The Day after Christmas

I am sitting here looking at the glow of the Christmas tree thinking about what a wonderful Christmas we had this year. Everyone is in bed asleep, Donavan in his new Christmas jammies with his newest stuffed doggie he got from his uncle tucked in close beside him.

This year our Christmas started at my parents house. We went there for Christmas eve. Donavan had a wonderful time opening his gifts. He got some really great ones, but my fav was this little tiny red wagon my grandma got him. Its just a little thing, he couldn't ride in it, but he can load his toys in it. (Today he was banging on it like a drum) We had some yummy food and got home LATE! My parents live about 2 1/2 hrs away from us.
Then Christmas morning as soon as Donavan woke up, we opened his gifts, he got mostly clothes, a toy, two books and two little stuffed animals from Mumzie and Daddy. Then I made us breakfast, and a little bit later started on dinner. For the first time I made a turkey dinner with everything we wanted (which was a lot!) I was a bit nervous about cooking a turkey, but I did it in a bag, put all the seasonings we wanted on it with butter and it was so yummy and perfect, it was falling off the bone. I was very proud of myself. Kelsey helped me cook, and boy did we! He did a wonderful job! And only made 2 messes~! I didn't know he had never helped in the kitchen as a kid, and every time I would ask him to help me he would always leave in the middle, but this time he helped me and we worked so well together it was a lot of fun listening to Christmas music making all the yummy food we wanted to eat. We cooked for about 5 hrs with an hr break and we only ate for about 15 min! lol all the dishes had dents in them, we filled one plate and we couldn't eat anything else. We made lots of deserts and only ate one! haha too funny. BUT we have TONS of leftovers to eat on for a week or more which is what I wanted. I just couldn't see making a meal for one day that was going to cost a weeks worth of groceries and not make extra, so we made too much I think. Then we got dressed in nice clothes and ate by a candle light. After that we got in jammies, bundled Donavan up in a blanket and went to look at christmas lights. Donavan fell asleep in my arms while listening to Christmas music. It was the best feeling to have him there with Kelsey beside me. I just wanted to bottle up the feeling to keep for another day! We were so wiped out from the day that after looking at lights we got ready for bed.
Then today we met up with my older brother Justin and his family in Eureka Springs. Thats about half way for us. We went to eat at the awesome place that I had never been to b4 but I am sure going to go again. Its called Ermillos, its Italian and the food there is just so wonderful. We had a really great visit with them, and got to see Zac. He was so excited about his gifts! Its so adorable, I love getting him things. Donavan had pasta and red sauce, at first he didn't want it, then he got his hand in it when I wasn't looking (of course) and then he started stuffing his face by the hand fulls. Needless to say he had it all over him, but boy did he enjoy it! haha

Well it is super late! And I have a really long day tomorrow and an even longer weekend ahead of me.
I will catch up with everyone later!
Nite

Today has been interesting. Donavan actually slept a little bit later thank goodness! ha Then we got a phone call from some friends that were in town. They had stopped for lunch on their way to Branson and were letting us know, so we went and ate with them. They hadn't seen Donavan in several months so I was happy they let us know they were in the area. Then we came home and Donavan started coughing again. We just got over a horrible cold earlier this month and I really hope it doesn't get as bad this time. He woke up from his nap coughing til he threw up, and hate that. So when daddy got home we headed to Walgreen's to get some meds. Well I'm really glad we went there because I was able to finish up some of my Christmas shopping and get a few items for our Christmas party tomorrow night.
Last year we had a Coco and Carol's party at our house and everyone seemed to have a great time so we planed another one for this year. What we do is I provide about 10 different flavors of coco and a verity of teas and some cider and coffee, and Kelsey plays Christmas songs and sings while everyone sits around and visits. Its a come and go as you please and everyone brings some little treat to snack on and share. Last year it was really warm! It wasn't supposed to be and so no one really wanted to drink coco, but thats ok because this year its a lot colder! We leave it open from 6 to 10 so people can come after their family gatherings and Christmas shopping.
When we got back from Walgreen's I fixed Donavan his dinner, well I didn't put away his pudding that he had for desert and he found it and I had chocolate drops in the hall! lol SO GLAD for hardwood floors when stuff like that happens! i had foot prints all over! lol Teaches me not to leave stuff where he can get to it right!
Well tonight is the last night of practice before the Christmas program on Sunday. Kelsey has been working really hard on the music for this and they are nailing down the solos tonight and then they have one REALLY long practice on Sunday afternoon. I will be so glad when this is over. I usually sing in the choir but I'm not for the program because all the practices have been at Donavan's nap time and its just not worth the cranky baby. I am really excited about the program and I hope we have lots of visitors for it. They are singing several songs and the children are doing a song in sign language so it will be a full night of music. My mom and dad are supposed to come and if they do they are going to take Donavan home with them for the night. We are going there for Christmas eve so it will give Kelsey and I a day together which would be wonderful. Its been a really long time since we have spent a day just the two of us.
After Kelsey gets home from practice we are going grocery shopping for Christmas dinner. For the first time I am cooking a turkey. Last year was my first year to do a Christmas dinner and we were so proud of it! I cooked a whole chicken and it turned out great! ( When we look back at the pictures we laugh because I didn't fix much!! haha) So this year I am going to do a turkey! I am doing it in a bag and so there shouldn't be any problem... from what I hear! ha Anyway I have been working on a menu and I am really jazzed about it all. I love the holidays!! We decorate for winter and celebrate the season for as long as we can. Donavan is actually getting into the spirit of it, and its just adorable.

