We had an extremely busy holiday season this year (I don't know if Momma and Papa can do this again...we are tired!), but Bella had a great time this year! She definitely understood the "unwrapping" part of Christmas this year. We started the week of celebration off on Saturday with a trip to Terre Haute to celebrate with the extended Basso family. Uncle Jeremy, Aunt Brooke, and cousin Lexi hosted the event with yummy ham and turkey. Such good cooks! Bella really liked playing fetch with Lexi, especially when Lexi would reward her with a kiss on the cheek!
On Monday morning, we traveled to Nonie and Uncle Charlie's house, where we celebrated with the Franklins, Jeremy, Brooke, Rich, Bob, Lexi, Mickey, and Rocky. And all of Bella's new babies! Here she is opening the first present of the day with Nonie:
After a scrumptious lasagna (and breadsticks, cake, more cake, cookies, snoballs, chips, more chips, crackers, cheese, and some more lasagna), we headed to Mamaw Charlotte's house with Jeremy, Brooke, and Charlie. We had a houseful this year! The Powers Christmas for 2007 included 21 people! Our newest addition is cousin Zoey (born in July). We captured the wee ones in their Christmas pajamas for a picture. As you can tell, they were having a great time! That is not-such-a-baby-anymore James on the right.
We woke up early on Christmas morning and dove right into the presents! 
Bella's first present was Ellie, a newborn Cabbage Patch Kid. Ellie was hungry that early in the morning, so we had to take a bottle break.
After some frantic packing and sorting, we made the trek north to Converse. Bella was still in her pj's for that authentic Christmas morning feeling! Here she is with Papaw, trying out her new Dora the Explorer laundry hamper.
She also received a fantastic new easel from Nana and Papaw! We've gotten hours of enjoyment out of it so far on our break. She really enjoys using the dry erase markers. Sometimes she even uses them on the dry erase board!
Evening toothbrushing can sometimes be an adventure with Bella, so Nana got her a Princess toothbrush set, that sings while you brush! It came with a nifty cup....
...which is handy, 'cause unwrapping presents is a thirsty business.
When we finished at Nana and Papaws, we drove to Marion to celebrate with the Johnson family at MeMe's house. Everyone was there this year! We even got to see Navy apprentice Wesley, home on leave, as well as cousin Joey and his fiancee Lindsay. Aunt Faye and Uncle Larry even stopped by for a visit. I think Bella's favorite gift was a stroller. She pushed Ellie around all day in it. 
Here is MeMe opening her present from us, a blanket with "MeMe" embroidered on it. We thought it would be cozy when she needs to "rest her eyes" while watching TV at night. 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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