Hello All! Sorry we've been away so long - it's been a busy time for us as I'm sure it has for you as well. I hope you all have had a wonderful holiday. I have so enjoyed getting some time to spend at home with just the boys! Today it is almost 1:30 and I am still in my pajamas and Matthew and I have just watched TV and read stories - how great is that! In his stocking he got a personalized Scooby Doo story book that he is just entranced with - we have read it over and over. :) He has just requested another reading - this may be a short entry!
Let's see ~ an update...we went with Scott and Shannon down to Auburn for our annual visit to see Christmas lights with Buddy and Teresa. We went back to Callaway Gardens this year - the last time we were there it was VERY cold, but this year the weather cooperated, the wagon ride was great, Matthew was old enough to really enjoy it and the lights were really beautiful. We also managed to track down Santa at the Auburn Mall where Matthew informed him that he wanted a Weasel Ball and an airplane from Cracker Barrel and asked him what kind of snack he wanted and whether he liked white or chocolate milk. I think Santa was a little taken aback. :)
The next week we picked out a Christmas tree. Here Matthew makes sure this one has "good branches for ornaments."
Next Matthew makes sure it has a good smell!
We decide this is the tree for us and so Matthew helps wrap it up to take it home!
The tree was very thirsty!
I asked Matthew if he was ready to decorate the tree and he said, "I don't think so, I'm puffed out!"
We did finally get our tree decorated however and ready for Christmas morning! You can see several of the ornaments are ones that Matthew has made in school. He's only 4 - we're going to need a bigger tree!
We had Christmas with my family the weekend before Christmas at Oak Mountain where we rented a cabin for all the out of town family. It was also orienteering weekend at the state park, so several family members ran in various courses. We had Christmas breakfast and opened gifts. All 6 siblings had met in Montgomery a couple weekends before to have portraits taken as a surprise gift for Mom and Granny Hazel. Was she ever surprised! It has been a long time since all six of us have been together for a formal portrait. We had a great time together - it turned out to be a beautiful, warm weekend. It was also the weekend my students were performing To Kill A Mockingbird at HMS, so I was pulling double duty, but Mom graciously kept Matthew (a burden, I know!)
Christmas Eve we attended the candlelight service at First Pres. This is one of my favorite services. Our new head of staff, Shannon Webster is outstanding and this Christmas Eve meditation was no exception. You can read all First Pres' sermons, etc. online at www.firstpresbyterianbirmingham.org. We then headed over to Andy's parents for dinner - the traditional meal here is Cajun - red beans and rice, jambalaya and shrimp gumbo - it is always wonderful. :) Yum! This was our Christmas with Shannon as well, since she was headed off to Boston to her parents for Christmas Day.
We had a great Christmas morning - Matthew was "super excited" (he says) to see his Thomas Roundhouse, which is just what he wanted, along with a Weasel Ball (it chases it's own tail - go figure!) and an airplane he had seen at Cracker Barrel and was just dying for. Apparently Santa shops there also. Whew. Santa took all the fudge and white milk we left him and Matthew cleaned up the crumbs later that afternoon. Matthew was also very excited about a new blue bike horn that is VERY loud - everyone in the neighborhood will be thrilled with this new toy that currently doubles as a train whistle.
We are enjoying a little bit of rest and relaxation before we head back to school and work after the holidays. We hope you all had a wonderful holiday. Check out the new slide shows! Let us know how you are. Come visit or call when you can. We love you all.
~ Cherith, Andy and Matthew
