Christmas In Bossier 2011- Bryant/ Kammerdiener Family

Yay!!! Now that I finally finished documenting all the "Christmas Fun: we had, I can move on to documenting the Christmas celebrations we had!!! :)

1st up...the weekend before Christmas we all drove up to Bossier City, LA to have Christmas with my mom's side of the family.

My kids were happy & in good spirits on the ride up early Saturday morning. They even slept part of the time which was very helpful for the rest of the day. Cause it was BIG day.

This was an EXTRA special celebration because we weren't only celebrating Christmas, we were celebrating my papaw's 80th Birthday!

Before I go any further with this post...I have to back up a little. My papaw has had a very hard couple of months, he suffered from a major stroke in October, compounded by a lung issue he has, his health has been a big concern in our family the past couple of months. Papaw has lost most of his feeling on the left side of his body, he currently has a feeding port through his tummy that is helping him get the nutrition he needs, and because of all this he is now permanently living in a nursing home. (Man those words were hard to write and even harder to accept) But and here's the big BUT...he's still here!!! He's had something very life changing happen to him but he's still with us, he's fighting every day and he is a STRONG man. We are so lucky & blessed that he is such a fighter and that we got to spend this time with him this Christmas and for his birthday. It was cherished time.

Papaw we love you soooo soooo much. You have made this family what it is with your mentoring, your love, your wisdom, your spirituality, your strength, your heart, your smile. You are covered in thoughts, prayers, and love every single day and we smile every time we think of you. Keep fighting!!!

Having said all of that...we celebrated a little bit differently this year, but oh yes we CELEBRATED!!! We have much to be grateful for.

We had a picnic style birthday lunch & cake at the nursing home with papaw. That's right when you're this awesome, the party comes to you!!!

Happy 80th Birthday Papaw!!! Me with my parents, papaw, & Hallie.

Notice his shirt... It says "I Believe" and I think that's quite fitting. I'm not sure I believe in Santa as much as I believe in Papaw!!! and as much as I believe in miracles!

A party isn't a party till hallie has her tongue out!! :)

Look at these 3 beauties! My aunt deb, mom, and hallie.

Uncle Van & Hallie

Just Hallie

Aiden loves Brandi & blake so much!

The party people!!! Also known as My family :)

Happy 80th Birthday!!

Look at those super cheese faces! Those super smiles are saying "we love papaw sooooo much" and also..."I think there's cake over there"!

After the birthday extravaganza papaw needed to rest some and so we headed to the Hutches house to play & relax

Love this picture of playing

and relaxing

And UH-OH!!! all those unmarked presents in the middle of the room with everyone circled around them can only mean one thing!!!- It's time to play the dirty santa game! :)

It does get kind of "dirty" with everyone collaborating with their partner or in the bryant family's case, all 4 people in their family! But it's a lot of fun!!! And worth lots of laughs!

Then Aiden got to open his very 1st presents of the holiday and in case the anticipation wasn't enough, Aunt sherry wrapped this gift 4 times!!!

But 4 layers of wrapping paper later and we have a tent!! Thanks for that aunt sherry! This picture is depicting the men sitting and watching while the girls put together the tent for aiden.

Yeah could that thing be any bigger?

The christmas dinner feast. This is the "adult" table.

And this is the children's table.

He just looks like he's about to do something sneaky here doesn't he??

After the Feast we all got to play with the toys some, relax some, and then watch a movie together.

Sweet little gal, sleepy but still playing with her train!

And I love this one...Aiden could have sat anywhere but he chose to go and wedge his tiny booty in between brittany and her special "friend". Funny boy!! hahaha

Barbie & hallie before bedtime.

After the movie & sleep. We all gathered together again to go to church as a family and then lunch.

Lunch at Smashburger and then back to the nursing home to spend more time with papaw.

All the family for Christmas 2011. Like I said it was a different year this year. Things have changed and some of it makes us sad but it was still wonderful to be with all of our family. To remember all that we have to be grateful for. Especially each other!!!