Our Christmas

 

 

We had a nice Christmas.  We didn't go big on presents, but we did have a few things for the "kids" and a few more for Coleton.  From a weather perspective, it was warm enough to play some cornhole and take a walk. 

 

Tony got me a 300mm telephoto lens for my camera, which means I can be really obnoxious with picture taking, but I'll be further away!  It's really cool.  Not only can you get the picture from a distance, but it's clear as well.  I also got Christmas ornaments from Ben, Sam, Ellie and Zach--handmade primarily by Ben and Sam.  I hung them on the fireplace with the stockings so they could share some of our Christmas.  Getting to Skype with them was a highlight of the season.  Even through the computer we could see how big they are getting.  Ben and Sam went on and on about their Christmas presents.  Ellie looked at the computer screen and said, "Papa," which was a high.  Zach just smiled his big smile.  Wow, does he look like Ben with those big, blue eyes. 

 

It was wonderful having a baby in the house.  We all enjoyed Coleton's visit.  He was charming, funny and getting so big.   He reminds me alot of Ben.  When Ben was a baby he was fascinated with lights.  He would look up at the ceiling and just stare at them.  When he could talk, he called them "ites."  Coleton is a ceiling fan baby.  He spent a lot of time checking out the ceiling fan in the living room as it rotated around and around.  He also enjoyed the Christmas tree lights.  See, they're cousins!

 

We ate way too much, played a board game, watched the Christmas Story and White Christmas on TV and talked and talked and talked.  The only thing that would have made the holiday better would be to have Jenna, Jon and the kids with us. 

 

Here are the highlights:

 

Like I said before, "Geez, I'm cute!"

I love my Daddy

Chatting with Papa

Learning important stuff from my Daddy

I didn't know elephants could fly!

 

So, let me see if I get this....you're my Uncle AND my Godfather?

Hanging with the follically challenged

 

 

Bernie and Tyson spent alot of time outside.  I spent alot of time taking allergy pills!

 

Our sweet boys!

Ellie and Zach on the mantle, looking so cute!

 

 

Christmas Eve

What fun we had today.  After a wonderful lunch at Elijah's downtown, we went to Christmas Eve mass at Tony's church, St. Mary's.  It's a beautiful, 100 year old church with stained glass windows all around.  There were two Christmas trees on the altar that had blue and red lights on them.  The choir sang before and after the service and it was very nice.

 

After that, we came home and decorated our Christmas tree on the patio in our "jammies."   It's only 3 feet tall, so it didn't take long, but it looks really good.     David and Joanna got us the "Taboo" game  for Christmas that we played at the beach house they rented in June.  I love that game.  You have to get your partner to say a word, but there are a list of words you can't say.  It's a real mind twister and we had fun playing it. 

 

After that, Tony made sea scallops wrapped in bacon, like we really needed more food.  But it was a wonderful day and we had fun times.

 

Take a look at our beautiful tree:

 

 

David and Joanna start the decorations

 

Tony starts his own decorations and realizes he decorated the "wrong" ear

Here is Tony confirming his "manhood" by moving the ear ring to the "right" ear!!

David puts on the finishing touches

 

David, Bernie and Joanna in front of a beautiful tree

 

Tony joins the group

And then, me

Tony, our grand-puppy Bernie and me

 

The "old folks"

Our reaction when David started taking pictures and imitated us when we used to take pictures of our kids...."you stand there, you look this way, you bend down, you look up...."  We were relentless.

This is what happens when someone who lives in Florida, comes up north to the cold weather in Leland, North Carolina (um.....58 degrees!!)

 

 

Bernie says...."why am I wearing this hat?"

 

 

 

Cole's Baptism

Cole passed another milestone in his tiny life yesterday as he was baptized.   He is a very content baby--he never cried or fussed during the ceremony or at the reception, where people were passing him around and loving on him.

 

Father Tim did a wonderful ceremony.  It was very intimate--just the Swegle and Phillips families.  We watched Tony and Marie travel further down the road of parenthood as they pledged to teach Cole about God and faith.   His Godparents, David and Marie's sister-in-law, Brenda, promised to guide him down God's path and help Tony and Marie raise him up to be a good Christian person.  

