Christmas Get Together

Dean


Louise


Susan & Melissa


Dean


Mike


Sean

Christmas Day

We had an excellent Christmas morning everyone slept a bit late and awoke in a good mood. Sean got a couple of movies and game for his PSP, enough said. He was occupied for the remainder of the day. Walter got a nice work coat that will keep him warm even in temperatures down to -25-degrees.

Walter & Sean work on a PSP game together early on Christmas morning.

The boys and I attended Christmas services at church. It was a very nice service, lots of hymns. This evening we went to the family get together at the Owens' house. Everyone had plenty to eat and enjoyed the time together.

Dad, Sean & Dean in deep in conversation.

Aunt Barbara in charge of the tree.

Mom taking candid shots.

Christmas Eve Get Together

Walter actually smiling.

Walter did it. He gave Ben & Danielle the "Chia Pet".

Sean with a new movie to watch on his PSP.

Dean with new business cards announcing his very own deanpsmith.com

My favorite shot of the evening Louise with the realization that she never has to go out for copies again!!!

Choir Concert

The choir at church put on the annual Christmas program. There was a great turn out. The play was entertaining and the musical was fun and up beat.

Final Exams

The guys are finishing up their final exams tonight. Walt turned his in last night at and Dean is in class completing his.

A Wintry Mix

A wintry mix has once again descended upon our area, so far there has been very little precipitation. But it looks like the adverse weather will be hitting the area after the kids get into school this morning.

Christmas Concert

Ready to perform in the Christmas concert.

The Madrigal Singers - Danielle is the center of the group.

Danielle

The Family Tree

The family Christmas tree all trimmed for the season.

Almost 8 months down.

Danielle came by for a brief visit this afternoon. I just had to get the photo of the month shot.

Icy Weather

Icy droplets hang on the leaves and branches of the dogwood tree.

Shoveling Out Drive

Sean shoveling the drive.

More shoveling.

Snowball Alert

Preparing a snowball.


Here it goes.


Pay back.


Success

Schools Out

The children received their first snow day of the year. The ice and snow are making the back roads unpassable for the buses. It may warm up some and allow the streets to clear up so that they can get back to school tomorrow.

A December Snow

A minor miracle has occured here, snow in December. Here in beginnings of the South we usually don't get any of this fluffy white stuff until January or February. Schools are beginning as normal, if the temperature drops they may be home early.

Surprize we really did get some accumulation, and the kids did get out of school a bit early for the day.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Our family gathered together to share company and a nice mean. We had a great time of fellowship and food. It was a great time of thanks for the blessings that have been bestowed upon us.

We've Moved

Yes, we finally did it. We changed our internet service from Comcast to Verizon. It has been a wonderful change. So far...no packet loss and a stable connection. Much, much, much better.

Kilgore Victory Rally

Tonight the Kilgore campaign hosted a Victory Rally, at the Richmond Airport. We were all treated to a special appearance by President George Bush, who offered words of encouragment and support. Attendance was high, I would estimate there to have been around 3500 there.

President Bush addressing the crowd.

I am grateful that the weather was nice as this was an "indoor/outdoor" event. The speakers were inside of an airplane hanger while the majority of the crowd was outside. It was a real treat to see and hear the President speak in person again.

President Bush

President Bush & Jerry Kilgore

President Bush

President Bush

President Bush

Homecoming Dance

Danielle came over this afternoon and spent the time here getting ready to attend the dance. She was all set this afternoon when her aunt brought over her dress. This is again another custom design job. Every new dress is a surprise. She looks great and makes a wonderful model.

Mr. & Mrs. Magnin heading off to the Homecoming Dance.

Trophy of the Day

Dad got a nice 11 lb turkey yesterday. It is a really nice looking bird. Mom of course was out taking pictures of it for him late. Dad does love having photos of him with his "trophies".

Snake Bite

Dad had some exciting news this afternoon. He was out hunting in Powhatan with one of his dogs, Radar, when the dog was bitten on the nose by a poisonous snake. It was probably a copperhead. Luckily for Radar there was a vet nearby who was able to administer an anti-venom and prescribe some antibiotics. Radar is back home where he belongs to rest and recuperate.

