Merry Christmas, 2010 - Vol 1

We hope everyone had a great Christmas! We sure did! Ours started on Friday when we had brunch with Grandma and Pawpaw Gilbert and opened presents. Here are some of the highlights:

I hear young couples in love wear matching clothes... or maybe it was the longer you're together, you start looking alike. Either way, they liked their gift...

Danny got a pillow pet!

Another nutcracker for Megan's collection...

Zachary's Monty Python collection grows...

George might look drunk in this pic, but trust me, the bottle's not even open yet!  He was so excited about this bottle of wine, Southern Belle Shiraz. But not as excited as I was about my new herb box!

  What a wonderful Christmas! Thanks, Mom and Dad! We love you!

After brunch and presents, George went to work, and I took the kids to Christmas Eve service at church with Grandma and Papa Creamer and Cousin Harriet. Then, we baked and baked and baked some more. It was a long night, but we had fun, especially celebrating what the holiday was all about.

Our annual Christmas outings

Every year, we make plans to do two things at Christmas, and this year was no exception.

1. Danny's Birthday weekend, we go to the Living Christmas Story (Follow the Star) at Killearn United Methodist Church and either drive through or (after standing in line) ride the hayride through it. This includes a village set up behind the church complete with Roman soldiers, sheep, donkeys, shops, inns, etc. This year, Megan, Danny, and I  rode the hayride through it, and it was as magical as always. No pictures, unfortunately, as my hands were frozen from  standing in line for 45 minutes in 35 degree weather.

2. The weekend before Christmas, we visit Dorothy B. Oven Park to walk through and see the Chritmas lights and hear the music piped through the park.  The park is always beautiful, and we enjoy the walk. As it is unseasonably cold in Tallahassee this year, we were bundled up more than usual. Here are the few pics we took this year.

More from Danny's Birthday and beyond...

I still don't have George's pics from Danny's birthday, so I am going to post the only thing I have. These pictures were taken with my Backberry on Danny's birthday after the party and document how the rest of the afternoon went.

George got Danny a remote controlled police car (his wake-up gift), and Danny and Megan had a blast creating their remote control car "city" in the front driveway.

This week has been so busy, it is hard to step back from the hustle and bustle to think that Christmas is almost here. I don't think that's a problem for Danny and Megan, though.

They even talked us into going to Steak N Shake for a few of their Christmas-y flavored shakes. Unfortunately, after the kids slopped their Eggnog shake down the sides of their glass, Mommy's attempt at cleaning up the mess resulted in a tipped-over glass and an Eggnog shake flavored shirt for Megan.

She wasn't too upset, especially after George gave them permission to have a wet willie contest.

I love my kids!

Happy 7th Birthday, Danny Boy!

I can't believe my little boy is seven! He had a great family party today at Red Elephant, but until George uploads the pics, I have no way to show what a great time he had. In the meantime, I will hit the highlights of his sixth year. If every year is as good as this one, he'll be a lucky man!

I love my boy!

More from the Governor's Mansion

And this one has both me and George in it!