The Thursday before Christmas, Dody came that afternoon and Matt came that night when he got out of school. Friday my mom came and the family was complete! Well, minus Granny who was in Orlando with my uncle, aunt, and cousins. Friday night we went to one of our favorite seafood places, The Sunbury Crab Company. It's a bit of a drive to get there, but so worth it! The food is amazing and we had the best crab stew I've ever tasted. That basically started off a holiday filled with over-eating. On Christmas eve I thought we'd try Finn in church. He lasted approximately 4 minutes, and then he and Matt spent the rest of the service in the church lobby. Oh well....at least he looked really cute! It's time for me to try him in the nursery, but I'm sort of nervous about it. Silly, since I worked in that very nursery for years before I got pregnant and know how great everyone is. But now I'm off topic....
When we got home, Matt fixed us the yummiest fish and grits dinner. I mean it was AWESOME! Here are some Christmas eve pics:
The day started out a little lazy
Finn in his Santa suit
Mom in the famous "Merry Christmoose" apron....a Gaston tradition!
Finn and Aunt Dody
Our first family picture!
Goodies and a note for Santa
Looks like he liked them...
Christmas day was so much fun with Finn. We always wake up early and do presents but my eyes flew open even earlier than usual with the excitement of showing Finn his gifts from Santa. I know, he has no idea what's going on, but it's been a while since Santa visited someone at our house and you KNOW how I LOVE holidays!!! Ok, hang in there with me because there are a lot of pictures but I didn't want to leave any of them out.
Finn with his gifts from Santa
He was so serious about looking at each of his new toys. Don't ask about the hat. My mom has a "hat obsession" and we just indulge her because we love her. :)
Finn with his Christmas elf
Nana showing him his glow worm
Dody=exhausted ~ and we didn't even let her get into the champagne this year!
My new sparkling Tom's....thanks Dody!!!
Myrtle got a new doggie blanket
Matt and Myrtle are tired out from all the gifting fun
Mom loves her new knives!
Harvey, that's not your hat! But it looks sooooo cute on you!
I think Santa was good to us!
The Gaston paper crown tradition continues....
Nana reading Finn a favorite pop-up book
Here are my desperate attempts at a photo of all of us together. ONE of us wasn't feeling very cooperative, and I'll give you a hint: It wasn't the baby.
Matt looking like a convict in Attempt #1
Matt "smiling please!!!" in Attempt #2
Matt "not smiling like THAT" in Attempt #3
The best one I got!
The day after Christmas, we took to the road and pretty much didn't stop until New Year's day. Here's the run-down of our travels.
Monday: To Augusta so Matt could work the next morning
Tuesday: To Greenville to see family and friends there
Wednesday: back to Augusta to work on Thursday
Friday: To Summerville to spend New Year's with a stop in Columbia on the way
Saturday: to my dad's for a visit with them
Sunday: back to Savannah.....WHEW!
And Finn was wonderful the whole time. He is GREAT in the car and thank goodness because we are an on-the-go family! He just alternates between looking out the window and snoozing.
I am disappointed in myself because I didn't do a great job of taking pictures the second half of the holiday vacation. You know when you are just having so much fun you forget to pick up the camera??? That was the problem! Here are a few though:
Matt's dad and Nancy had a special dinner at their house for us. Everyone held Finn and loved on him and he really enjoyed it!
Finn and Papa (Matt's grandfather)
4 generations!!! And 3 of them are "William Carpenter"
Finn and cousin Ingram
Cleo had a brunch the following morning for us all to get together again and it was delicious and so sweet of her to do that. I didn't take any pictures but you'll just have to trust me that we all looked stunning. :)
Later that day we went to visit lots of friends in Greenville that we hadn't seen in a while. It was awesome seeing the Bratton's, Padgett's, Dennis', and Holder's! Finn had his first date with Olivia Holder (Stokely and Beth's daughter). An older woman! (But only by about 2.5 weeks)
It doesn't look like it, but she is bigger than him!
Check out those pacifiers!
Olivia asked if he would be calling her for another date and Finn said he would text her. Kids these days!!!
We stopped in Columbia to give Wilkes and Owen their Christmas presents. Wilkes was SO excited about his truck with a trailer!
Happy 1st Birthday to sweet Owen!!! And no, those aren't his his real teeth. :)
"Wilkes, show me your teeth!"
Aunt Carrie
Once we made it to Summerville, I took Finn to visit my dad and Sheila. Finn really smiled and put on a show. Honestly it was the happiest I have seen my dad in years.
For New Year's Eve we had a going away party for Michael. He is in the Air Force and is being sent to Korea for a year unaccompanied (which means Tiffany and Austin can't go). Matt stayed up all night and cooked. Brisket, boston butt, and smoked chicken....YUMMY. It was fun but also sad thinking about Michael leaving. I admire his service to our country and respect him for doing it all with a smile on his face. We could not live the life we live as Americans without people like him. Of course Tiff will miss him terribly but she's tough and will get through it. So thank you Michael, God speed, and we love you! See ya when you get home.
Reese and Finn
This was the best holiday season I've ever had hands down. Christmas with little Finn was beyond amazing, and I'm looking forward to many more. Ringing in the new year reminded me of all the blessings that came our way in 2011. Matt asked me if anyone could have convinced me last year that I would soon be sharing my baby's first Christmas. I agreed that they couldn't have.
My only resolution this year is to try to live in the moment and appreciate what I've been given every single day!
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