It's a White Christmas in St. Louis

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in St. Louis again this year.  Shawn's mom's brothers and sister's live there, so each year that I've known Shawn, we've gone to St. Louis for Christmas.  We got up Christmas Eve morning and drove over.  Along the way, we stopped at a rest area to go to the bathroom.  This was a scheduled stop.  Quite a few years ago when my friend Misty and I first met, we went to a concert in Fairfield, IL and stopped at this rest area.  I remember taking a picture of Misty in front of the sign because she had some friends who nicknamed her Skeeter.  Every time we travel past this rest area, I want to stop and we never do.  So on this trip through, I made sure we stopped so I could take a picture.  I couldn't believe how much snow they had too, because just a few miles up the road before reaching the area, there was nothing on the ground.

Our first stop on the drive was at Shawn's aunt and uncle Nancy and Dave's house for dinner and visiting with family.  We had lots of yummy food, played some games, and watched everyone open presents.  We had a good time. 

Shawn with his mom and dad

There was lots of snow on the ground in St. Louis.

After we left their house and was on the way to the motel, we stopped at the Jack in the Box for a little late night snack.  We took this picture for Shawn's brother cause he's a Jack in the Box freak.  LOL!

We checked in to the motel and crashed for the night.  The next morning we got up and had breakfast at the hotel, got ready, and drove over to Kirkwood, Missouri to the train station where we had our Christmas Day.  Christmas at the train station was really neat.  It was a new place to have Christmas and was a nice little town.  And the all the snow made it perfect!  We had yummy food, played games, and did a gift exchange.  I ended up getting what I brought (which was fine with me - I wanted it!) - I got a new winter throw blanket and a bag of York peppermint patties.

Me and Shawn's Mom, Susie

Shawn's parents, Eric and Susie

While we were there, 3 trains came through the stations - 2 passenger and 1 freight

It was freezing cold that day, but I wanted to go out and take some pictures.

Merry Christmas 2010

We had our Christmas at home Thursday evening before Christmas.  Beth, Tommy, & Gavin, mom and her new friend Roger, and Misty came over.  I made a yummy ham, augrautin potatoes, green beans, deviled eggs, and rolls for dinner.  Beth made a delicious Carmel cake with cream cheese icing, chocolate chips, and pecans and mom brought over cookies that she had baked.  Everything was SO yummy!  After eating, we did our gift exchange and then played the Wii. 

Shawn got a Gold Value Coupon book and a Wii racing game.  I got a Rachel Ray casserole dish, cover, and insulated tote bag and a digital photo key chain.  We had a great time passing out and opening up presents.  Gavin loved opening his presents too.  We got him a yellow school bus, a bowling set, 3 pairs of jammies, 2 new cups, 2 onsies, a bowl set with spoon and fork, alphabet magnets, and a round sled.  We didn't really get him anything 'big' this, but I've got something in mind for his birthday. 

After we opened presents, we played a game on the Wii called "Just Dance 2" that Misty brought over.  It was a really fun game and I have a feeling that we are going to buy it.

When Gavin was with us the weekend before, we went to Walmart and bought Mom and Beth and Tommy a special present from him.  Mom got a shiny green sparkly hummingbird ornament and Beth and Tommy got a red and white glass ball ornament.

Gavin wore his cowboys boots and loved wearing them.  He wore them with his clothes, with his diaper only, and with his jammies.

These onsies were my fave.  The brown one said Mac & Cheese: Best Friends for Life.  The tan one said Peanut Butter & Jelly:  We are great together.

Gavin blowing kisses!

Gavin giving a konk, konk!

Gavin giving a wink, wink!

ESCOG Christmas Party

After the Magic Show last Sunday, we went to our Pastor's house for our Church fellowship/Christmas party.  It was scheduled to be at the church at 6:00 p.m., but the night before we got a call that the heater at the Church was messed up so we were canceling church for the day and the party had been moved to the Pastor's house and would be from 4-8:00 p.m.  Since we had Gavin with us for the magic show and didn't have time to take him home before our church party, we took him with us.  He had alot of fun running around their big house playing with the other kids and playing with the big boy toys. 

We had lots of people there and lots of yummy food and desserts.  We had a devotion, sang a few songs, and did some prize drawings.  Shawn and I didn't win anything in the adult drawing, but Gavin won some candy in the little kids drawing. 

I'm not sure what all he was eating, but he has a messy face from it!

Uncle Shawn singing the 12 Days of Christmas into the voice disguising megaphone.  LOL!

Gavin with his candy that he won.

Thanks Jenny Dawn for taking our picture (Remind me to give you a lesson in picture taking!  LOL!!)

Santa Baby.....hurry down the chimney tonight!

Shawn played Santa Claus for his bosses wife's daycare last Thursday morning.  He wasn't too sure about it at first and kind of ranted and raved about it.  He brought the Santa suit home Wednesday evening and I helped him get dressed to make sure the outfit fit and kind of coaxed him into it.  Once he was suited up and saw himself in the mirror he thought it was pretty neat.  He said he did a great job as Santa and the kid's loved him.  Here are a few pictures of my tree and presents and of course Santa!

Magic Cares Magic & Variety Show

Shawn won tickets to the Magic Cares Magic & Variety Show at the Victory Theatre and it was put on by Vanderburgh County CASA.  You can learn more about CASA by visiting their website.  His tickets were in Row O, which was about 15 rows from the stage.  Our neighbors Phil and Rach had also won tickets and weren't able to go so we sat in their seats - 3rd row from the stage.  What great seats and what a blessing that we were able to use them!  The show was Sunday afternoon at 2:00 and since we had Gavin we took him with us and thought he would enjoy it.  We didn't have church that morning because the furnace was messed up so we had a relaxing morning at home before heading to the show.  I had never been to the Victory Theatre before and it was really nice.  We found a really close parking spot with a short walk to the Theatre and was able to walk right in and get right to our seats with no problem at all.  Gavin enjoyed the show for a bit and then kept pointing to the door to leave.  He never cried or had a fit (which he never does anyway) to leave, he just kept pointing to the door.  The show was around 2 hours long so he did GREAT for being confined in a very small area for that long.  We had his cup and some snacks to occupy him.  The show was really neat.  I thought it was going to be all magic, but it was also a variety show.  There were magicians, comedians, and a ventriloquist, and there was lots of laughs and lots of ohhs and ahhs. 

The gentleman on the left was seated next to us and got called up on stage.  It was funny!

This gentleman is Brandon Baggett.  His father is Don Baggett and they are both local magicians.  Brandon just got qualified to be on the next season of America's Got Talent.  Shawn and I both watch this show, so it will be really neat to see a local celebrity on the show. 

I love this picture and the next one of Gavin watching the show.  He was particularly interested in the dove that flew away during the show.  He saw where it landed way up above the stage and it stayed up there the entire show.  Gavin kept pointing up there telling me the bird was there.  He was also interested in the balloons they used.

This guy blew up this really HUGE balloon and then proceeded to get inside it!

This is the end of the show act.  All of the performers came back out on the stage for one last bow and made Santa appear!