Tuckered Out!

Christmas in Indiana really wore Joseph out. He fell asleep as we were pulling away from the gate in Indy.

Christmas in Indiana

Little Shepherd Boy!

Pre-present opening Family Christmas Pageant.

posing with Aunt Meggie & Uncle Chris.

Grandpa & Grandma open gifts.

a hug from Kimmy.

Bundled Up! (Thanks to Aunt Meggie for the snowsuit!)

Snow!

Sledding!

Milk break with Grandpa Joe.

Striking a pose by the tree

Joseph and cousin Kimmy - snuggled up for some movie watching.

Snowy neighborhood

Aunt Natalie & Grandpa Joe competing in Christmas Wii games.

Joseph's doggie cousins - Rudy & Buckley

Indianapolis Children's Museum

We love this museum and planned a little time for Joseph to play before the last leg of our trip to Grandpa & Grandma's.

home - good times

we are home . . . for a brief time (more to come on that later).

good things about the trip home:

1) The new airport in Indy . . . . has family sercurity check. Seriously - this is the best thing ever! A separate area for families to go through security. Wonderful, kind security personnel encouraging us to "take our time" . . . . carts to wheel our many plastic bins over to the conveyor belt . . and benches to "redress" and collect our things.

2) The many wonderful cards and letters awaiting us (after being held for 12 days) at the post office.

3) Our wonderful friends at Santi's who welcomed us back to town (we haden't even been to our house yet) with a free, fabulous dinner. We love, love, love them!

Merry Christmas!

We are still alive . . . . we've just been braving the Indiana winter for 11 days. We got into town for an ice storm followed by more snow . . . then more ice. . . . then rain . . . now flooding. We will be attempting to make our way back down to Indianapolis this morning (Titans are playing the Colts in Indy today by the way!) and will fly back to Charleston tomorrow morning.

Pictures, videos and vignettes from our trip will eventually be posted. And you'll definitely enjoy them. :-)

Duck - refurbished

Grandpa Joe made this wooden rocking duck for Joseph for his first birthday. Joseph loves it. It was intended for me to finish it off decoratively. . . . .

One year and three months later with some paint, batting, fabric and stain . . . . rocking duck looks like this.

Joseph reading his new book

"more presents?!"

Since we are leaving Thursday morning for Indiana, we let Joseph open his Christmas presents last night. This way he'll get a few days of play time in before we leave.

Christmas 'Round the Swearingen Tree

On Saturday evening we had a Christmas party at our house. About 50 people celebrated 'round our tree with some great food and drinks.

Menu:
Antipasto Platter - proscuitto & gouda wraps, artichoke hearts and blue cheese stuffed olives
Cheese Tortellini with Pesto Dip
Cranberry Meatballs
Caramelized Onion Focaccia Bread with Cherry-Pomegranate Chutney
Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Cheesecake Pops
Chocolate Cookie Pops
Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
Pinot Evil - pinot noir & pinot grigio
Pomegranate Martinis

Joseph found a friend willing to snuggle up while he drank his nog . . . . . or apple juice.And the lovely Root girls made an appearance.

Thanks to all of our wonderful friends for celebrating Christmas with us!

Merry Christmas!!!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

absent camera

we have not been doing a very good picture-taking job lately. . . sorry grandparents. here are a couple to show that we are all still alive and well.

Joseph's song repertoire

new bathroom

this post is dedicated to anyone/everyone who ever had to use the old original bathroom in this house (especially the Rampeys & Tells!). no more leaning to the left while sitting on the throne. no more yucky bathtub. it's a brand new day! there are a few finishing touches left to be done. . . . but we have a functioning, new, 2nd bathroom!

Coastal Carolina Fair

oooooooh the lights, the food, the "punkins" everywhere.

fair food is the best food - everything is deep fried or on a stick . . . or deep fried AND on a stick.

yummy fried pickles!

this little pony is just my size!

kid meeting kid . . .