A Middle-of-the-Gulf-Side-of-Florida Christmas

December 18th, we stopped for gas somewhere in Georgia, and I took a quick picture of our sleeping beauty through the car window, surrounded by presents.

December 19th we drove all day. When we arrived at Grandma Sue’s villa, we pretty much went to bed. And that Christmas started first thing the next morning, on the 20th! Here, Ian is inside of a cat toy. I’ve got a shot of him in this when he was much smaller. Cute!

And BOOM just like that! It is Christmas again! Santa is pretty amazing how he keeps track of all this!

Bathtub Elmo gets a hello hug!

*You can play with this for now Gramma, but I’ll want it back in 15 seconds. K?* See this image larger.

Kisses from Gramma Sue, always a welcome gift! See this image larger.

Something I discovered this trip — if you ask Ian to hold up a large toy, he will hold it up right in front of his head. By the time you ask him to hold it at belly level, he’s smiling a little less. That’s what we’ve got here… well that and the ol’ *Do I really have to smile at you when I could be opening presents?*

And yet more festivities!

It was time to build the space shuttle, so Ian and I did our best!

This orange kitty toy runs away from you when you chase it — so Nina chased!

Exhausted, we take a brief rest.

Nina sets up a picnic on the lanai! See this image larger.

Here’s a better view… See this image larger.

Still putting it together!

*Sooo… do you have any fish, or tuna? Maybe some milk?* See this image larger.

Grandma Sue had some great stuff lined up for us to play, and this was one of them. We checked out the Christmas lights at a nearby park and the kids had a blast. And as usual, we can’t seem to get them both to hold still at the same time. So here’s Nina in looking non-blurry…

And here’s Ian looking non-blurry. Nina contemplates her belly button! (Love Ian’s shirt!) Great Christmas Gramma Sue, thank you! See this image larger.