Merry and Bright

I promise that I'm still here and that I haven't resolved to give up blogging in 2010, but the holidays were busy and full of family time. The computer has seemed distant.

Since I last blogged, we have celebrated Daddy's birthday....

with yummy Cookie Dough Cupcakes.

Made Christmas cookies.

Got spiffy new matching jammies.

I got some too! (They matched my toenail polish, perfectly!)

Made sure Santa could get in.

Read both Twas the Night Before Christmas and Luke 2 before heading to bed.

Pleased that Santa came, and brought the jackhammer, soccer ball, and marker that Eli asked for.

Made sure to stop and play with each

and every present. He even wanted to read the books....

despite more presents to be opened. It took over 2 hours to open what we did, and he never did finish opening them all. We still have 3 presents under the tree for Eli. Love it!

Unfortunately, Grandma Carson spent Christmas in the hospital, so we spent a lot of time there with her and tried to bring a little Christmas to her. Thankfully, she was only there a few days, and is home and recovering well. So, Christmas was a little different this year, but Eli didn't notice a thing. He had so much fun and was truly a delight to watch as he experienced it all.

We even managed to find the time to make Jesus's birthday cake

and card.

Then we got to come back to Tallahassee and have Christmas all over again with the Snyder family....and love on cousin Asher.

Eli adores his cousin, and Asher seems to be pretty fond of Eli too. The two made quite a pair. Eli can rile Asher up and get him to smile, laugh, squeak, sing, talk, and bounce like no other. We can't wait to watch as these two grow up and become true playmates and friends.

Eli also adores his Uncle Ricky.

It was fabulous having almost all of us home for the holidays once again.

We missed having Susanna with us this Christmas. She is currently in the jungles of Ecuador with a school program. She is out there experiencing and trying to make the world a better place. She is pretty cool that way.

We were sad when the family all went to their respective homes, but it gave Eli some time to try out some of his new toys.

Mommy got a new toy too....a new camera lens!

And I'll leave you with a clip of Eli playing the drums he got from Grandma and Grandpap Carson. He's got some rhythm,

and we've got some new headphones to match Eli's.

Hope your Christmases were merry, blessed, and full of wonder.
Happy 2010!
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