Holiday Happenings

We spent the past ten days celebrating the season with friends and family. With so many wonderful memories, it is hard to choose a favorite.

Maybe it was Andrew igniting Stephen's hair during the Christmas Eve service.

Then there were the inappropriate comments Stephen made to several family members during one get-together.
Who can forget the three sleepless nights in Fredericksburg as I tended to an ill baby?

Or the human plank Stephen who slid down the basement steps at a high speed.

What about the 10 hour drive home from NOVA to the 'Nooga?


All of these and more created one of the best holidays I can remember, but I think most of all I will remember Matthew's first steps on New Year's Eve.

From non-existence to walking in 2008. What does this new year hold?

Happenings in Virginia

I survived another solo trip to Virginia with all three kids and shaved an hour off the last time. Despite Andrew's protests that it was scary, we listened to Alice in Wonderland going and Ginger Pye coming (we actually have a little left in the latter and we're all desperate to find out what happens!). He also took inventory of all the big trucks we passed: "It is a Mack truck." "It is a Kenworth." "There are two International trucks. One is a cab-over and the other is a conventional."

Papa was working on a house in Richlands and the boys went to investigate. A large drill and a crane were busily working.

We all enjoyed the Cedar Bluff Heritage Festival. I was disappointed that I couldn't indulge in a fried apple pie, but I did find some delicious kettle korn - "festibal" food, and the boys took a train ride with Papa.The highlight of the trip, though, was the wedding. It was lovely as were the bride and groom...and most importantly for Andrew, there was cake (and lots of it). Stephen found the service less than stimulating but "got down" at the reception.I didn't take any pictures of Matthew, mostly because he was either asleep to attached to me in some fashion. He is a busy bee, though, these days. He is eager to get moving, attempting to get on his hands and knees to crawl or pulling on chairs to stand. He was doing the latter this morning but somehow ended up under the chair. What a precious smile!

As much as I love returning home to the mountains, I love coming back to my "new" home (especially when I return to a clean house thanks to my dear husband). If it weren't such a long trip, I'd be tempted to do it more often!

More Fun

Hanna couldn't stop all the fun. We left the rainy coast and headed inland to Columbia, SC where we stopped at the Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens. It was well-worth it.


The boys' favorite was the giraffe which they were able to feed. As I was busy feeding Matthew on a park bench I missed the giraffe and his 18-inch long tongue eating lettuce from my children's hands. I did, however, witness the antics and noise of the howler monkeys and since having children of my own, I am starting to believe there may be something to this evolution business afterall.


We were able to get in free to the zoo through a reciprocity agreement of the AZA and membership to Warner Park in Chattanooga. We've visited Nashville and Knoxville and are milking the program for all it's worth.



We were delighted to be back a day early so that Stephen and Andrew could attend the highlight of the year: Touch-a-Truck. A local educational program puts on this event each year; all different kinds of vehicles park and allow children to climb in, on, and around them. It's heaven for little boys (though the dads seem to be having lots of fun, too)!


Boys on the Bus

Two Boys & and Truck
Mr. Gilly's Trash TruckPostman Pig
The Highway Patrol
Old MacDonald
Fireman Small


We also saw a FedEx truck, race car and hauler, fire boat, crane, skid steer, big rig, ambulance, cherry picker, motorcycles, and best of all - "shriney vehicles."

Anticipation

The enjoyment of the annual beach trip is more than just the sound of the waves, the feel of the sand, and the escape from the everyday routine. Half the fun is the planning and dreaming beginning months in advance of the actual trip.


Come January when I long to be where it's warm and sunny I pull out the "actual use" guide from the previous year and start making lists. Granted, these lists get lost and rewritten numerous times in the intervening months, but it makes me feel like I'm doing something to speed the process.


I check the clearance endcaps at Target, scan the aisles of Big Lots, and compare prices at Sam's always looking for good deals and fun activities for the beach. I pack and re-pack my stockpiles to make the most efficient use of space.


It's been fun to pull out the supply lists from the first family vacation, five years ago when there was only one grandchild and two on the way. We're up to six grandkids now, and the quantity of food required to feed the hungry multitudes has increased tremendously. Staple meals have stayed the same while others have been added, changed, or completely disappeared.


Last year our family made a "paper chain" of sorts with starfish to count down the days until departure. Recognizing that I could not once again live through the frantic antics of excited children, I opted for checking out some books about the beach from our local library. It's been a low-key way to prepare for the sun and sand.


As for me, I count down by spreading out the tasks. Last week we vacuumed the stray pretzels and Cheerios out of the van, played musical chairs with the three carseats, and packed towels. Yesterday I packed sheets and did 5 loads of laundry so I can pack the boys' clothes today. Tonight I'll make a solo run to Wal-mart for assorted supplies. Wednesday will be a trip to the library to return the aforementioned books and pick up books on cd to listen to on the road. With dental appointments on Thursday for the big boys, we will end the week with Frenzied Friday.


We'll do need to throw in a lesson about the names of the cousins that will be there.

Philadelphia

We left Pensacola Saturday morning heading to Mississippi. We had to go through Mobile which was probably the highlight of the trip. The bay was full of interesting things: slewing grab cranes, a cruise ship, cargo carriers, etc.

We stopped in Moss Point, MS for lunch with a relative (a delicious lunch of seafood gumbo!!!) and were back on the road. We hardly made it down the street when the boys succumbed to the mounting fatigue.



Doug was itching to set off his own fireworks and thanks to his father, he had a good supply of Roman candles, bottle rockets and sparklers (I must admit, however, that it just wasn't the same without the propane torch). Neither of the boys liked the noise, but Andrew was brave enough to hold his first sparkler.



More visiting, more good food, and more late nights left us with tired children who traveled amazingly well.

Pensacola

Uncle Wes was a most gracious host to our wild family for the 4th of July holiday. Our brief visit was crammed full of exciting activities:


visiting one of the numerous playgrounds near his house - Andrew had the best time on the seesaw (really, I've never seen him enjoy playground equipment, but I guess he'd never met a seesaw) and Stephen loved the merry-go-round (I thought they had all been dismantled for safety reasons).


enjoying fresh seafood on the deck of a restaurant overlooking some boatslips


digging in the white sand and splashing in the blue water waves, all without turning red


seeing the airplanes and even a tow truck that carried ammunition at the Naval Aviation Museum
watching the fireworks in the bay


and even meeting Benjamin Franklin.

Reunion

We joined my two old friends and their kiddos in Nashville yesterday. It's pretty easy to tell everyone apart: Clara (far left) has the asian kiddos - Alena (1), Gabe (4), Mya (2); Sarah (middle) has all the girls - Bonnie (4), Cora (2), Callie (7 mo), Madeleine (6); the boys are mine - Matthew (4 mo), Andrew (4), Stephen (2).

It was surprisingly calm considering there were 10 kids aged 6 and younger, and the gals enjoyed catching up on babies and birth, crafts and kiddos, and all those other important girly-topics.

According to Sarah's always-accurate calculations, she and Clara have known each other all their lives; she and I have known each other 24 years come August; and Clara and I have known each other 22 years. That's pretty amazing.

Stephen immediately took hold of a mini-real hammer which he carried everywhere. We did have to intervene when he tried to initiate a sword-fight with an unarmed-Mya; somehow she didn't appreciate being hit with a foam sword. Andrew was most impressed with Clara's white bread (whole grain with calcium). We did our part in introducing the others to Moonpies (what deprived children); of course, they were a big hit. Gabe said, "I really like Moonpies!" Clara may hate us now!

Homecoming

Another road trip for the Hamills, and this time we listened to Emily's Runaway Imagination and Little House on the Prarie. A couple of tense scenes found Andrew covering his face with his baseball cap, but we all enjoyed the stories and it helped to pass the time. When each cd ended the boys would shout in unison, "I want to listen to another one of that." Finally something on which to agree! Here are the highlights of the trip.

Friday Night Bonfire: Dad had some brush to burn so the menfolk built and roaring fire and roasted marshmallows. Andrew and Stephen were bothered by the "brown stuff" on the marsmallows and it had to be removed.

Encampment at the Historic Crab Orchard Museum: "The cousins" spent the night with Papa Cole in a tent at the museum. We came for the games on Saturday, but the kids were more amused by the weapons and water. They sounded like a bunch of wild Indians.

Picnic at the Cascades: We joined Mom's family for a picnic on Sunday afternoon. Once again there was the draw of water with large rocks and fallen trees added for fun. We didn't make it to the waterfall but here is a picture.

Memorial Day Lunch: A smorgasboard of leftovers and play with the cousins.

As soon as we returned I had to check on our robin babies. They were sleeping peacefully.