Thursday, December 25, 2008

Christmas Day 2008

We've had a terrific Christmas today! Christopher got up around 8:00, so we had to make sure he saw what Santa brought him...he's still getting the hang of this whole "Santa" thing. In the living room was a GeoTrax train and track (last minute idea since he's ONLY been asking for a train).

yes, Santa screwed up and brought him an incomplete track :p Oops!


After playing with it a few minutes, the three of us opened our gifts. Christopher got:

A Black and Decker tool set


A Dirt Devil vacuum


A Magna Doodle Pro (which doesn't work so will have to be taken back!)


Shad got:

A new UT bleacher seat cushion


A Playstation 3


My big gift was:

A Canon EOS Rebel XTi digital camera!!!




After opening our gifts, we realized that Santa had left yet another gift for Christopher on the back patio...

a Ford F-150 Power Wheel!


His customized license plate...GBR HED=Goober Head (our nickname for him)


Unfortunately, since it was still cold outside, Christopher was only allowed to play for a few minutes. We then went back inside to play and wait for it to warm up a bit.

Later, in the early afternoon, Granddaddy (aka: Richard) came down to do Christmas with us. Here are some pictures from that gift exchange:

Granddaddy got a picture of the Vols running through the Open T that I took from our seats (imagine if I'd taken it with my new camera!)


Christopher got Monopoly Jr., Candyland and some games for his Fisher Price Computer Cool School from Granddaddy




oh, and LOTS of CANDY, too (this picture is of Pez dispensers)


(yes, it's a pooping reindeer!)


Here's my big gift from Richard:

a zoom lense for my camera!


Our big meal was dinner. Since we have a few relatives to visit with Thanksgiving and Christmas, we get ham and turkey'd out. So, back in 2006, we started our own tradition of doing Fondue instead of the traditional ham or turkey. My favorite restaurant is The Melting Pot, so this is right up my alley! Tonight, for our appetizer, we dipped tortillas, chips and veggies in a Velveeta cheese mixture (microwaved, not fondued). For the main course, we had steak, chicken and shrimp. Sadly, we didn't do the dessert fondue. =( Maybe one of these years we'll figure it out.

Christopher went without a nap today, so by dinnertime he was full of tantrums! Needless to say, he was in bed early tonight!

All in all, today was WONDERFUL!!! However, I'm ending my day with the realization that I need to go to the doctor tomorrow morning...I'm pretty sure I have Tonsillitis. :p It's either that or strep throat, but more likely Tonsillitis since it's not uncommon with me. We're supposed to be going to my mom's (aka: Grandma) tomorrow to celebrate Christmas with her, my aunt, sister, brother, niece and great-nephew. I just hope I can at least get on an antibiotic before I go.

I hope you all have had a GREAT Christmas! I'll leave you with a few miscellaneous pictures from today:

Close-up shot using my new zoom lense


Close-up shot of me and Christopher


Our family

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

First Visit With Santa

Shad and I took Christopher for his first visit to see Santa yesterday. Whenever anyone asks him what he wants Santa to bring him, he always says, "A train!" He was so excited about sitting on Santa's lap and telling him his wish...until it was our turn! When it came time for him to go up to Santa, he shy'd up and tried to hide. It only took a minute, though, and he warmed up. He even cheesed for the camera. Since I wasn't buying pictures from the photographer (they were a rip-off!), I was only allowed to take 2 pictures with my own camera. Here's what I got:



Monday, December 22, 2008

Bethlehem Marketplace

I forgot to post pictures from our visit to the Bethlehem Marketplace from last Saturday (12/13). Sorry! Here they are:

A vendor bandaging his finger even though he was adament that he didn't have a boo-boo!


A camel


A donkey


A soldier


Petting a real chicken


Sheep


"Joseph," "Mary" and "Baby Jesus"