Jackpot

Santa found us...and boy was Macauley lucky. He got several accessories for the Wii, a Matchbox car garage and vehicles, several books, an alligator stapler for crafting, a Webkinz pug (already originally named Puggy), Spongebob walkie talkies, dominoes and candy, more Zhu Zhu hamsters and pieces to go with the huge set Ryan's parents gave him last night, and the Littlest Pet Shop adoption center with several pets. The LPS stuff topped his list this year, even if the items are heavily pink. I really wish LPS would market their toys in a more gender-neutral way, because I think lots of boys love them and want to take care of animals.

We were up really late last night. Ryan's whole family came over around 6 and stayed several hours. Everyone liked the house and seemed to have a great time. After cleanup from that and Santa duty, it was 1 am or so before we got in bed. Macauley was up at 8:10 am. We've had a leisurely morning here at home and are having a somewhat white Christmas. We didn't get the predicted 5 to 6 inches (maybe 1 or 2), so our drive to Rogers in a bit will be easier. We've still got all sorts of Christmas to do with my family!

For my Aunt Karen, in faraway FL

Hi Aunt Karen! We really missed you and yours at the family gathering in Muskogee this weekend. I took a bunch of pictures while I was there, thinking I would post them here for you to see everyone. We all met at Hamlin's around noon. We were missing you all, Jere and Mikla, Lane and Jeffrey and Jennifer, but we still took up half the place. All the kids were friendly and fairly well-behaved and the food (3 with 1 of course for me) was still good, especially the white dip. I personally remember their rice being creamier and sweeter in the past, and there was something about the booths and the ambience at the old place that will always remind me of family.

No doubt about it, Baby Gray totally stole the show this year. I'm not saying this just because she's family: she is the most beautiful baby. And so good. She got passed from person to person all day, everyone wanting a little snuggle, and didn't fuss a bit. And our Ryan is so good with her.

Nanny was quiet but seemed happy and with it. Ryan, Macauley, my dad and I had quite the adventure going over to Lorene's apartment to set up her new microwave after lunch...I'm sure you can imagine.

I'm not sure how you spell Jeffrey's little girl's name, Cayleigh I think, but she came with Gene Allen and Phyllis, who kept trying to get her to be still, but I can understand her need to twirl and swish in a cute little dress like that.

Ever since we visited them in Dallas over the summer, Macauley considers himself pretty tight with Ryan and Melissa.

Ashlyn was also super-friendly and kept telling me, "Duh!" about just about everything.

Debbie is flourishing as "Mimi." She gave Gray the cutest little Baby's 1st Christmas sleeper.

After lunch we went out to Debbie's (Nanny settled into her traditional spot) for dessert and a few gifts, nothing like we used to do. I gave Nanny some chocolate and word search books, and since they're her fave, I played off that a bit and made her a word search card for the gift. I'm not sure she noticed, but oh well. She really did seem happy and content and that made me glad.

Lindsay held Gray for the longest time and everyone kept asking her when she was going to add "one of those" to the family.

I'm really glad we went and that everyone got together. It had been a while. My mother mentioned your idea of getting everyone together this summer for Nanny's birthday and I think that's a great plan. It would be nice if we could all meet somewhere and stay for a couple of days and just hang out and catch up. My boys and I would love to visit Florida sometime soon, too, or have you all come way up north to MO. We missed you all! Please wish the boys a Merry Christmas for us...love you!

Oklahoma weekend

We headed south to Oklahoma this past weekend to visit my family. We stopped Friday night at the former world's largest McDonalds that straddles I-44 near Vinita, OK. It's kind of a questionable place with all sorts of people coming and going, but Macauley enjoyed it. I ate the Southwestern Salad with grilled chicken and I'm still not sure if I liked it or not.

We got a nice suite at the new Fairfield Inn in Muskogee, the town of my birth and the home of my mom's mom and sister and my dad's dad, sister and brother. We moved to Missouri just before I turned 8, but I spent a lot of time with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins in Muskogee when I was growing up. I don't make it back often now, but I'm so glad we went this past weekend. It was so nice to see my family, and I took a ton of pictures of our time together Saturday to post.

My little traveler was delighted with the hotel and couldn't wait to hit the pool and hot tub.

We swam a little both evenings we were there. Macauley had a breakthrough on the first night and swam all the way across the pool several times unassisted, even jumping in and swimming to the other end without stopping. He hasn't ever done that before. He probably still needs to work on not flailing around so much and expending way more energy than he needs to when he swims, but this was a big step.

Blue {and gold} Christmas