Shrek the Halls

Instead of battling pepper spray wielding crazy women in the retail world, we made our now annual trek to the Gaylord Texan Hotel to see the ICE exhibit.  This years' theme?  Shrek the Halls!

The hotel has the most amazing atruim filled with Christmas decorations and holiday cheer!

Of course, my Dad was interested in the steel structure of the building! 

Yes, Colin is still in his PJs!

My brother Steve and my adorable nephew Cody

Colin did amazing in the 9 degree cold!   

Visiting Shrek's outhouse!

Gingy!

To the Park!

Nana and Papa flew in to celebrate Turkey Day and after cooking all day Wednesday, we went to the park.

I don't think he's ready for the slide!

Halloween...a little late!

Unfortunately for Colin, he did not get to celebrate his first Halloween...we ignored it and went on vacation instead.  But that doesn't mean I didn't get him a costume just to take pictures in!  These are Colin's 10 month pictures and were taken at my parent's house in California.  My dad took the pictures and it took a little time to get him to finally send them!

No, these aren't taken at a pumpkin patch...this is my mom's porch (and decorating obsession!)

I love my little baby tiger!

1 year minus 1 month

Does every parent think their child is a genius?  Because I think Colin is a genius!

 Colin turned 11 months last week and I just can't believe we are so close to the big birthday (the real one, not the fake ones we celebrate every month!)

 So far Colin has learned to wave, give high fives, clap, and to clap MY hands too!

He now has 7 teeth...4 up top and 3 below 

He loves to climb stairs, much to my chagrin, and to play "catch" with dad!

He actually has quite the little arm!  

(Come on pro-baseball career!  We are counting on you for our retirement!) 

Colin still prefers his left hand, just like his daddy!

He is such a sweet kid and is soooo good! 

Happy 11 months, Colin!  Only another month until you actually get some CAKE!!

What Would YOU Say?

Yesterday I went to Walmart to get most of the Thanksgiving groceries...it must have been senior discount day or something because I was stopped by no less than 5 old people who wanted to poke and coo at Colin.  

Anyway, one of the encounters was a little strange:

Old Lady:  Oh he is so cute!  Where does he get his red hair?

Me: Well, my husband doesn't have red hair and I don't have red hair, so I...

Old Lady: (interrupting me) SHAME ON YOU tsk tsk!

Me: (shocked that she is insinuating that I have had extra-marital relations and the fact that she is like 70 years old AND insinuating that I cheated on my husband)  Uhhh, well, my husband is Irish so we are pretty sure it comes from his line...

Old Lady: Hmmm...



And then she walked away!

WHAT THE HECK???  


What would you have said?

Montego Bay

To break up the return trip, we spent two days in Montego Bay at the Rose Hall Ritz-Carlton.  After searching for a reasonably priced hotel in the Montego Bay area, the Ritz came up as the cheapest!   

We really liked the resort, but we definitely felt like we were a little out of our "class" range, if you know what I mean.  While the service and the accommodations were amazing, I felt like such a poser - like a child sitting at the rich and snobby adult table at Thanksgiving.  

Kevin and I were trying to quantify how you know you don't belong at the resort in which you are staying, and we came up with this list:

• You still say "thank you" to the help
• You have to ask how much everything costs
• You haven't had any "work" done
• You skip breakfast because you don't want to spend $30 on eggs
• You are still on your first marriage
• You carry your own bags just so you don't have to tip the bell hop
• You are the whipper-snapper whose presence the other patrons resent

Have you ever felt that way?  Add to my list in your comments :)

   

See all those empty deck chairs?  Let's just say that the resort was a little empty (hence our amazing deal)!

We had the beach all to ourselves!

I love these boys :)

The view from our room: