Christmas 2010

We had such a great Christmas this year that I don't know where to start. I guess first of all Jimmy built me a platform to display my Christmas Village this year and it turned out so nice. I think I can tell the story best thru pictures..you know a picture is worth a thousand words...so please enjoy the pictures of our family's Christmas.

First the grand kids were at the house the day before Christmas Eve and the lunch they are eating was probably the last healthy food they had for the next two day.
The boys were happy with the iPhone and iPod Touch. They would play for a long time just sitting in the chair together.

Sara liked the train around the tree. She would run it until it came off the track, then Grandpa had to put it back on for her.

Even Sean and Sara's Elf followed them from Alpharetta to see if they were good..but you can't touch him.

Sean wanted to keep an eye on Santa's progress toward Georgia on TV...Yes, we watched Santa in HD...isn't technology great!!

Doesn't Sara look so sweet? So why does Grandpa call her "My little SF (Special Forces) girl"...

...because she eats snakes and lizards! Sara was not afraid of any of the things the boys were at that age, not even the singing Christmas Tree that scared both boys until they were 3 or 4.

Kim and Dawn comparing hip height...you had to be there to understand.

Food...need I say more?

My sons-in-law...and we could not have ask for two better men to take care of our girls.

Crystal and Matt getting ready to eat.

Everyone getting food

Then to open presents...looks organized right now, doesn't it?

Then chaos..

...More Chaos...

...and MORE CHAOS!

...and THE FIRST ANNUAL SWORD FIGHT...

...until sweet Sara came in with the garbage can so we could clean up and...WE LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

A Day with Sean & Sara

Jim and I left early Saturday morning to drive to Alpharetta, Georgia to watch Sean and Sara while Dawn and David went to the Georgia Tech Football Game that afternoon. We were lucky to arrive on a day that Sean had a T-ball game. I love to watch the little kids play. Sean is only four, will be five in February, and is one of the youngest kids playing, but he played like a champ.

Sean (before): getting ready to hit the ball of the "T".

Sean (after): consider the ball hit and out of here.

Sean running to second base (notice both feet are off the ground).

Sean running to third base (starting to look happy).

Sean is happy with his successful run home.

Yes, all the grandparents showed up to watch Sean play.

Dawn and Grandpa think Sara needs a drink and a hot dog...and she ate the whole hot dog.

After the game we took the kids back home and Sara was ready for her nap. She slept 2 1/2 hours. Naps are one of the perks of being 15 months old.

After nap Sara wanted a snack of strawberries. Of course she got it.

Sean wanted to go to McDonalds for dinner...and we took them. This McDonalds also has a playground for the kids (surprise, surprise). Sean was a pro at climbing and sliding but Sara was not really old enough to go by herself...so, of course, Grandpa went with her. (This is why Grandparents should not actually raise children)

...but look at how happy Sara was...I think she knew this was "forbidden play"...which makes it all the more fun. Sean told us that "grownups are not really allowed" and later Jimmy's back told him that Sean was right.

But, all's well that ends well, and after a long day Grandpa and Sara are ready for bed.

Iron Man 70.3 Augusta, GA

We spent the day Sunday watching our nephew, Jason Wyatt, prepare for and complete the Iron Man 70.3. It is really a big deal to complete this race and Augusta can be proud of the good job done putting on this race. The Iron Man 70.3 includes a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike ride, and a 13.1 mile run.


We arrived at the 5th Street Marina at about 5:30am and many participants were already there preparing for the swim. Jason was in the 24 and under men's group; they were labeled the "Young Guns" as they were called to get into the water to swim.


Racing Fact that I did not know: all participants have their number written on their left arm and their age written on their left calf.

Getting into the wet suit is not easy. They have to spread deodorant on their arms and legs to allow the suit to slip over their skin and to make it easier to take off after the swim before getting on their bike.

Suited up and ready to swim. His girlfriend, Milissa, is great for moral support. She runs in triathlons herself and has come in first in at least two.

You can't pick out individaul swimmers but this is Jason's 'wave' in the Savannah River.

After Jason finished the 1.2 mile swim, which he completed in 30 minutes/22 seconds, he got on his bike and rode 56 miles in South Carolina. He completed the bike ride in 2 hours/35 minutes/40 seconds. No pictures of the bike ride cause we could not follow him.

As if that was not enough, then he had to run 13.1 miles, which he did in 1 hour, 51 minutes, 38 seconds. We all were so proud of this young man.

Jason was really, really tired and his feet and legs were very painful at the end of the race. I tried to get him to go over to the massage tent to have his tight muscles worked on but he just did not want to walk that far and just wanted to sit.

Jason completed the Iron Man 70.3 in a total of 5 hours, 3 minutes, 21 seconds, which made him #505 out of about 3,200 racers. That is an amazing finish for the first time competing in an Iron Man race!!

Jason found enough energy to smile for his proud mother even at the end of the race.

1st Annual Girls Weekend-Savannah, GA

We had our First Annual Girls Weekend in Savannah, Georgia this past weekend. We plan to take a weekend trip with the "girls" every year. The girls" (and I use the word loosely) are myself, Kim, Dawn, Crystal, and Sara; my two daughters and two granddaughters.

We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn right in Historic Savannah. It was a great location and the hotel was very accommodating. We had to Valet our car because of the lack of parking in "Historic Savannah". The young man who took care of the car also told us he would bring up all our luggage, so we went up to our rooms to wait for the luggage. When he arrived it was evident that we had a lot of stuff, because traveling with a 14 month old requires a lot of stuff. He was so polite and ask, "How long are you ladies planning to stay with us?". We told him just two nights and explained that we are on a "Girls Weekend" and we left the "boys" at home. Then he said, "...yet you brought all their luggage." It was really funny but you probably had to be there.

We then got ready and took a walk on River Street. It was beautiful and the shops were so nice. We seem to spend an inordinate amount of time in the candy shops, but you can see why from the pictures below.

Candied Apples

Pralines

We did see a rug that was shaped like a dog...

...only to find out it really was a dog.

Sara made quick friends with the dog.

We shopped for a while...

Crystal and Kim 'looking'.

...then had dinner at Spanky's.

Spanky's had the best chicken fingers I ever ate. Really great! By the time we finished with River Street it was time for Sara and Grandma to hit the sack.

The next day's goal was to eat at Paula Deen's "The Lady and Sons" for dinner.

OK, let me tell you there is a process to obtain this goal. First you have to make reservations, which can only be done at 9:30am each morning outside the restaurant.

Of course, we were not the only people in Savannah that had that idea. The line was already around the corner when we arrived.

We stuck Kim in line and walked around to take pictures. The line really moved fast so it was not as bad as it looks.

We got seats at the 5:00pm dinner buffet and were told to arrive at 4:45pm and stand across the street from the restaurant and someone would come out and call your name. When your name was called you could go in to eat.

When our name was called we were directed to the third floor. We were seated and got our food and I have to say the food was all GREAT!! If you like home cooking you will love this food. Everything was seasoned perfect and the sweet iced tea was great. You can see by the pictures we did not diet this night.

...except Sara who wanted no part of anything after she tasted the Ho Cake (corn bread). If it was not a Ho Cake she did not want it.

During the day we all took a tour of Historic Savannah.

The best part was after the tour guide pointed out the place where the movie, "Forest Gump" was shot, she said, "Who is that!" and an actor that looked exactly like Forest Gump came running alongside the trolley and got on. 'Forest' said he needed a ride to met Lt. Dan and when he got off he started running down the street again. Very cute!

We had a great weekend and plan to have another "Girls Weekend" again next year.

...so a toast to us "Girls" until next year!