Photo Wrap Up

I successfully completed my December Photo Project, and I had a great time documenting the first 25 days of December with a photo. Since I actually heard about and started my project on the 2nd, my last DPP post was the 26th.

Posting a photo every day made me blog more, which I enjoyed, but a photo a day also made me want a new and better camera--badly! I've put Mr. Morgan to researching the best DSLR and HD video camera for us, since he's so skilled at Internet researching. Maybe once I have a better camera, I'll feel up to attempting the 365 Project.

December 26

Christmas night the snow started falling at the farm, and we woke today to a beautiful, white dusting. I snapped this picture of the copse in front of Mom and Dad's house while we were on our way up the driveway to church this morning. As is typical in South Carolina, the accumulated snow lasted less than 24 hours.

December 25

The new dinosaurs came straight out of the stocking and into Hamilton's ready mouth. He wasn't accustomed to opening presents, but he soon got used to it. By the end of the morning, needing no encouragement from us, Hamilton was going back under the tree to find more gifts wrapped in his recognizable paper.

December 24

Sometimes playing with trucks and trains can be so exhausting that one must recline on the floor so as to exert as little energy as possible.

December 23

When I was young, maybe 7 or 8 years old, Dad supplied a Christmas tree to the governor's mansion. I skipped school one day in December to accompany Dad to Columbia to deliver the tree. Gov. Carroll Campbell's wife took me on a tour of the mansion where I saw many other Christmas trees and festive decorations. I also got to peek in the kitchen where the chef was making a gigantic gingerbread house. Before we left the mansion, the First Lady told me I could choose any ornament off one of the mansion's trees to take home. I chose this corn-husk doll, and every year I fondly remember my experience when I see the delicate ornament hanging on Mom's tree.

December 22

From last night's small tractors to this morning's full-sized one, Hamilton loves the farm vehicles. Once Pops takes him for a ride, I think he'll be hooked.

December 21

Mr. Morgan bought Hamilton new tractors while he and Dad were out shopping today. Of course, Mr. Morgan couldn't wait long to give them to Hamilton, so tonight Hamilton is enjoying his John Deere tractors. One of them is the clean and shiny version, and the other is a muddy edition. Both are such fun for Hamilton, as this picture indicates with his "Oh-ho-oh" face.

December 20

The snowy, wintry vignette in our dining room reflects the below-normal, cold temperatures we've been having here in Charleston during the last week or two. The chilly weather makes me want to warm myself by the fire, sip hot cocoa, bundle up in scarves, and anticipate Christmas.

December 19

Redeemer looked so festive tonight for our annual Christmas party. The neighbors hung the garlands and wreaths on the wrought-iron gates last week which really made the church look beautiful.

December 18

Claire has been busy the last two days wrapping quart-sized bags of shelled pecans to give as gifts to her teachers, piano instructor, play directors, and favorite Chick-fil-A cashier. She and Pops picked over a hundred pounds of pecans during Thanksgiving weekend, and they shelled the nuts last weekend when Mimi and Pops visited us. Claire has been excited to give away the gift bags, and she created sweet cards for each one.

December 17

At our post-dinner partying, Christie offered 50 bucks to whoever would jump off her deck into cold Palmetto Lake. Alex immediately jumped on that offer, surprising Christie and the rest of us. Once he donned a borrowed swimsuit and towel, he began to have second thoughts. Here's dry Alex before he heads out into the cold, night air.

Alex surveyed the dark water below as Flip, the man of the house, gave instructions for how to jump and avoid debris in the water. The rest of us (minus Amanda, his supportive wife) gathered on the deck for moral support and the countdown.

Motivated by quick and easy cash, Alex plunged into the frigid water and quickly returned to the deck amid our cheers and high-fives. Five minutes later he was enjoying a hot shower in the Johnsons' guest bathroom.

Last Night

We dined out with friends last night minus both kiddos--so fun! We partied afterward with games, cookies, and coffee. I snapped a great picture for my December Photo Project, but I left my camera behind after the partying. So December 17's photo won't be posted until later this afternoon. I'm hoping the crazy story behind the picture will make up for the wait.

December 16

With the warmer temperatures today, Hamilton was so content and excited to play again outside. He found the brightly colored bubbles, which he loves to move in and out of containers.

December 15

This fireside shot looked idyllic to me tonight as Claire headed upstairs for bed. Mr. Morgan's banjo propped carefully against the green chair signals he's taking a break from practicing. The puppies lumped onto their newly laundered bed incorrectly indicate a long, tiring day of work. The sweet stockings hung by the blazing, gas-log fire tell the time of year, for the dog-tired puppies and resting banjo are year-round occurences in the Morgan household.

December 14

Claire received this adorable nativity from Grandma Judy and Papa Joe a few years ago. She loves getting all the pieces out each year; they're each in brightly colored boxes with ribbons painted on to look like presents. Hamilton discovered the nativity this year, and he loves the small, palm-sized figurines with stable bottoms that he can easily carry around.

December 13

This mischievously smiling boy loves being on a stage. After his Christmas program, we tried to get pictures beside the poinsettias in his Christmas finery, but most of the shots were of his spinning and running around. Getting this little ham off the stage was not easy.

December 12

This little train entertains so many in our house for so many hours.

December 11

Mr. Morgan and I dressed up for the Atlas Christmas party which we always enjoy each year. The USS Yorktown held this year's party, but with no heaters the hangar bay was SO cold. We survived, of course, and enjoyed our mini getaway, since Mimi and Pops are hanging with the kids tonight.

December 10

My Aunt Judy made this beautiful, herb wreath for me when I visited the farm last weekend. Most of the greenery is rosemary, but the wreath also includes sprigs of fennel, parsley, sage, and oregano. With the red-plaid bow, it looks so festive on our front door.

December 9

Hamilton's big debut on stage involved his teacher's holding him during the one-year-olds' parade in front of the huge Christmas tree. He wore cute reindeer antlers and his Christmas clown suit (as I call it), so he looked festive at least. We were not the parents who showed up super early, so our seats were way in the back of the sanctuary, rendering a faraway picture.