Christmas in Ocala

We spent the weekend after Christmas with Kristen's side of the family in Ocala. Traveling worked out well (much better than at Thanksgiving when we timed it wrong for Knox). We had a great time talking, eating good food, and playing with the boys.

The Family-Eddie, Kate, Mom, Dad, Andy, Drew, Knox, Kristen

Mommy and Drew
Daddy and Drew

Drew is getting horsie rides while waiting to open presents
Drew and Papa

This is Drew getting his stocking from Mimi and Papa. He loved it!

Trucks from his stocking

Before Christmas Drew asked for a drum almost every day. Uncle Eddie and Aunt Kate got him a really cool wooden percussion set that he loves.

Uncle Eddie, Aunt Kate, Knox (and his new finger puppet :) ) Papa and Knox

Drew helping Papa open his new picture for his office. (It's a picture of Papa, Drew, and Knox at his office)

Mimi is reading Drew his Christmas card from them.

Mimi and Drew (and his new drum stick)

Drew giving Mimi and Papa a web cam for Christmas. We just need to get the sound working on theirs. Other than that, it works really well.
Drew got a basketball goal from them. The present was bigger than he was. He was so excited to open it.

Mom, Kristen, Knox, and Dad

Knox.....love him!!!!

Tallahassee Christmas

We had a great Christmas! We spent Christmas day in Tallahassee and Andy's parents and his Grandma came over. The next day we headed to Ocala to have Christmas with my parents. We started off our day by doing our last candle on our advent wreath and letting Drew help us tell the story of Jesus' birth. Then we had YUMMY cinnamon rolls and we put a candle in it and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. We wanted to make sure that the focus of our day was that we were celebrating Jesus.

If you can see, there is a red sign on the wall and it said "Days until Christmas". I had made construction paper rings, and each morning leading up to Christmas Drew would come downstairs and pull a ring off and count how many days were left until Christmas. He really enjoyed it. Here he is pulling the last ring off.

Drew as a police officer. (The glasses look just like a pair I saw on an 8th grade picture of Andy) He was cool!

Drew's big present was a trampoline. Before purchasing it, we looked on consumer reports to find out what kind would be best. All we found was "DO NOT BUY A TRAMPOLINE. THEY ARE DANGEROUS." Drew is good about being cautious so we felt okay, but if we post an injury on here in a few months, please keep all "you should have known better" to yourselves. :)

Here's Knox hanging out on Christmas with his usual look; SMILING

Knox thought it would be funny to pretend like he was a present. He didn't quite fit in the box, but he was trying!

Here is Drew with his book from his Great Grandma and Grandpa Jaffe. He LOVES books and trucks, so it was a perfect gift. We've read it almost every day since he got it.

Construction Man

Knox....

Drew helping Daddy...

Drew helping Mommy...I'd have to label this Christmas "a few of my favorite things". Andy got me some wonderful gifts, that were well thought out. (Examples: necklace I found at a store and said was my favorite as we were shopping for someone else, one of my favorite movies (Anne of Greene Gables, clothing from my favorite store, Ann Taylor)

Drew and his airplane

Andy's Grandma, Dad, Mom, Knox, Kristen, Andy, Drew

Andy's Dad, Andy, and the boys

4 generations. Andy's Grandma, Andy's Mom, Andy, Knox and Drew

Andy and his boys on the trampoline

Watercolor vacation (November)

After the election was over in November, we needed some time to hang out together as a family and catch up! We decided to rent a house in one of our favorite places, Watercolor. It's a pre-planned community about 30 minutes outside of Destin, Florida on the Gulf of Mexico. The beaches are beautiful and the community is full of beautiful architecture, trails, activities, restaurants, etc. We went for 3 nights and rented to house below. There were 3 bedrooms, a fireplace, porch swing, hammock, and everything you could need to have a comfortable stay. It was great! Andy's birthday was the last day that we were there. Here he is opening his CD that Drew gave him.

Mommy and the boys on a walk. It wasn't that late, but it got dark early, because we just had the time change, and they are an hour behind us.

Mommy and Drew playing football at the park.

We were racing, but it wasn't very fair. Drew would line up ahead of me, and he always started on SET, instead of GO. He is a 2 year old, but still, I'm very competitive. :)

Drew on our front porch Andy and Drew were playing a game trying to jump over the water as it came in to the shore.

Mommy and Knox in a lounge chair. While Daddy and Drew went on an adventure. Knox cuddled up on my chest and took a nap.

Andy and Drew were heading out on a scavenger hunt.

They're back....with 3 broken shells. The beaches are so white and clean there aren't many treasures to find.

on the beach

out to eat (again) Drew was given crayons and was able to draw on the paper table cloth.

Mommy and Knox at the park