Mom and Dad and the Grandkids

Here is the best picture of Mom and Dad with all the grandkids. The funny thing about this picture is that it isn't real. Everyone was together sitting on that stoop, but one child was crying or another was making a funny face or someone didn't smile. So I took three pictures and used a piece from several to make this one.

I did the same for the image of me and Kate at the hospital, showing Jack. Kate's eyes were closed in one picture and the other picture showed me looking funny (funnier than usual). So I merged them in PhotoShop and the image looks better for it.

Santa!

I went to the mall after work for some dinner and do some early Christmas shopping with Jack when I noticed that Santa was there and it might be a good idea to get a picture, since he is going to get real popular very soon.

There wasn't much of a line yet because it was still relatively early. There were three kids ahead of us so we waited a total of 5 minutes. Jack was great and seemed interested in Santa, right up until I put him on his lap - he whaled and cried like I had abandoned him and handed him over to some weird old guy with questionable fashion sense. The fact was that I had, but only long enough to snap this picture.

Jacks Best Buddy Caden

Sara, one of the girls at the Child Care Center said that Jack and Caden are Best Buds and showed me a picture of them that she took a few weeks ago when Caden put his arm on Jacks shoulder as they played at the media table.

Isn't that cute?

After Thanksgiving: South Carolina, Part 2

After going to the Festival of Lights, we spent time doing other stuff, like eating at a great Mexican restaurant, watching football and playing the piano.



Jack goofed off and decided to try on a Tupperware bowl as a hat.


Jack and the dog, best pals.


It was good to see Tino and Grandma. Thanks for the hospitality!

After Thanksgiving: South Carolina

We traveled to South Carolina after turkey day to see Kate's mom and Tino. Instead of driving back home, we thought it would be nice to stop by and give some equal time with his other Gramma.

We arrived in the evening and that night we went to see the Festival of Lights on James Island. If you have never heard of this or never been, then you should go and see it. It costs a few bucks per carload of people, but its a treat. There are about 100 light sculptures set up so you can drive through the park and see all of them. New ones are added each year. There is a special area set up that has hot chocolate and large wood bonfires so you can roast your marsh mellows. There are a few shops that have a lot of home made Christmas chotchki and ornaments, too.

There is a horse carousel and a stage with singers and Santa for the kids to get their picture. All of these things have lines that are about 60 people deep each, so they were not on our list of things we did.









An example of the homemade stuff that was in the gift shop, notice the mispelling of "scraps".

Thanksgiving: Georgia, Part 3

It was great to see my brother and sister.

The family together.

The family (Goofy photo).

Thanksgiving:Georgia, Part 2

Thanksgiving day was spent just playing around with the kids and watching football. We also played in th back yard with the kids. They threw the ball with the dog (who LOVED that). The boys had a little soccer net and practiced kicking goals. The girls would throw the football and play in the sandbox with Jack. It got colder later in the day and we had to put on coats later in the evening.

That night it rained a lot, which was very much needed in Georgia, which has suffered through a horrible drought the last few months. We must have brought the weather with us when we came down to visit.

The Dinner was ready about 5 and it was GOOOOOOOOD. That was some of the best turkey I have ever had, so juicy and tender. Mmmmmm, mmmmm. Karen really outdid herself on that meal.

We all relaxed after dinner and played various games such as Chutes and Ladders, Cherry Pick and Rock Sock Em Robots. Kenny and I played a few games of Rock Em Sock Em. The kids watched a few DVDs, doted on Jack and played with the dog, who was beat from all the excercise she had been getting earlier.

It was a great Thanksgiving just to have the family together and be around eachother. The food was great and Karen really did a great job as a host - bravo!