The only thing more enjoyable then my brother Josh trying to "add color" to a family picture is when I post that pic on this blog for everyone to see (your welcome Joshua). As always, Mom's efforts in the kitchen were GREATLY appreciated when her holiday feast proved to be mouth-watering and delicious!! I'll be posting today's updates in reverse-order so that you can enjoy the events in the order that they happened...
Ashton's birthday this year was a 5-day celebration! After work on Friday (the 7th), we made the 4 hour drive to Atlanta and stayed at one of my company's Doubletree properties in Alpharetta (delightful room and hotel!) The next morning, we woke up early and headed out to the Georgia Aquarium. What a treat that was! It was our first time visiting there, and we had a great time. Ashton especially loved the sea lions...
Georgia Aquarium 4 from Mike and Ash on Vimeo. I've heard tales of how uncomfortably crowded the Aquarium can get, but I think we got there early enough to leisurely take it all in without feeling cramped or rushed.After our visit with the fishies, we strolled across the street to Atlanta's Centennial Park and played on the playground, watched the ice-skaters and enjoyed the holiday decorations. Next was a little "daddy time", as we headed out to Atlanta's IKEA store for a bit of shopping. VERY COOL store! That night we drove out to Lake Lanier Islands'...
...Magical Night of Lights
Magical Night of Lights from Mike and Ash on Vimeo.I had obviously overbooked our Saturday, because by the time we got there, Ashton slept thru the hour and a half that it took to drive the entire light show. I did enjoy it myself though! Now, if you're familiar with this blog, then you already know what a Doodlebops fan my son is. Sooo....for the main event on our weekend getaway, we wrapped up the trip by seeing his favorite "rock" band Live in Concert at the Philips Arena!! Holy cow! What an experience that was! Of course daddy had to blow a wad of cash before we even got to our seats...what with the new hair, photos, strobe-light flags, and other oh-so-necessary Doodlebop gear...
Doodlebops Concert 2 from Mike and Ash on Vimeo. Suffice it to say, Ashton LOVED the show and LIVED in his Doodlebop halloween costume after we got back to Savannah! After getting home Sunday night, I took Ashton in to daycare on Monday and spent the day in my pj's recovering from the weekend :) Well Tuesday finally rolled around and the Birthday celebration was ON! I had decided to do the Atlanta trip instead of having a big birthday party, so the folks came over and we had an ice-cream birthday cake and presents...
After the gifts were unwrapped and the dust finally settled, Ashton's favorite gift was the box-turned-fort that his new desk came in! After all of that, I don't think I had ever been so happy to go back to work '-)
Merry Christmas One and All!What a glorious Christmas we have had this year!! I guess I'm s l o w l y getting older, and perhaps wiser, because the best present I received was Ashton...healthy, and under my roof.In Savannah, we have to go through several cycles of warm-to-cold-to-warm before Winter finally sticks. As such, Ashton started getting sick in early October, and he seemed to stay that way through November. Thankfully, we were sickness-free during the Holidays (of course, as I type this I can here him starting to cough back in his room).Ashton went on his first 'field trip' this year when he and the kids from his daycare ventured out to the Savannah Mall to take pictures with Santa...On Christmas morning, he and I started the crazy gift-unwrapping extravaganza at our home, and then went out to Mommom and Poppop's house for Part Two, with uncles Josh and Jon.
Opening gifts (with the cat's help) Christmas morning...
More Christmas at home from Mike and Ash on Vimeo. It took a little bit of time for the adults at Mom and Dad's house to get around to opening their own gifts...we were all having so much fun watching Ashton tear through his like a Tasmanian devil! I'm not sure that Mommom was too impressed though, when one of her 'smart --s' sons gave her a beaded necklace for her glasses....personally, I think they look very grandmotherly :)
All and all, a very lovely Christmas this year. It would have perhaps been even better if we had been able to visit with Ashton's Nashville family, but we send Season's Greetings out to Janma, Aunt Rachel and Uncles David and Jon!
