Christmas in McKinney

Every year, the town of McKinney has a Christmas festival over the Thanksgiving break, and even though it was absolutely frigid, it was fun to get out and see a new part of Dallas with my parents!

"A Dickens of a Christmas" takes place in their historic downtown - so adorable!

They had a petting zoo, so we dragged Colin through, snapping pictures all the way!  

Can you tell how excited he is? 

Like I said, it was super cold so we had to keep the little guy warm! 

My mom next to the little train we were too cold to wait for! 

Where's Colin?  Still bundled up! 

 

Colin was cool as a cucumber with Santa and just checked him out!

He's still too young to be afraid of Santa, I guess!

I don't know what it is, but Colin can be strangely mellow sometimes.  It was soooo cold and he didn't mind at all!  He didn't cry or tug at his many layers, but just sat in his stroller calmly!  In so many ways he is the opposite of Kevin and me - we are definitely NOT mellow!

These could have been cute Christmas card photos, if not for my triple chin!

REALLY?

The other day I was out Christmas shopping at the mall...well, I guess I shouldn't lie.  I was actually using the excuse of having family pictures to buy myself a new pair of riding boots and skinny jeans (my first pair!!).  Merry early Christmas to me :)

Anyway, while I was waiting for the sales person to bring me my size 9.5 pair of boots, another sales person came up and was checking out Colin.



Shoe Girl:     (slightly amused and disgusted) Oh, well look at him!  He's orange all over!  His face is orange and his hair is orange!  What are you going to DO with him?

Me:     Well, now that you mention it, we are going to drown him like some unwanted puppy, that's what we are going to do with him.

Shoe Girl:     Uhhh...(she realizes she is an idiot and walks away)


Okay, so that was not my real response...I thought of that later.  What I really said was, "Yeah, he has red hair."

Lame, I know.

But really?  What is with people!!    

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?