I think someone is just a little too spoiled, this is our tree Christmas morning. I love my tree, it doesn't have any kind of "theme" or anything like that. It has all the ornaments the kids have made me through school and the ornaments I have been collecting forever. Every year I buy the kids a new ornament so that one day when they have a tree of their own they will have ornaments to start out with.
My parents came up the weekend of Christmas to have Christmas with us. Wayne was very excited about one of his gifts from Uncle Steve. They play on Xbox live together and Wayne had really been wanting that game.
Uncle Steve was also a big hit with Blake. His Wii is in the living room so we get serenaded daily.
Do you think Ashleigh is excited?! She had wanted this Chanel purse so bad but didn't think she would ever have it. Grandma and Grandpa came through with this and a matching wallet. We are a purse loving family. Steven also gave me a new Coach purse. I love it. Steven was very generous with me especially this year. I got the purse, a Citizen watch and a sapphire bracelet. He just started dating someone so I'm a little worried about next Christmas. ha ha just kidding
This was our tree during Christmas with my parents, maybe we were just a little spoiled too. Naa, I don't think so.
The kids and I normally make Gingerbread houses together but it just didn't seem like we could get everyone together this year, so Blake and I made Gingerbread men. Blake was in charge of cutting and decorating. He did a great job, I just can't get a picture of the decorated cookies to upload. All in all we made 38 gingerbread men and they didn't last very long either.
On December 3, Rusty's birthday, he had knee surgery. Now he had a total knee replacement 3 years ago but this was on his "good" knee. Thank you football. Anyway, as some of you know we have Redskins season tickets and the kids pick one game they want to go to every year. This year Ashleigh wanted the Bears, well next to Dallas but I'm not giving up Dallas. Her game was December 6 and there was no way Rusty could take her so I did. Ashleigh and I did this last year also because Rusty had a make up little league game on the same day. The Bears game was a night game and it was so cold Ashleigh kept asking me if we could get frostbite. But like her Dad she would not leave, no matter what I promised her if she would. We were so bundled up and we had 2 blankets but nothing would warm us up. My nephew and his friend were also there and they were freezing right along with us.
We were all heartbroke over the murder of Sean Taylor.
Can you guess who that is? Isn't he cute?! That would be Rusty. He was Santa Claus for the little league in our town's Christmas parade.
That's the back of my friend Michelle, she the board secretary and she is trying to get some kind of order with all those kids. Good luck. Blake's little league team won 1st in the county, they only lost 1 game, way to go Strasburg Junior Purple team. We have so many junior kids that they split them into 2 teams, white and purple. The little league senior team went undefeated and our high school volleyball team was undefeated and went onto win the state champions group A division. There has been alot of winning going on around here.It has been a really busy time for us and I know I have more to catch up on so stay tuned, there is more to come.
My Dad and Rusty. Don't you love the shirts. My Mom had them made up for everyone. We had so many family members that went it was like a family reunion. All of our last names are listed on the shirt.
Before the ship sails they make you put on your lifejackets, go to your appointed muster station and then listen to a safety speech for about 3 hours. Well, maybe not 3 hours but it sure feels like it in the heat. We were sure we were all going to pass out from the heat. Doesn't Rusty look happy to be there and Ashleigh's face sums up the way we all felt.
Doesn't everyone look so cute? That's my Pawpaw and his lovely bride Margie.
My wonderful Mom who did all the planning and scheduling of our fun family vacation. Way to go Mom!!
On the deck as we were sailing away from Miami. That is the drink of the day and for a mere $7.95 you get the drink and the lovely plastic cup as a souvenir. What Rusty and I did not find out until the end of our first cruise was you can pay $4.95 for the same drink in a regular cup. Needless to say we have alot of those very fashionable plastic cups from the first cruise and only 2 from the third. Live and learn people, live and learn. 
Goodbye Miami, see you in 7 days.
Ashleigh is always ready to strike a pose.
At Senor Frog's with "the drink". 
The view from the top of one of the mountains, we rode a tram up to the top. It was so beautiful!
The bus we rode on, after taking the boat to St. John, stopped so we could take pictures. This is the island we had been snorkling around. Now let me tell you about this "bus". They do not have sides or doors to them. They are open on both sides and THEY DRIVE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD!! So not only do you have to hang on to your now very friendly neighbor, thank God it was family, you also have to worry about the cars coming toward you on this cow path they call a road. It was definitely an experince and I would most definitely go back. I just might bring a rope to tie myself into the bus though.
This was really nice because we got off the ship, you can see it in the background, took a water taxi $5.00 a person for all day use no matter how many times you got on and off, it was a great deal and went right to the beach. Rusty and I spent about 5 hours at the beach. We both love it, he loves it a little more than I do though. You could rent an umbrella and 2 chairs for $10.00 for all day and they would even through in 2 beers. What more could you ask for?
We were at the red umbrellas and we were there so early that for about 2 hours we were the only ones there.
Aren't the fish awesome?! I took this looking into the water from the dock. The water is so clear.
Our whole crew stuffed into the elevator, well minus me because someone had to take the picture.
Steven, Ashleigh and my cousin Michael, just a couple of trouble makers.
And then the trip home, we didn't fly to Miami we drove. Crazy I know but we did have a great time.
Yes that is my child with her head inside the mouth of a stuffed alligator. Doesn't she look scared? not... She will do anything for a laugh.
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