What a BUSY holiday season this has been! To wrap up the old year - and to welcome in the new one - Ashton, my brothers and I met up with my folks at the Sunbury Crab Company for New Year's Eve dinner. It was wonderful. Delicious food!! While we always try to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas together as a family, this is the first time in a long while that we've all been together for New Year's Eve. The only one missing was my sister-in-law Judit, who spent the holidays with her family in Hungary. She was SORELY missed (especially since there was no one here to keep her husband in check....or to help Mom with the kitchen....or to help keep Ashton occupied....ahem, I mean we love and miss her very much).Here in Georgia, we can not buy "real" fireworks legally, but we can buy non-explosive fireworks (big Sparklers, really). Luckily, Ashton is still at an age where these displays are quite thrilling. Enjoy the vid...
New Year's Eve 2007/2008 from Mike and Ash on Vimeo. The fireworks in the above vid had pictures of butterflies on the package. Ashton kept waiting for the butterflies to fly up out of the sparkles and pops :)
And with that, another holiday season comes to an end. It was a bit tiring, but extremely enjoyable...one of the best years ever, IMHO. I don't know why Ashton is so wore out in this picture...Daddy did all of the work! We wish peace and prosperity on all family in friends in 2008! Take care everyone!!
The only thing more enjoyable then my brother Josh trying to "add color" to a family picture is when I post that pic on this blog for everyone to see (your welcome Joshua). As always, Mom's efforts in the kitchen were GREATLY appreciated when her holiday feast proved to be mouth-watering and delicious!!
Ashton's birthday this year was a 5-day celebration! After work on Friday (the 7th), we made the 4 hour drive to Atlanta and stayed at one of my company's Doubletree properties in Alpharetta (delightful room and hotel!) The next morning, we woke up early and headed out to the Georgia Aquarium. What a treat that was! It was our first time visiting there, and we had a great time. Ashton especially loved the sea lions...
I've heard tales of how uncomfortably crowded the Aquarium can get, but I think we got there early enough to leisurely take it all in without feeling cramped or rushed.After our visit with the fishies, we strolled across the street to Atlanta's Centennial Park and played on the playground, watched the ice-skaters and enjoyed the holiday decorations. Next was a little "daddy time", as we headed out to Atlanta's IKEA store for a bit of shopping. VERY COOL store!
Now, if you're familiar with this blog, then you already know what a Doodlebops fan my son is. Sooo....for the main event on our weekend getaway, we wrapped up the trip by seeing his favorite "rock" band Live in Concert at the Philips Arena!! Holy cow! What an experience that was! Of course daddy had to blow a wad of cash before we even got to our seats...what with the new hair, photos, strobe-light flags, and other oh-so-necessary Doodlebop gear...
Suffice it to say, Ashton LOVED the show and LIVED in his Doodlebop halloween costume after we got back to Savannah!
Well Tuesday finally rolled around and the Birthday celebration was ON! I had decided to do the Atlanta trip instead of having a big birthday party, so the folks came over and we had an ice-cream birthday cake and presents...
After the gifts were unwrapped and the dust finally settled, Ashton's favorite gift was the box-turned-fort that his new desk came in!
Merry Christmas One and All!What a glorious Christmas we have had this year!! I guess I'm s l o w l y getting older, and perhaps wiser, because the best present I received was Ashton...healthy, and under my roof.In Savannah, we have to go through several cycles of warm-to-cold-to-warm before Winter finally sticks. As such, Ashton started getting sick in early October, and he seemed to stay that way through November. 
Thankfully, we were sickness-free during the Holidays (of course, as I type this I can here him starting to cough back in his room).Ashton went on his first 'field trip' this year when he and the kids from his daycare ventured out to the Savannah Mall to take pictures with Santa...
On Christmas morning, he and I started the crazy gift-unwrapping extravaganza at our home, and then went out to Mommom and Poppop's house for Part Two, with uncles Josh and Jon.
I'm not sure that Mommom was too impressed though, when one of her 'smart --s' sons gave her a beaded necklace for her glasses....personally, I think they look very grandmotherly :)
What a BUSY holiday season this has been! To wrap up the old year - and to welcome in the new one - Ashton, my brothers and I met up with my folks at the Sunbury Crab Company for New Year's Eve dinner. It was wonderful. Delicious food!! While we always try to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas together as a family, this is the first time in a long while that we've all been together for New Year's Eve. 
And with that, another holiday season comes to an end. It was a bit tiring, but extremely enjoyable...one of the best years ever, IMHO. I don't know why Ashton is so wore out in this picture...Daddy did all of the work! We wish peace and prosperity on all family in friends in 2008! Take care everyone!!