Well I'm off for now. I am hoping for a good nites rest before I tackle all the cleaning and getting ready for the party.

A little bit about the Harrells

Its a lovely wintery day here. I am listening to Christmas music, my son Donavan playing with his toys in the background. I have a few minutes before nap time, then I have a meal to prepare and some dishes to do. We are having company tonight, and I am looking forward to an evening of some adult conversation.
I am a stay at home mom, and I really love it, most days.........
Like on Sat night, we put Donavan to bed for the night and we were waiting to make sure he would stay in bed before we started up showers and getting our clothes ready for Sunday service. Well we sat in the living room and chatted trying to stay quiet. After about 20 min Donavan hadn't made a noise, nor had he come out of his room, so Kelsey and I started for the bedroom and bathroom and as we got to the bathroom door, Donavan busted out of his room with his sippy in his hand and was smiling so big making this growling noise and walking as fast as he could towards us. It was just so adorable, you have to laugh. So we gave him big hugs and put him back in his toddler bed and he was out like a light.
Donavan is my son, he is 21 months old, has beautiful blond hair and blue eyes and a cheery smile. He loves to play the drums and everything is a drum stick. He is a really good little boy with a little stubbern streak that he gets from both me and his dad! ha
Kelsey is my husband. We have been married a little over 6 years. Kelsey and I worked at the local grocery store, he was my manager. haha He was wonderful about helping me clean up my messes I made. It was nothing for me to drop a large supreme pizza right before putting it in the box! Or to overflow the fryer when I was cleaning it. (Oh I worked in the deli part of the store)
Kelsey plays many instruments and is VERY good at it, he also sings and he preaches. He has been preaching out a little more each year. When we first were married and while we dated he never told me he was feeling called to preach. I really don't know how fair that was but He is a wonderful preacher. I always thought I would marry someone serious, and I didn't. Kelsey is a nut and a whole lot of fun to be around. He is a WONDERFUL husband, and I can't imagine life with out him.
Right now we go to a little church a few miles up the road and we have a wonderful Pastor Leon Fontenot. Kelsey and I are as of Jan the Youth Leaders and Kelsey helps out (A LOT) in the music Dept. and I help out with whatever is needed there. We have a little over 100 in our church and about 16 in our youth group. We have a wonderful church with strong men as leaders in it, its really been great for Kelsey and I. My dad has always been my pastor growing up (Don Doran) but about 14 months ago Kelsey and really felt like we needed to branch out and move on. The nurse who helped deliver Donavan went to this church and on Fathers Day we wanted to go and see her so she could see Donavan. We had never been to her church, and we fell inlove with the church and the pastor, and God just showed us this is where he wanted us to be. We now live about 3 hours aways from my family all to ourselves, and it gets a bit lonely somedays but we really love our church and Kelsey and I have really grown here.
Well thats enough for now
hope everyone has a very merry christmas!!