Friday, December 26, 2008

second (1st) Christmas

Our house, ready for my parents with two Christmas trees in the windows. Can you see them both? My parents, Grant, and Oreo (who would escape if they left her home) arrived on Christmas eve a little after 7:00p after driving through rain all day.

Our first order of business was to play Settlers of Catan. Mom and I declared war on the guys (and I said later we shouldn't have told them until the end because they wouldn't trade with us) because I don't have enough game pieces for more than four.

We've gone from borrowing Ryan's school's Wii back to the original, a 1985 NES. Let me just say that the improvements in technology in the last 20+ years have been drastic. Grant demonstrated superior Duck Hunt skills, blasting them out of the sky so the goofy dog could hold up the kill.

Since Grant and I were outnumbered by people wanting to wait until Christmas of all days to open presents, the tree was left laden with packages Wednesday night. I woke up at 5:00a, but didn't think I'd get the warmest of reactions rousing the bunch of night owls to open presents that early. Luckily, Jifer and Trip walked by around 7:45a and set off the Oreo alarm in the garage. We opened presents a little after 8:30a.

Mom & Dad opening their presents . . . Grant got mom a Life is Good shirt. We also gave them a photo book of our wedding and a framed picture of us. Dad got a Lowe's gift card, a golf calendar, personalized stationary, and Smartwool socks.

Grant wanted clothes for Christmas, so that's what he got . . . a dress shirt from Express and a Super Pi (superman-like symbol with who knows how many digits of pi).





I got to hand out presents because I sat closest to the tree. I also got to open some presents myself: a CD, 3 books (Multiple Bles8ings, Zamba, and a book of zoo vet stories), an ornament, a super-cool level (think of the pictures I can hang!), a hydration backpack, personalized stationary, and a DVD. There might be more, but I can't remember right now.

Ryan modeling his presents: a tennis bag and balls from Grant. He also got Back to the Future DVDs, racquetball goggles, a digital picture frame, a sports trivia game, and a CD.

I've had this ornament bookmarked on my web browser for I don't know how many years. Jaclyn had my name out of us girls and she got it for me! See the little bird on his hat? I bet you could find a s'mores ornament that is doing something you like too!

While Ryan watched basketball and Grant played Super Mario World on the computer, I showed my parents pictures from the last few months. Mainly we looked at Junior History Trip pics, all 800!

Our walk around campus uncovered a broken water main next to the Manor spewing city water all over an already-damp campus. I was worried for Jifer's garage behind the girls' dorm. Subsequently, we were without water for about 3 hours while the city worked on repairing the broken pipes.

For our third and final trip to the Opryland Hotel to see Christmas decorations and lights, we went during the day and on a weekday. After fighting terrible traffic twice on Saturday nights, we decided this was the best strategy. Yes, the lights aren't as dramatic, but it's worth the sanity points.



On the escalator in between the Cascades and Garden Conservatory areas. You can see that I get no respect as a photographer from my family . . .










attempting a self-portrait

Mom and I walking on the upper walkway through the Garden Conservatory. Every time we try to walk through the prettier paths below, a wedding or something blocks us and we have to detour.


After being re-routed, we meandered past a small waterfall, some goldfish, and lots more cool plants.







Ooh . . . aah . . . goldfish . . .









Grant's laughing because he was making a stupid face and I wouldn't take the picture until he stopped. What do you do with little brothers?

Ryan and I standing at a popular wedding spot where couples get to experience their indoor/outdoor weddings in the Delta area.

This is what all that walking around can do to you.

Since we seem to rarely take a family picture, here are two to make up for it! (Don't adjust your monitors, ladies and gentlemen. It's Grant that's askew, not your computer.)

On the Delta Walkway, overlooking the water show area

In front of the monstrous Christmas tree

I found this ornament at a shop in the hotel and had to get it, not only because it was on sale the day after Christmas! I love these s'mores ornaments!

Besides the hotel, we also swooped in on some post-holiday deals at Target, Kohl's, Kmart, and Walmart. I felt the need to try on my purchase of colored LED lights that were half-off. I also got Ryan some of his favorite colored "chaser" lights, a snowboarder ornament, wrapping paper, and gift boxes.



I also got to try out our new wedding present from my parents, a cobalt blue Kitchen Aid stand mixer! Mom and I made Russian tea kettles (cakes) for its inaugural run. We're mixin things up at the Heilman house!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Carson's first birthday

pre-birthday party TV watching with Grandpa

waiting for some excitement

Carson's favorite - spaghetti & peas

Olivia teaches the ways of birthday celebrations

Carson thinks the sprinkles look the best.

It was a well-documented event!

"Hey! This stuff is on me!"

Clean-up's not half the fun . . .

Carson would rather look at pictures of himself than open presents.

Aunt Renee helps Carson open the Skippyjon Jones books we got him.

Carson opens one by himself.

This is really a blackmail picture for Becky, but Carson sure looked darn cute with his little bow.

first (1st) Christmas

We went to Collegedale for the weekend to see John Locke who was home from Korea and anyone else who hadn't left for the holidays yet. Jonathan and Kelli came over with John for Sabbath lunch and we had a relaxing afternoon just talking mostly as the rain fell ALL day.

We opened presents for our first Christmas of the year on Saturday night.

Stockings come first

Randy got his heaters for the camper.

Mary Jane wearing her new soup tureen! (I didn't know what a soup tureen was before she asked for one, and after her demonstration, I'm still confused.)

While Ryan spent Sunday as a sports day, I drove down to see family in Calhoun. I barely got off the exit and avoided sitting in the south-bound traffic while the interstate was blocked for 3 hours!

After seeing the aftermath, I couldn't really tell what caused the accident, but this doesn't look good!

I finally made it over to Grandma Dut's, where I helped her set up some Christmas decorations. I also took pictures of some of her feathered visitors. Recognize a winter goldfinch?

Brown-headed nuthatch

Grandma's cat, Baby
Bird feeders are supposed to feed birds, right? This sharp-shinned hawk made off with one of the little birds and scared Baby out of the window in the process.

Grandma, Aunt Tonda, Joy, Harley, and Ella - all the girls on the couch.

We ARE smiling!

Evan's so big! He just turned 2 on Dec. 8. See his birthday boots? He's quite the buckaroo on his little horse. I hope the house survives. When I tried to leave a the end of the visit, he sat on me and said "NO!"

Back at the Heilmans' - a tufted titmouse finds ice where his/her water should be.

Christmas decorations on the tree

Ryan samples a candy cane

The Graves family came for lunch and an afternoon visit. Ryan enjoyed catching up with Byron over ping-pong. We also met Jenni, Byron's wife.

And finally back home on Monday night in time for football on our new TV. I love watching in HD!

 Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

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