Christmas with the Johnson's

We got up this morning and traveled to Sparkle City to finally celebrate Christmas with Ron's parents and sister. We all went to lunch at a local Italian place and then came back to his parent's house to exchange our gifts. I think Maggie had the best time of all....Cousin Bailey was there and they chased each other and played the whole time! They were so cute together!

After we finished Christmas, we drove across town to pick up Clay's best friend, Ryan, who is spending a few days with us, made an exchange for Ben at Wal-Mart and stopped at the Beacon, we have been CRAVING chilli cheeseburgers and sweet tea for weeks!
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Christmas Morning 2007

It is now officially the end of Christmas day! Our gifts are all opened, we've had breakfast and dinner and now everyone has scattered to their own "place"....Ben is building with Lego's,Clay is playing "Guitar Hero", Maggie's sleeping, Ron's playing a "need for speed" game and here I am blogging! :)

We had a wonderful Christmas morning with lots of GREAT gifts! Too many to even begin to go through, but here are some highlights:

Clay - lots of AE clothes, a Rock (as in Rock and Roll!) encyclopedia, Guitar Hero III and a framed John Lennon wall art. (Eagle ornaments from Ben)

Ben - a Gamecock jersey, hats, Lego's and an iPod (a USC football and mints from Clay)

Ron - a Gamecock sweatshirt, pj bottoms, a treat set, and a manicure/pedicure (a USC iPod cover from Clay, a cocky cup and penguin oranment from Ben)

Melanie - Vera Bradley pjs and wristlet, Bella Bellara perfume and goodie basket gift set (a lion mug from Clay, lion cups, ornament and stuffed animal from Ben....no lion it was great gifts!)

Maggie - a plush blankie, snacks and teething toys (a stuffed lion from Ben and a homemade dog-food set from Clay)

Both boys loved their own personal "root beer kegs"! They thought they were hilarious!

We started the morning by telling the boys that all that was left for them was coal...Clay, of course, tasted the coal which was luckily only licorice chunks. Then they stopped to see if Santa had eaten any of his cookies and Diet Coke, read his note and found "reindeer patties" from the reindeer! We opened all of our gifts, ate our breakfast casserole and chilled out for the rest of the day.

Clay claims this is "the best Christmas we've ever had". Ben chimed in, "...because we're in Columbia!"

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Merry Christmas from the Johnson's!!!

Christmas Eve 2007

We got up this morning and after picking up, I headed out to Wal-Mart and Kroger for some serious food stuffs and last minute gifts. Ron had to work for a few hours and when he got home, we ran out so he could do his "traditional" Christmas Eve shopping.

We had planned to cook a big supper, but instead had what Clay dubbed "fun food dinner"....cajun crab dip, brie, a cheese ball, ham, summer sausages, tex-mex dip, chips, crackers and key lime pie! YUM! After dinner Ron and Clay watched a movie, Ben played in his room and I had a wrapping marathon!

We finished up the night with prepping a breakfast casserole for tomorrow morning, baking cookies for Santa, spreading reindeer food for Rudolph and friends, checking for where Santa was at bedtime and watching a movie.

Now, we're ready for tomorrow morning to see what Santa puts under our tree!

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Christmas Adam

We decided today to start a new Christmas Adam tradition of going to do something "Christmas-sy" and then having a nice dinner. Our plan for this first year was to go to "Lights Before Christmas" at the zoo and then dinner at Bonefish Grille. The first part worked perfectly!

We did the lights at the zoo, stopped downtown to see the State House tree and then arrived at Bonefish where the wait was close to an hour. Time to re-vamp the plan! Instead we ate at Red Bowl Asian Bistro out at Sandhill which was, as always, very good and it was still a nice place to eat so it fit with this new tradition! We laugh that when the boys get married and have kids we'll have to take out a loan to keep this tradition going! :)

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The Six Saturdays of Christmas.....Saturday 6

My mom and dad came down to Columbia yesterday to spend celebrate Christmas with us. After lunch the boys and I met them for some shopping and then after a little rest they came over to meet at our place. We headed off to dinner at Little Pig's BBQ and then drove out to Saluda Shoals for "Lights by the River", a drive-thru light display that was really, really good!

We stopped at the "wonderland" on the way out of the park to visit with Santa and then my dad treated us (except Ron and Clay who opted to stay behind) to a train ride around a part of the lights. That was definitely Ben's favorite part!

