Kate's First Christmas

Kate's first Christmas was so much fun and we were happy to be able to spend it with family. On Christmas Eve, we made our way down to Hawesville to visit my Mom and Dad. This has been what we have done since we have gotten married... it just took quite a bit longer for us to get packed and on the road this year! We spent Christmas morning with my parents and it was so much fun to watch Kate "opening" her presents... or her expression as she watched me or Nick open them. She loved all of the toys that she got from Grammy, Pawpaw, and Aunt Alysha! We spent Christmas afternoon and evening with Nick's family at his aunt and uncle's home. This Christmas was extremely different from years past at the Paulin's! This year there were five babies - actually five great-granddaughters! They ranged in age from 2 years old to 2 months old. It was so wonderful to see all of the new cousins together. As the night continued, it seemed that every room you walked into was being occupied by another sleeping baby. Kate fell asleep in her carseat around 7 and slept until we left, around 10:00. Then she was WIDE awake and ready to spend the last 2 hours of her first Christmas alert and playing! We had a wonderful Christmas away, but look forward to being at home with Kate for the Christmases to come.

Kate and I fell asleep mid-packing...

 On our way to Grammy and Pawpaw's!