christmas review

We packed in a lot over Christmas. Marmie arrived on the 17th and we had a really good visit with her. Grandma and Grandpa pulled up on the 23rd, and by the 24th, our house was full of family. Yesterday, the boys attended The Nutcracker with Grandma and Marmie, and late in the afternoon, more friends arrived for an overnight visit. It's been a wonderful holiday with so many friends and family members, and oh so much ham! Merry Christmas to you and yours! 

Christmas Eve lunch with the Woodards and Wilsons

The boys and Marmie made a gingerbread village.

Christmas Eve calm before the storm.

7 a.m.: the storm begins

At about 10 a.m., Jed started work on his Millennium Falcon Lego set from Santa . . . 

and Eric started "helping" Macon with his Wookie Gunship. 

By midday, Grandma had volunteered to sort parts. 

progress by afternoon

Macon's completed gunship

back at it on the 26th

the finished product, completed by noon on the 26th

the boys with their grandparents

Jed and the Falcon

christmas is coming

Marmie arrived on Thursday afternoon. 

Luckily, Macon and I managed to clean up from our two-day baking-for-neighbors extravaganza before she got here.

Today, we finally embarked on a journey that Jed has longed to take: we took the Raleigh Trolley tour. The route passes right by our house and every time Marmie visits, we say we're going to do it, but then we don't. But today was finally The Day.

Macon was somewhat unimpressed and decided to nap. Eric took this opportunity to make Macon do things like pick his own nose and poke himself in the ear, and make no mistake, I did document it, but I try not to publish truly embarrassing photos of the boys so they are staying on our computer.

I'm not sure it was as awesome as he hoped, but I think Jed enjoyed himself.

He was certainly delighted to show off his own house from the trolley. 

And we finished the day in style with a visit from the Oakwood Waits! 

happy december

Nothing says "Christmas," "December," and "winter" like an after-school visit to Pullen Park. Note the short sleeves and shorts. Bah humbug! 

And I promise to stop messing with the camera's focus soon. 

Santa!

Macon and I rode our tandem bike with our neighborhood in the Raleigh Christmas Parade the weekend before Thanksgiving. A day or two later, I couldn't find my camera. I knew I hadn't taken any photos while we were at the parade, but I was 90% certain I'd put it in my backpack. Over the course of several days, I turned the house upside down and inside out. I looked in every nook and cranny. I even called the police department on the off chance that someone found it and turned it in. No luck. Still, I postponed buying a new one, and I relied on Eric to photograph Macon's birthday because I kept thinking the camera would turn up. 

But I missed my camera, so grudgingly, I ordered a replacement. It arrived today, just in time for the annual Spencer-Mills family Christmas party, and I got some good and not-great photos while I messed with settings and options. Some of the photos have hazy edges and some are not well-focused, but it was a pretty good practice run. 

This party always includes cookie decorating. This year and last, the decorators moderated their intake, but two years ago, this portion of the party concluded with several kids throwing up! The blonde kid on the end played his harmonica almost non-stop for the entire afternoon. 

But the highlight is Santa. 

After the big guy headed out, the party moved outside. 

Eventually, we came home, and as bedtime approached, I found myself again tearing the house apart. This time, in search of Macon's blankie (which was missing last night, too, but we had a babysitter who managed the situation very well). I hunted and hunted and after walking past the bathroom for the 10th time, the footstool in there caught my eye. It has a storage bin in it and that was one of Macon's favorite hiding spots for his favorite things. He hasn't used it in a long time, but just to be sure, I checked it. 

No blankie. 

Only THE CAMERA. On the same day the replacement arrived.

#5

Five years ago, Macon was brand-spanking new.

Happy Birthday!

birthday time!

Macon's birthday is tomorrow, but we partied today. Once we found the cake that is. 

Shortly after everyone arrived, the doorbell rang urgently and repeatedly, and the boys rushed downstairs to discover a TOP SECRET letter to Macon stating that the cake had been stolen! Some were incredulous at first: we'd all seen the cake only a few minutes earlier. But sure enough, the cake was gone, and only a scattering of crumbs and a crumpled napkin remained! 

Luckily, our detectives, armed with magnifying glasses and badges, were on the case.

They followed clues around the neighborhood . . . 

. . . even following cat prints, which pointed them toward McLeod's house. 

McLeod was working in her yard when they approached, loudly accusing her cat, Rikki, of cake theft. 

McLeod protested. Rikki? A cake thief?! No!! 

She assured the boys that he would have taken cake only if it had been tuna cake. They were certain the cake was "regular," but she invited them to check around Rikki's bowl to make sure. 

Rikki's bowl was bereft of cake crumbs, but they did find another clue suggesting Darth Vader was the culprit! 

One more clue later, and they were back at home, ready to blow out candles and dig in to Macon's favorites: popcorn, cheese, strawberries, shrimp, and cake!

no loyalty to mama

Last week, Guilford College played UNC in an exhibition game. The Guilford fans were few and far between, but I thought I might have some supporters within my family, but no . . . everyone wants to pull for a winner. 

They even made a pro-UNC sign to hold up.

Fight, fight, inner light! Kill, Quakers, kill! 

Knock 'em down, beat 'em senseless, beat 'em 'til we reach consensus!