Lights!

Nana bought some super cool lights for her tree in Gatlinburg.

Brian loved the Elmo lights until the football lights went up.


Then he just tried to a.) make his football a part of the decorations and b.) pull the football lights off the tree so that they could become his toy.

Caught!

Pappy was caught playing with Brian's toys the other day. The nativity set from Uncle Billy and and Bibber is pretty cool!

Train Ride

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, we met up with Addison and fam (and our fam to0) for the annual Santa Train Ride. I am not going to post any Santa pictures just yet, as we didn't get the best of the best on our camera. The photographer got a great one though, which I am hoping to get digitally!

Here are some fun pictures from the day...

P.S. I am diggin' the hat. Lucky for me, Brian LOVES it too!

A certain Nana was definitely bruised in the taking of this picture. Brian was standing ON her to see out of the top window.

Not sure why Nana decided to hide in this picture, but a good one of Pappy and Brian nonetheless.

Turkey Day

Thanksgiving = Family. Brian enjoyed spending time with his this Thanksgiving!

Brian and Aunt Norma.

Basketball with Andrew and Nana.

It's fun to play in the trash can!

Brian and Chris.

Brian and Mama!

Hammering on Uncle Jon.

Quality time with hand held video games...

Our little turkey...

Slow Dancin'

Swayin' to the music!

Slow dancin', just me and my girl...

Andrew in his Car

Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 2010...


And a little blast from the past...

The Cracker Monster

I think Brian has been watching too much "Sesame Street". Cookie Monster in particular seems to have had an effect on Brian's eating habits. Earlier he ran into the kitchen and started yelling, "CRACKER MAMA, CRACKER!"

(As a side note, had Shawn been home, he would have made some sort of comment about Brian using a rude slur to address his mother.)

Anyway, I obliged and got him a bowl of Ritz crackers. This is how he ate them.


Pretty, I know. Doesn't it look painful? Check out those facial expressions!



I especially like that the camera managed to catch a piece of cracker falling to the ground in this shot. (Look at the Moose's back legs.)



Ruben is a HUGE fan of this game by the way.

A Vey German Christmas

Last weekend we went to a German Society in Ohio to visit their Kris Kindle Market. One of my teachers and her husband are a part of this club and they invited us. Surprisingly, Brian decided to sit on Santa's lap.

The photographer, and Santa, had had a bit too much to drink, so the pictures aren't the greatest. But at least we have proof that he wasn't afraid! We will try again over the weekend at the train ride, and probably a third time at the mall.

In the pictures we purchased (which are similar to the ones below except head on and not at an angle) Santa looks like he's passed out. He's really looking at Brian...I think. Better than Horny Claus, right Nennie?

The Smokies

For Dad's 60th Birthday (which was in July), we took family trip to Gatlinburg last weekend. Dad and I went down a day early to ease the burden of a weekend trip for Mr. Brian. Unfortunately I got quite the case of food poisoning Thursday night, so our early arrival was plagued with lots of yuck! It only lasted a few hours though, so Friday we headed out to the Arts and Crafts village.

We took it slow because I was still a bit unsteady and Brian didn't seem to be feeling great. He had slept in until 10 (that NEVER happens) and was still sleepy and whiny. After browsing through some of the shops, we found a great cafe where we had lunch and Brian actually fell alseep on my lap during lunch (also NEVER happens). We had already promised him a milkshake, so he woke up as we were leaving lunch and we headed over to the old fashioned soda fountain. I grew up going here, so I wanted a picture of Brian.

Brian did not want a picture taken....

Everyone else arrived Friday night and Saturday we headed into the park! We hiked to an old cabin and into the woods. Brian (sort of) enjoyed walking on the old fallen trees, playing in the leaves and watching sticks float under the old bridge. (He was still pretty whiny on Saturday, too.) Mom, Shawn, Teri and Jon hiked almost all the way to a water fall, while Brian, Pappy and I napped in the car. We saw some wild turkeys and some deer, but no bears. Boo! Brian pretended to site lots of giraffes, elephants, kangaroos and monkeys though.





It took FOREVER to get back to town, and we ended up ordering carryout from one of the local restaurants for dinner. This was probably to our advantage as Brian would not have lasted at a restaurant very long.

Sunday, we journeyed to the Apple Barn for breakfast and headed back home after. It was a quick trip, but a nice one!

Oh, and our cabin was amazing! It was called River's Edge and was literally on the edge of the river. Brian loved that!

I Forgot

I forgot to mention that the tube in Brian's right ear, which has been out for awhile, but sort of hanging out in his ear, has finally made it's way completely out of his ear. His eardrum has completely healed and there was no fluid in there! Yay for properly working Eustachian tubes! The left tube is still in place.

And since I'm posting, here are a few pictures from today. We decided to take advantage of the 70 degree weather!
And one more from last weekend. Some little man was not a happy camper when his Mom and Dad broke out the footie pajamas. Too bad little man, they're awfully cute! He clearly had adjusted to the idea by the time these pictures were taken the following morning!