Just The Mays Family: More Christmas Festivities *Pic Heavy*

Yesterday was a wonderful day! First thing we went to go get our Christmas tree. We usually go to a tree lot called Weavers because that is where I used to go with my parents every year. Well, we decided to start our own traditions, so this year we went to Kittle Christmas Tree Farm where you get to cut down your own Christmas tree! They have all the stuff there that you need to do it. And all the trees are the same price! 40 dollars!!! I had $60.00 put away for a tree, so we took what we saved and put it toward Samantha's Christmas Eve gift-The Lion King on Blu Ray and DVD. Jessie picked it out. The ornaments were also $25.00 less than I thought-they were $35.00 for all three and I had $60.00 put away for those too-so we also bought her some stocking stuffers.

Then we went and got our family ornaments. Our family ornament was Santa on the train, to symbolize all the firsts we are doing together, like riding on a train. Jessie and I didn't do much as kids, so when we take Samantha to do stuff, it is all new to us too. Mine and Jessie's usually symbolizes some sort of big step we took that year. We got a mailbox-for two reasons. 1. We got the good news (a job offer) in the mail from Comcast. And that was a HUGE step for us. and 2. Because I got my license and...well, hit a mailbox. So we got the number of the house put on the mailbox. :) and Samantha's was a ballerina for obvious reasons. (Pictures Below).

We went and ate Logan's on the way home. That is one of our favorite places to go. It was nice to sit down and talk. Samantha Loves to join the conversation even more now. Family dinners are very important to me, so I am glad that Jessie agrees with me on that.

Then we came home to decorate the tree and we listened to Christmas music, drink homemade hot chocolate! And ate homemade gingerbread cake! I will copy and paste the links to the recipes at the bottom. Samantha really enjoyed making those with me. She kept saying how much she Loved spending time together. And that she had ONE Mama and she was the perfect Mama. It made me feel really good, especially after everything going on lately. I just haven't been able to sit down and focus long on her like I used to, so it was really nice to hear that. Afterward we laid down together and watched a Christmas movie, the Polar Express. I recorded it on DVR off the ABC Family 25 days of Christmas. I wanted her to see it before she goes on the train ride. I think she enjoyed it, at least what we saw of it, because we all passed out before it was over. It was like 1 in the morning.

It was a ton of fun. I am still worn out. Yesterday is definitely one of my favorite memories.

Also, I am adding pics of some other stuff we have done lately. One of those being going to the Christmas House in the area, that we go to every year. And the other one-sorry we keep stealing your ideas Christina. They are just so good. lol-We made salt dough ornaments, but they have not painted them yet. Next Saturday is Samantha's mall show and Sunday Jessie and I go on our date to Rock City. :)

Hot Chocolate: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/fluffy-hot-chocolate-2/detail.aspx

Gingerbread Cake: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/gingerbread-iii/detail.aspx

Quick note: Saw the doctor yesterday morning. She prescribed me Zoloft, but I am not sure if I want to take it...I don't want to be dependent on something like that...However, it does "treat" everything they diagnosed me with and I would like to have my life back-completely...Jessie and I are going to discuss it. He says yes. I say let me research it first...We will see. Good news is, if I do decide to take it, my co-pay is only $6.00, and it is regularly $108.00!

This is the tree. :0)

Samantha being silly because she didn't want her picture taken.

Jessie was like, "Uh, this is freakin hard!"

Family Ornament

Our Ornament

Samantha's Ornament

Ha Ha. She is pointing at it.

This tasted way better than the prepackaged houses!

Making Hot Chocolate

Daddy gets the big mug.

Tree Decorating Goodies

Helping Daddy Put on the Angel-Samantha's Favorite Thing To Do Every Year

Not Quite Finished. I am going to make a few changes and add candy canes and snow. Plus I need to wrap more gifts. The ones on the right are all Samantha.