After the lights we went back to our place and opened gifts. We got some great things! For Clay- AE jeans and shirt, a Clemson t-shirt and goodies; for Ben - jeans, a Lego city set and, his favorite, a Carolina helmet hat; for Ron - a Carolina t-shirt and pullover; for Maggie - an indestructable, glow in the dark ball and for me - jeans, a sweater, a party bag and, my favorite, a 2008 Vera Bradley agenda! We gave my dad a USC golf shirt and Eagles CD and my mom a VB bag and key chain. It was a wonderful time and the gifts were great, but the best of all was being able to spend time together.
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Friday Feast - Getting to Know Your Friends...Christmas Edition

No Friday Feast this week, so one of the fellow feasters "tagged" us all to do this meme (sor of like those e-mails or myspace bulletins, but in blog form).....this is the first one I've done like this, so here goes!

1. Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share Christmas facts about yourself.
3. Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Welcome to the Christmas edition of “Getting to Know Your Friends.”

1. Wrapping or gift bags? I do both, but I love to buy at places that wrap for you, because I HATE, I mean HATE wrapping presents!

2. Real or artificial tree? artificial....Ron is highly allergic to real Christmas trees and even though he offered to get a real one this year, it wasn't worth him feeling terrible all season

3. When do you put up the tree? as soon as I can after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down?After the New Year, though our first Christmas it was like February! :)

5. Do you like egg nog? I like it fine, but don't really ever get any

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My walking Mickey Mouse (I still have him by the way!)

7. Do you have a nativity scene? YES! It was made by my grandmother so it is one of our most special Christmas possessions. Ben LOVES to put it up every year.

8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I teach school, so this one could fill a page!

9. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail cards....emailing just doesn't cut it for me....though I did e-mail out an "Elf Yourself" that was pretty funny (if you didn't get it and can't live without seeing it, message me and I'lll send it!)

10. Favorite Christmas Movie? Christmas Vacation, Elf and Scrooged

11. When do you start shopping for Christmas? whenever I find the first gift for someone that is perfect

12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? it used to be these candies called "Martha Washington's" that a friend of my aunt made for us every year using my grandfather's pecans, but I haven't had those in YEARS, so now there really isn't one food that I just really associate with Christmas...those were too hard to replace.

13. Clear lights or colored on the tree? COLORED ALL THE WAY!!!!!

14. Favorite Christmas song(s)? Do They Know It's Christmas Time? (the 80s song by all the different people about children in Africa); U2's version of "Baby, Please Come Home"; "Sarevjo Christmas Eve", "The Prince of Peace" and "An Angel Came Home" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra; "Silver Bells"

15. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay at home

16. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? only if I sing "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

17. Angel on the tree top or a star?An angel....Christmas 1994, Aunt Marti gave us a beautiful Battenburg Angel that we ALWAYS hang at the top of the tree.

18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? we open one little thing on Christmas Eve and the everything else on Christmas morning

19. Most annoying thing about this time of year? trying to get past slow walking people in the mall and finding a parking space

20. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? Family is the theme--- every ornanment on our tree has some special meaning, remembrance or significance

21. What do you leave for Santa? cookies and Diet Coke!

22. Least favorite holiday song? "12 Days of Christmas".....I absolutely CANNOT stand it!

23. Favorite ornament? oh wow! All of them?!?! definitely the ones hand-made by my children, the yearly "personalized" ornaments (something we started our first Christmas), seriously, it is just too hard to pick ONE!

24. Family tradition? again, all of them?!?! One of our favorites is the "pickle" (I just realized this year how much Ben loves this one, too!) We have a glass pickle ornament and on Christmas Eve, Santa hides it somewhere else on the tree. The first person to find the "pickle" gets a special present!

25. Ever been to Midnight Mass or late-night Christmas Even services? Yes. Last year our family joined my in-laws, including brother and sisters in law at Ron's parent's church for the 11:00 service. It was very sweet....until Clay tried to burn the church down (that is a story for another post, though). I love going to church on Christmas Eve.

Okay, I tag Gina, Kim, Kathy and Allison (not seven, but I'd love to see these answers anyway!)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

The End of the "Social Season"

Last night was our last "official" holiday parties! I picked Ron up from work and we headed over to Palmetto Health Foundation's office for the Christmas social. It was nice to see Nan, Paula, Leslie and Dennis while enjoying some yum-i-licious crab cakes and hors d'ourves. Afterwards we headed to Flying Saucer to grab a table early for our dinner-date with Stephanie and Rick.

