Merry Christmas

Breakfast with Santa

We met Helen's parents and her brother Mike, Aunt Chris, and cousin Lindsay at their church for a pancake breakfast with Santa. There were model trains and games for the kids. The kids had a great time, except when they had to pose with Santa - Lindsay wasn't to happy about that "Santa no, no, no".

Christmas Canteen

It's been a tradition for several years for us to take my mother and Helen's parents to the Aurora Theater's "Christmas Canteen". It's a great show to get everyone in the holiday spirit.

To Grandmother's House

Every year Helen takes the boys over to her mother's house for a day of baking Christmas cookies. We have a Disney Christmas book with a cookie baking scene. Adam insists that we take the book to Helen's parent's house so we can see what kind of cookies to make.

The Need To Bake

Helen absolutely loves to bake. Unfortunately, with our busy schedules it's hard for her to find the time. But even with exams, basketball, piano, tennis, etc. she managed to carve out time to do some baking. Actually she insisted, saying that it just wouldn't be the holidays without baking. She said she would have been more stressed\irritated if she would have let her job get in the way of holiday baking. We had some lame dinners during the week including cereal one night, but it was worth it. The boys love to help. Adam has to wear his special snowman apron and use his special Christmas spreaders. The boys made "Rudolph" cookies to share with their classes at school.

Day With Uncle Mike and Aunt Chris

Adam gives Lindsay some lovin

Derek never seems to tire of this move

And now it's Adam's turn to put the dreaded "bunny ears" on Lindsay

Uncle Mike and Lindsay

Aunt Chris holds Lindsay while Uncle Mike cleans her shirt

"Cousin" Photo Op

Helen's brother, Mike, and his wife, Chris, drove across town to spend the day with us. We ate lunch at Ippolitos and then went shopping at The Forum. The boys just love their little cousin, Lindsay.

In the evening, Helen's parents joined all of us for the annual "Walk Through Bethlehem" that Simpsonwood United Method Church puts on. It's a neat re-creation of the town of Bethlehem as it might have been during the time of Jesus. We saw lots of friends and Adam was especially happy to see his neighbor friend, Ryan. They hugged and danced around when they saw each other.

Xmas Prep

Each night Adam and Derek look forward to a "surprise" treat from their Advent calendar

Adam decorates the tree as Nanna looks on

Derek's into the holiday season

Adam sets up his train under the tree

Adam wanted me to sit with him while he ate his cookies in front of the tree

Santa Lula

Xmas Lists

School Pictures

Thanksgiving #3

Adam re-decorates his thanksgiving tshirt (from his original design to his right) after the design disappeared in the wash the first time

Aunt Chris and Lindsay

Before dinner, Adam tells everyone what he's thankful. Adam's really pretty shy so we were pleasantly surprised that he wanted to get up in front of everyone.

We love Lindsay's "chunky legs"

Derek helps Lindsay show off her "big sister" tshirt

On Saturday we went to Helen's parents for our 3rd Thanksgiving meal in as many days. I made the strategic decision to go without a belt and, boy, was I glad.

Derek won more money from me as my Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets failed again to beat the hated Georgia Bulldogs. Helen's family is not really into sports and thinks it's strange that I'm constantly yelling, imploring, and pleading at\with the tv. In the end our sorry players failed to make a play (making it at least 5 years since they've made one) resulting in the firing of our coach and good guy, Chan Gailey.

But the big news was the announcement that Helen's brother, Mike, and his wife, Chris, are expecting their second child. They let everyone know by dressing their daughter, Lindsay, in an "I'm going to be a big sister" tshirt.

Train Museum

After the train museum the boys roped Grandpa into playing frisbee

Adam tells us what he's thankful for

On the Friday after Thanksgiving my Dad came over and we all went to the Southeastern Railway Museum. It was neat. We all had fun riding the train with Santa, walking through the old passenger cars, watching the miniature train, and seeing all the old railroad memorabilia.

When we got home the boys had lots of things for Grandpa to play with them. When he was good and worn out we had Thanksgiving meal #2. And again we were all stuffed.

Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving we went over to my mom's house. Usually my brother Jason and his wife, Laine, join us, but this year they went to visit Laine's dad in Texas. My mom made lots of good food for us and we were all stuffed - as it should be on Thanksgiving.

I spent most of the time doing a tune-up of her computer. She recently switched from AOL to Comcast and had so much AOL junk on the computer that it was unusable. She's all straightened away now and should be able to enjoy her computer much more now.

She has a new lab, Hannah, as well as a chow-mix, Ruby. They're sweet dogs. Hannah spent most of time trying to get everyone to rub her belly. She would just plop down in front of you and roll over and wait.

After dinner we all chilled and watched "Home Alone".