Christmas 2010 Part II

After caroling, enjoying the lights, and shrimp and grits...........

It was gift time! The boys were soooo excited to GIVE their gifts!



Here Bennett is saying, "Hannan, we brought you a gift and its a train!"


(No picture, but....) Hannan was so excited when he gave Bennett his gift that he was right on top of him saying, in a stage whisper...." We got little Bennett a present, too!" meaning Brooksie.


He knows Brooks by name but.... WAS. JUST. SO. EXCITED!

Thanks, Man!










Nothing like giving and sharing!

Christmas 2010 Part I

As wonderful as the lights of Bellingrath were ...............


for us..............

at Christmas, nothing can compare to the lights down the road from our house .


Where our neighbor welcomes us every year.

This year we decided to carol for her. See Jason. See Leslie sing.


See Lela sing. Jay are you singing? She loved it! You could even say she glowed!!

Of course we enjoy watching the little ones...............


......... enjoy themselves......



and enjoy trying to keep up with them.









And trying to capture their joy on film!


It is a run free kind of place.

And as wonderful as the shrimp were in New Orleans, they don't compare with the Shrimp and Grits we went home to eat!
Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays ........................

Merry Christmas

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were so afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and good will toward men.

Merry Christmas!

The Second Annual "Get 'er done" Shopping Trip

Leslie and I "enjoyed" the second annual "get 'er done" shopping (I mean buying) trip today. We left home about 3 o'clock, after I spent the morning in Thomasville. Leslie hit as many stores as humanly possible in 2.5 ( or was it 8) hours then we dragged the little ones and ourselves home.

This year's trip was not quite as seamless as last year's, but still productive. After a couple of stops with Leslie running in and us riding around a parking lot, Bennett was looking for someplace to play. And of course whatever B wants little Bo wants also. So Leslie dropped us off at the mall and left us there. And now I know " Where the Wild Things Are." They're at the playground at the mall. Apparently all alone. From toddlers to 5 foot runners. Well it finally drove us to a bar. Leslie found us at Ruby Tuesday's having drinks! In the bar*. So Brooks went on the next round with Leslie and B and I reinforced ourselves for a second round of "FUN". He played so hard that we soon had to look for another drink. On our way to Chick-Fil-A we found the coin operated rides down the mall and rode them. Until the quarters ran out. After restocking with juice and quarters at Chick's we rode the cars and trucks again then back to the play ground.

When Bennett was reduced to walking in his sleep, I put his shoes back on him and carried him to the entrance as Leslie was driving up. He was asleep before we reached the North Valdosta Road exit. And So Was BO!

You may wonder why I don't just stay home and let Leslie shop alone. IT'S. FUN! CHRISTMAS FUN!

*"But, it's a baby. In a bar." Name that movie.

Paint Party '10

Not so much a party, but painting with a friend and food and fun. Sounds like a party!

The Weather Outside Is Frightful......

Well it was for a few days ........ then it warmed up again.

Traveling for Food

Greetings from the Windy City.

More commonly known as the Big Easy.


We popped over to New Orleans for lunch today.

The food was great and IT. WAS. WINDY!!!! Wind gust up to 40mph. But we braved the weather for..........


........... crawfish etouffee, jambalaya, and shrimp creole.
Loved the jambalaya, but decided I really don't care for crawfish. Their jambalaya is served mixed with enough rice to make it stick together. Loved it.




Then we may have walked around the French Quarters .............






enjoying the local art ...............

and architecture.

Then we may have stopped in this store. Just maybe.