2011, Here we come!

I am full of lobster and the promise of something brand spanking new... Happy New Year!

What's in a name?

Henry gifted us with a beautiful, custom painted glass ball ornament for Christmas.  The true gifts that come along with that ornament, though, are wrapped in memory.

Memory #1:  I was dropping off Henry at school a couple of weeks ago, and he was feeling pretty clingy--not wanting me to leave or even stop hugging him.  Mrs. Hannah coaxed him with promises of fun activities, and Henry suddenly lit up and said, "I made you an ornament!"  Mrs. Hannah said, "Oh, Henry, that's the surprise gift!"  Henry dropped his head and bawled--my growing boy experiencing that dreaded feeling of embarrassment.  He let me comfort him, and I was grateful for a chance to, at least this one time, help him recover from that sinking feeling.  And, at least I wasn't the source.

Memory #2:  Look at this writing!

Change of Plans

Snow!  It has a way of making everything stop--especially if it falls in South Carolina.  It's the day after Christmas, and our original plans were to travel to Columbia for dinner with Cory's family then hit the road to Surfside.  Snow that started on Christmas evening put an end to those plans, and it's giving us a chance to enjoy the effects of a white Christmas.

I call this one "Little Booger."

We worked hard to raise snowmen from the three inches of white stuff.

Chocolate chip sustenance to refuel.

Henry had some extra time to spend with some new puzzles.  He's so proud of himself, and I can never get a normal picture of him anymore.  

Totally fine, though.

The snow is also giving Cory a chance to rest and try to recover from a terrible, awful cold that he cannot seem to shake.  I am hoping that both the roads and Cory's nasal passages will be clear for tomorrow's make-up day of family gathering.

Meanwhile, Merry Christmas from Henry, Penny, Mama, and Daddy!

And on another important note, our thoughts and prayers are with Stacy's family who lost their sweet grandmother Janie on Christmas day.  Stacy, if I am blessed with a granddaughter in the future, I pray that she's as caring and awesome as you.

Merry White Christmas!

Making a train out of his clementines...

H consistently requested a toy Christmas tree from Santa, and Santa came through with flying colors...

Like a dog on a bone:

Sure, it's early, but it's Christmas and I'm really sick.  Give me a break!

My loot from woot:

Looking so cool!

Big grin on his first bicycle...

Granddaddy spent Christmas lunch with us at Grandjane and Grandjoe's house.  It was a delicious lunch with the perfect company.

It only took Henry just under three years to have a white Christmas.

To Elizabeth, though, a white Christmas is so almost twenty years ago...

Merry, merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

We love Christmas Eve--the random food, quiet nucleus family time, the Christmas Eve service, and the preview gift.

Henry took communion at the afternoon family service, which was his first time.  It was just after he turned to Cory and whined, "My penis huuuurts."  Thankfully, Henry's nap made us a little late to the service, so we were sitting in the faux row of folding chairs, several feet away from other worshipers.  And, no worries.  An underwear adjustment and a couple of full body shakes got rid of the discomfort.

Here we are after the service:

Reindeer!

Preview gift... 

Cookies and Henry's letter for Santa, in his words:

Dear Santa Claus,
Good morning.  Give Santa some cookies.  Write Santa a letter.  Thanks for bringing stuff and lots of toys.  The reindeer can eat more food when they get to my house.  Merry Christmas!
Love,
H-e followed by a T (on the other side) then r, y.

I'm baaack

Welcome back to the land of the living where the other two are sick and the house is a wreck.  Merry Christmas!

Ugh... It's all in the timing

I'm sick.  It's the forehead on the cold tile between yelling at the toilet kind.

It's horrible in and of itself, but the timing really sucks.  Last night, Cory tried to replicate my banana pudding for a lunch he was hosting.  He forgot the bananas.  It's not normal for Cory to forget the bananas, but he also had to smoke a few pork butts, prepare slaw, get H's lunch ready, wrap H's teachers' Christmas gifts, get the stuff ready for H's school Christmas party, and, of course, get the boy ready for bed and then ready for school this morning.  He took H for his haircut this afternoon, too.  I hate missing Henry's hair appointments.  I also hate knowing that Cory is overloaded and that we won't get to do dinner with our friends tomorrow night.

It's never OK for a dad to say he's babysitting his own kid, but I never intended to saddle Cory with all the business of this week, and I actually feel lonely just listening to my boys' banter.  Here's to hoping that the virus stops with me, too, because Cory is a much better single parent than I am.

Ho Ha Ha... Merrrrry Christmas!

My aunts are silly...

Thank goodness.  Sometimes we all need to laugh.

Inside the studio...

Just playing around with the flip cam several days ago... not sure what to think of H's interpretation of a Mama face.

'Tis the Season...

... to celebrate birthdays!

November 26th:  Happy Birthday, David!  It took me approximately 12.5 years to know it, but I have an amazing brother.

December 1:  Happy Birthday, Grandjoe!  I alway knew you were great, and the same goes for Henry, too.

December 1:  Happy Birthday, Cory!  I am grateful to share your years with you and am so proud of you.  I love you, I love you.  H does, too.

December 5:  Happy Birthday, Grandjane!  Thank you for being a good example because we all know I'm turning into you.  H is lucky.

December 17:  Happy Birthday, Josh!  You're 21 now, and I hope you know that you are a fun and important part of our lives.

December 17:  Happy Birthday, Caleb!  Henry's youngest uncle is sure to have lots of wisdom to impart over the coming years.  Hope your 21st year is a legal blast!

We are so glad you were all born!

New Adjective

Last night, after I told Henry a story about how he and his friends suddenly realized that they outgrew their tricycles and ended up purchasing bicycles, he requested that the second story be a different one.  However, he clarified that "it can be a little bit bicycle-ly." 

Shore is Fun!

Ahhh... Thanksgiving weekend at Sunset.  It's my favorite beach trip.  The addition of kids makes it bit more eventful.

And so charming!

Penny isn't allowed inside Sea n' Isle, but the time spent outside is made bearable by time near water...

Whose idea was this one?

Henry was pretty upset about his wet jeans (how dare those waves!), so off they went.

Ryleigh got some extra attention.

But, in true grandparent fashion, she wasn't the only one.  Both Anna and Henry were hand fed some Cheeze Its to protect them from tooth grit.

And in true Sunset Beach fashion, there was lots of couch time.

Oh, and Elizabeth was napping during photo time.  Good for you, Elizabeth.