 

After the church ceremony, we went to Dressler's restaurant, where Tony and Marie hosted a terrific dinner.

 

I only took 221 pictures during the ceremony, so here is the story of Cole's baptism....from his perspective (absolutely no disrespect intended)!

 

Getting ready to go to church with my Godfather, Uncle David...hey look, I have more hair than he does!

I love to pull long hair, especially on pretty women like my Aunt Joanna.

We always knew Aunt Rose was a Saint

 

Here is Daddy spiffing me up before my big gig.  Isn't Mommy pretty?

 

Here I am fixing Mommy's makeup before the photo shoot starts

Father Tim and Daddy

What is he reading?   I prefer Runaway Bunny

Oh, we're praying now, hang on....I wasn't ready.  Can somebody give me a cue?

Is this guy going to give me a bath?  How's the water?  I like it warm?

 

Dude, my hair gets washed AFTER my bath, ask Mommy....did I get a new tub for Christmas?

Mommy, check out the lady behind Aunt Brenda...that's the tallest woman I have ever seen!

This guy is pretty good with me.....he must have kids of his own

Everyone is smiling...I wonder what cute thing I did to get all of this attention?

 

Look, my Daddy spent all of that time brushing my hair and you got it wet.  It's still wet.  Can I use that scarf you have around your neck to dry off?

This guy is pretty comfortable, I think I'll stretch out and relax...opps, I just tooted in his hand, I wonder if he felt it?

A bunch of Swegles--that's me with Daddy

4 Swegle Men....hey, Daddy, shouldn't we all have cigars?

I love my Grand-Pops!

Mommy, I'm pulling hair again.....blonde hair pulls good just like dark hair.

Just a few of my relatives

My "God Bless" Me Cake

Don't cry, Mommy, I love you

Psst, Daddy....don't say anything, just keep smiling.....I just wanted to let you know  I pooped....alot....are you going to give me to Mommy now?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When All The Laughter Died in Newtown

I have been watching the news since the children in Newtown, Connecticut were killed and with every news broadcast I cry like the nation and wonder why this happened.    I think of how scared the children must have been during all of this senseless madness and how they must have not understood what was happening or why.   I think of how they must have wanted their parents to be there right now and take care of them.  And, I think of how the parents must feel, knowing that they weren't there.  

 

I see pictures of the slain children and it breaks my heart.  I think of all of the joy and laughter that all of our grandchildren have given us and I know that all of the laughter has died in Newtown, this Christmas season.   I feel lucky to have all of our grandchildren safe and as a mother and grandmother, I grieve for those who lost their children and for the children who lost their innocence.  

New President In The House

 

 

 

As I indicated in a recent blog, Tony has started to paint again.  It's so good to see him up in his studio, listening to music and painting.    He finished a collage of George Washington not too long ago and we hung it today.   We're going to hang the Abe Lincoln painting he did some years ago on the other side of the window, so we will have two presidents framing the windows.   

 

In other news, the weather is beautiful--in the 70's in December!  We have some new flowers coming up out front to add to the beauty of the day.

 

We are gearing up for Coleton's  baptism later this month and having "the boys" and their families over for Christmas.  I wish Jenna, Jon and the kids could be here too, but I'm sure they will enjoy their own Christmas.  Tony and I wanted to get the kids really loud and obnoxious gifts since they wouldn't be here, but  we followed the rules and got "parent friendly" things that don't make noise.

 

We have our tree on the patio again and will decorate it when everyone joins us on Christmas Eve.  It's funny to see Tony, in shorts, washing the cars and then see the Christmas tree.   He will be in Cleveland for a few days in January, I'm betting he won't be wearing shorts!

 

I continue to search for a job, although not as diligently as I have been.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that as we move into 2013, there will be more opportunities.  It seems like everyday we are reading about companies who are laying off  more people.  I've been telling people that by the time I find a job, I'll be ready to retire.   I hope that's not really the case.

 

We are counting down the days till Christmas and hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday.

 

And now the photos:

 

George--the finished work!

 

 

 

Camellias in the front

                                                            Waiting for decorations

Tony admires his work

Me, doing my Vanna White pose!

A beautiful sunset