Christmas Highlights

The guys getting Wilson's picnic table out of the garage at Pat Pat & Paw's
Dad, this one's a little big- I may need some help
Okay- no one even told me this existed- a "Big Car" & a "Beeper Bus" (these have not left his side since Christmas Eve)
Let me help you out with that, Dad
It's a good thing I'm here- no one would be able to get any of their gifts opened!
(or their trash thrown away)
Hey- did Santa bring this for Wilson or Daddy!?
Man this is the coolest
Here's how you put the Big Car on the trailer

Wow- no one told me about this, either
His comments on the giant fire truck from Pop and Mim were "it's amazing, I've never even seen this fire truck, I'm so 'exciting'!"
Cousin Adam testing out his fire truck
Dad told me not to touch, but Aunt Maggie said to do it
Look- Santa ate some of his cookies and drank all his milk
Opening his stocking

It's the "Lightning Spiral 'Fing'"
I think this photo pretty much sums up how great our Christmas was
Finally, I get to open the BIG BOX that's been lurking in corners at Granna's
"Is it a hat?"
No, it's a great new bean bag chair!

Our Christmas celebrations began on Christmas Eve with brunch at Phil's parent's house. We opened gifts with all his siblings, cousin Adam, and his mom's parents. We had a wonderful morning that was full of all kinds of surprises. I'm not sure what was more exciting, the Volkswagen play set that Wilson got or the surprise visit (surprise to Pat Pat) that Santa made to Paw from the watch maker! Then, that afternoon we all went to Pop and Mim's (Paw's dad's house) for a family photo (all eleven cousins and their spouses and children from the four branches of the family were there for the first time in years), a great meal, and great new firetrucks for the littlest boys. It was almost too much and hard to believe this was only Christmas Eve!

We came home, left cookies out for Santa, and went to bed "in hopes that he soon would be there". If you've asked Wilson in the last month or so what he wanted Santa to bring, the only thing he's had to say is the "Lightning Spiral Fing (thing)" which leaves a puzzled look on most people's faces and me doing a little explaining. "It's a dirt track for Lightning McQueen". Well, Santa came through, and I have to say, my explanation leaves much to be desired. It's more like Thunder Mountain at Disney World for Lightning McQueen. He gets shot around a near vertical track and there's a trap door at one point that you can let him drop through. I don't know who had more fun with it- Wilson finally getting to see it in action or Phil figuring out all the physics involved to get the car to do all the cool things that it can!

Next, we were off to Granna & Big Daddy's to celebrate with all the great grandparents on that side of the family and my brother and uncle. Although we were certainly blessed with some wonderful gifts, I think we had the most fun giving here. We had put together a calendar of old family photos of my mom & her brother when they were little and a few of Wilson this year for my grandparents. I think my granddad's comment on it sums it up "this is ALMOST as good as the mustard greens!" (my dad wrapped up a bag that he had picked that morning for him). It was quite fun to watch them look through the months at all the fun photos of everyone. I was also able to surprise my parents with a painting of their house. It's always fun when you can give a gift that's completely unexpected! Wilson had a great time wrestling with his uncle on his new bean bag chair and then heading out to explore in "Big Daddy's country". We are also now well on our way to accessorizing our new house- we received a print of Walter Anderson's frogs and a great photography collage that spells Ethridge from architectural and natural elements.

Thank you to everyone for such a wonderful Christmas- we are truly a blessed family to be surrounded by such generosity from family and from our Creator. Thanks be to God for the greatest gift of all, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We're so grateful that there was room for a little one in the stable that night so many years ago! (this is a link to a sweet little book we've enjoyed reading this season about when Baby Jesus came).

Well, I better go start taking down the tree and packing my suitcase. We're under two weeks and counting until our next blessing arrives!