Seeing Santa

Every year we make a trip to see Santa


This year Santa was hiding in the Savannah Mall

First we found the train near Santa's workshop

After the train, we wandered into the north pole (Bass Pro Shop)
where Santa's helpers (Bass Pro staff)
directed us to the arts and crafts, the holiday decorations
and the ONE thing that every little boy (future Bass Pro customer)
needs at Christmas time...
...a shooting range.


Thankfully, Ashton did not "shoot his eye out"
and with that,
it was time for Santa...

Dentist Day

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Baby Lyrica

A

few months ago, in September 2008, Ashton's first cousin was born.

Lyrica

is the beautiful daughter of Ashton's Aunt Rachel & Uncle Jeff (on Ashton's mother's side of the family).

Aunt Rachel, Baby Lyrica and Ashton's grandmother were all able to make the trip down from Nashville for his birthday. He was so thrilled.



On the day of Ashton's birthday party, the festivities began at Burger King, moved back to our house for time with Aunt Judit, Uncle Josh (Jon had to work), Mommom and Poppop (dad's side), and then if that weren't enough, we ended the day meeting baby Lyrica and family (mom's side) up at Chuck E Cheese's for Pizza and games!

Whew!!

What a day!

Happy 4th Birthday Ashton!!

Ashton's birthday party was at the local Burger King this year.


He had a fabulous time!
The BK's play area was closed off from the rest of the restaurant,
so we had our own party room.


Many of Ash's friends were able to attend :)



Friends, Family, 2-story play area,
cake, ice-cream and gifts...
...perfect



Time to sing...






Lots and lots of sugar!


Oh, and did I mention that the party was
at 10:30 in the morning?
Great time for sweets!


And finally it was time for presents...


What a haul!
Spider-man, Power Rangers,
(kid-safe) tools, art supplies and games!


Thank you (again) to everyone
for taking the time to make our party a celebration!






I can't believe he's 4.
It's already going by too quick.
It's been an incredible 4 years!

:)

Special Thanks to Judit for acting
as the Party Photographer this year!

Forsyth Park (...and a few shots of chili)

On a beautiful day, back in early December, Stacy, Ashton and I headed out to Forsyth Park to take in the 3rd annual Savannah Chili Bowl.

While walking through the park we happened upon a gorgeous and untouched blanket of yellow leaves surrounding the trunk of naked tree. We had great fun rolling around on the ground and snapping photos.
Following that we took a few shots by the fountain
and enjoyed watching Ashton on the playground.





Of course, sometimes watching
Ash on the playground is nerve-wracking!



As for the Chili...

It was good...what little bit we had. Stace and I each bought armbands allowing us as much chili as we could eat. The problem was that by the time you finished waiting in line at any of the dozen-or-so vendors, all you got for your trouble was a itty-bitty styrofoam shot glass of chili. I doubt we'll be back next year, but it was cool to try it out :)

Cool Blur

He moves as fast as his daddy talks :)
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Crazy Surfer Boy!

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Yummy Dairy Queen!

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Happy Halloween 2008!!

Jack Skellington courtesy of Jon Sturgis


For our pumpkin,
Stacy, Ash and I checked out a couple of local pumpkin patches.

With her degree in Interior Design, Ashton and I agreed that Stacy was best-suited for the pumpkin carving honors :)

She did give Ashton plenty of opportunity to help with the guts-removal...

...after his first slimey quasi-handful, Ash decided that it was womens-work.

I, of course, was in charge of the camera.
Last year Ashton was Moe Doodle,
and this year THE RED POWER RANGER!We opted to go Trick or Treating in Stacy's neighborhood this year, and we had a blast!

I was actually somewhat surprised that Ashton didn't go for longer than he did. Stace and I took turns taking him out, but after only a few streets he was done.

It wasn't from fatigue, mind you, he simply knew that he couldn't dig into his haul until he came home and we checked out the loot.


Stacy and the girls at her office
decided to dress up 80's-Style for Halloween.
I loved it.
She looked just like every girl I had the hots for in High School :)

After trick or treating
I surprised Ashton by introducing the Power Ranger
to the local (well-fed) sheriff(the creepy-looking guy in the back is Jonathan)

The girls hangin' out.

Before long, everyone was trying on the fat suit...
'Plump Jon'
'Baby-Got-Back Judit'

And the fascination with trees begins...

Ash tree-climbing at Stacy's fathers house.
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Fun for (with) young and old

A little fort-building fun



Ashton thinks he's clever...



Well it was recently birthdays time again for the Southern Sturgis family.

I turned twenty-sixteen,
and my parents hit THE BIG 6 0


Stacy, Ashton, my brothers and I joined my folks at
The Sunbury Crab Company for dinner.
The restaurant is open to the surroundings and the view was amazing.
Before the food came we did our gifts exchange
along with the obligatory 'senior citizen' birthday cards!

Over the years I've grown rather fond of painting plaster miniatures.
My folks have had a pair of stone pelicans
that they wanted finished to resemble Eastern Brown Pelicans,
and so I took on that challenge for their birthday.

Before

After

The Pets

A Cat In A Sack
(just a random Claudia pic)


Once upon a time I think that Stacy barely stomached my aquarium.
I've got a 55 gallon tank with a rather large pair of cichlids:
a red oscar (Murtaugh) and a blood parrot (Don Corleone).
My oscar tends to be a lethal weapon,
(especially when I feed him crickets, worms,
tree frogs, volkswagen bugs...whatever)
and for some reason my lady-friend was slow in warming to my cold-blooded pets.

Well I'm delighted to report that Stacy finally came around!
While at the pet store one day,
her eye was caught by a pinkie-sized albino oscar.
Before I knew it "Aurora" had joined our little underwater family.
In the video above, she's already doubled in size since bringing her home.

It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time

A long long time ago (like, 2 months), back in the peaceful ages before my son knew about Peanut Butter Jelly Time...things were quiet and serene in my house.

And then...
My thoughtful and helpful girlfriend looked at us in shock when she realized that Ashton and I were unfamiliar with Peanut Butter Jelly Time...

Stacy remedied that oversight quickly.




Ashton LOVES Peanut Butter Jelly Time.
I mean, he REALLY LOVES it.





Now here's a YouTube video that Ashton and I can agree on...


That vid always cracks us up!

(And Ashton is perfecting his British accent...

...his Aunt Judit would be proud)

Once again at the pool...

Spending another wonderful summer day
with several friends at Karen and Pete's pool.






Ashton and his ladies...
:)
(Kailey and Avery)

*~* FIREWORKS *~*

2008's 4th of July was celebrated near the Westin Hotel overlooking the Savannah River.

Last year Stacy, Ashton and I found a spot on Hutchinson Island, next to the Westin, that afforded us an excellent vantage point for the show. It also gave us access to a little-known shortcut providing quick escape to the interstate once the festivities were complete.

Needless to say, we definitely took advantage of that again!



Don't worry...
Ashton only had first-degree burns after playing with the sparklers :)

So sweet....

Yes, I'm still sans hair in this photo...
No, Stacy didn't like me clean-shaven...
Yes, I now have hair again.

This is SUCH a cool pic!
Love it!!
Grand Finale...