and remote control for our camera.

*Note: Much like his big sister, Huttie LOVES to play dress up. Thankfully, this dinosaur hat has replaced MR’s pink princess tiara as his new favorite accessory.

and holiday decor.

Tis the season for sweet Shugs (Sugar), our Elf on the Shelf that will spend her second Christmas with us.

Tis the season for the Melody Makers choir at church,

and grandparents who drive an hour and a half to see them perform a few holiday favorites.

Tis the season for Christmas cards,

and baking for our neighbors and friends.

Tis the season for holiday parties with G’s colleagues,

an evening with friends for a Tacky Christmas Sweater party,

and a no-husbands allowed get together with a few girls.

Tis the season for healthy, happy kids

and for the man that spoils us all!

At any Harvey event, there’s always plenty of food.

And baby-holders too.

You can count on the cousins, who are more like siblings, for a few laughs and a walk down memory lane. There are countless tales of hiding go seek on four wheelers, taking “old blue” out for a spin around the farm, and late night fishing at the pond.

When the stories run out, it’s time to make new ones… This years big event was a quail hunt. It would be Huttie’s first. And mine too!

You can expect a few wise cracks from the boys about how the Harvey girls love their heels, even on quail hunts through overgrown fields and briers.

Note to self: ditch the red jeans and heels in favor of this cute hunting vest that sweet Anne is sporting.

At the end of the day, there’s the annual gift exchange, where gifts like coolers full of meat and local brewed beer are exchanged.

And the look on everyone’s face when the smallest of the bunch opens up his first pair of Georgia boots.

This is family. Most definitely the greatest gift of all!