Halloween

Dean & Sean on the porch watching for Trick or Treaters

Sean didn't really "dress up" for Halloween this year. He just did a bit of silliness with his hair. In the end it had gave him a purple skunk stripe, so I gave it the title of Purple skunk head. It was amazing how shiny the silver and purple in his hair looked outside under the porch lights. Truly shiny.

Carla & Sean

Carla & Sean sitting around on the sofa this afternoon. Carla is just so odd. I do believe that she thinks that she is a person.

The Madgridal Singers

Seeding in the Rain

Dean took opportunity this afternoon of the wet weather and added in some seed to the bare areas of the lawn. At least he got it in before the heavier rains began falling.

Saga of the Lawn

Dean took advantage of the wonderfully cool weather this afternoon and mowed the lawn. After all the rain that we had had the grass seed that he had planted in the early fall had taken to growing as fast as kudzu. The yard is now all trimmed and tidied up just before we are expecting some additional rain. At the pace that precipitation is falling we will have a fabulous lawn by Spring.

Highland Games & Celtic Festival

The kids gave me a ticket to the Highland Games & Celtic Festival this year. This has sort of become my annual birthday present. Walter started out three years ago and then this year Danielle decided to jump in and give it a try.

The day didn't look as if it was going to cooperate weather wise. There were lots of clouds with threats of potential rain, which thankfully did not materialize. We had prepared for the worse with umbrellas which took on a whole new use as canes or walking sticks.

Walter drove me to the games and we met up with Ben & Danielle. It turned into a major shopping and festive time. Walter was happy as a clam just "lurking" about watching all the going ons. Once he got into doing some shopping he found a couple of things but waited and shopped around for his best bargains. Ben & Danielle hunted high and low for the proper tartan scarves, which of course they found.

Danielle with her McDonald plaid and badge & Ben with his Douglas plaid and badge.

Walt with his purchase, a replica Highlander sword. He spent a lot of time haggling on this one.

Around noon the crowd gathered at the field to watch the massed band perform and to see the parade of the clans. The bagpipes were amazing.

Massing of Bands and Clans

Danielle & Walter

I guess next to watching "big men throwing stuff" the major entertainment of the day was to watch the ferret legging. Yes, that's right ferret legging. Below is a photo of the ferret participants in this extremely humorous pub sport. I can only imagine this actually occurring in a public place without it being a planned exhibition.

Ferrets on the field.

There were four volunteer contestants, three men and a woman. Which seemed a bit odd, but...to each his own. The ferret handlers presented each contestant with their very own ferret, which was promptly dropped down their pants. One contestant even volunteered to have two ferrets in his pants, but then again this man had already shown his bravery by wear a kilt for the day. After the ferrets had taken their places the fun really began, the ferret seemed to really enjoy traveling up and down the pants legs and trying to get out of the pants legs at the ankles.

Men with ferrets in their pants. The man in all black has two.

To the amazement of all, all of the contestants were able to keep the ferrets in their pants for three full minutes. What a hilarious way to end a day.

Ultrasound number 3

Danielle had her third ultrasound today. Everything is going well. Faith is growing and really moving around.

Faith

Walter's Camp Out

Word has come via the family jungle drums that Walter is enjoying himself at the company camp out. He has been put in charge of the fire. Talk turned to his new tent and it was said that he had himself a "Million Dollar Hotel" of a tent. Maybe we can get a picture of it sometime after he returns.

Republican Round Up

Congressman Eric Cantor speaking at the Republican Round Up.

Congressman Eric Cantor

Jerry Kilgore, candidate for Governor of Virginia.

Before all the speeches got under way, Sean enjoyed himself participating in several of the activities that were available. The climbed behind the wheel of the race car to and managed to scamper to the top of the rock wall like an old pro.

Slipping behind the wheel of a race car.

Climbing the "rock wall".


Sean masterfully reaches the top.