It was "glass" night and we were determined to get a "Santa Glass" as soon as they started at 7! We ordered one, but actually got 2 from "waitress who didn't listen" (kind of like "he who can't be named" from Harry Potter but in a German get-up and less evil, unless you count "accidently" bringing things not ordered and charging for them....)

Stephanie and I opened our gifts -- we gave her a Vera Bradley wristlet in Mod Blue Floral and I got a set of AWESOME multi-color glass bracelets from one of my favorite stores, Handpicked.... I love them! (If you look real close in the first picture of me and Steph, you can see them!) It was a fun way to end the "social season"! (BTW --- hope you guys have a safe and fun trip to TN! See you next week!)


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Another Christmas Party

The school had a party tonight and it was nice to be able to share dinner with

Stephanie and Rick (who were invited),

Mary and Cam (Mary teaches with us)

and Becky (our Art/Spanish teacher).

Me and Stephanie

Polar Express Day

Four years ago when I was teaching 2nd grade we held a "Polar Express" Day at school and I bought a new pair of pjs just for the occasion. The next year I moved to a new school and "took" PE day with me. Ben was also at my school that year so, we both bought new pjs and again last year, new pjs for both of us for PE day. Well, this year, yet again I found myself at a new school and again I brought PE day with me. Over the weekend I went out and bought Ben and I our annual pajamas and today was finally the big day and we got to wear them with our slippers to school!

Mr. Chris played conductor and checked tickets before reading the story to our students. Afterwards, parents served us hot chocolate and cookies! Less you think we did nothing today, we did do math and reading....all Polar Express related of course! We ended the school day by gathering as a group to watch the movie. Too bad this wasn't the last day before break....it was pretty hard to beat!

The Six Saturdays of Christmas....Saturday 5

I overdid it! We started out at EdVenture this morning for the Discovery Council family breakfast. We enjoyed food, crafts and the Snowville exhibit before coming back our way and starting the day's shopping.

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With Christmas slightly over a week away, I needed to finish the boy's, Ron's and my friend Stephanie's gift. I got everyone's but Ron and he even bought a gift for me. And, I chose to use some of my "award" money for a VB tote in "cambridge", my current favorite pattern and a pair of danlgy, silver hoops.

Now, I am exhausted! Instead of shopping for hours, I should have been sleeping on the couch. I did come home and take a nap and now I'm resting in front of the tv. Only one more Saturday before Christmas! Unbelieveable!

And, on another note, my mom called last night to let me know that my grandmother had fallen and broken her hip. She finally got into her room last night late and when I checked in this morning they hadn't been able to do the surgery because my grandmother is on a blood-thinning medicine and they needed to thicken her blood and she was running a fever. Please keep her in your prayers this week as she, hopefully, will have surgery and recuperate nicely.

Two Places at One Time = Double Good Times!

Last night was the GNO (Girl's Night Out) Christmas party. After a cookie disaster, getting dressed and having to stop at Kroger for a pre-made appetizer to replace the cookie disaster, I finally got on the road to downtown. I might have been driving for five minutes when the phone rang....Ron. He was meeting a vendor for dinner and the vendor was expecting me to show up, too. They were sitting at Ruth's Chris and wanting me to get there. I explained that I had this party, Ron explained that he would very much like for me to come join them and we reached a compromise. I would come have dinner (skipping the social hour of GNO) and get to the party in time for the gift exchange. Other than being thirty minutes later than I had planned, it actually worked! I got a GREAT meal and still was able to hang out with my friends!

I stopped by the party to drop off my gift and appetizers and explain the situation before going on to Ruth's Chris (ironically, some of us from GNO are going to Ruth's Chris next month for dinner!). Ron and the vendor were already seated when I arrived. We dined on salad/soup, filet (for me; other steaks for them), mashed potatoes, asparagus, lobster tails and since I had to leave before dessert, Lee insisted on sending home goodies for me including a slice of "chocolate sin cake"! If you've never been to Ruth's Chris it is a high-end steakhouse where all sides are a la carte and fairly formal (I think that must be an unwritten rule or something about kids...the youngest person I saw there was the girl at the booth across from us celebrating her 16th birthday). And, it is SO GOOD!!! I've eaten at Morton's in Chicago and thought nothing could compare to it, but Ruth's Chris definitely gives it a run for the money!

As soon as I finished eating (it was almost 8 and I promised Steph I would arrive NO LATER than 7:30) I left to collect my car and luckily the party was on Laurel, less than ten minutes away. I arrived right as the gift exchange was beginning and thanks to Stephanie I had a number (I'm so glad to have friends who look out for me!) It was a load of fun doing the Chinese auction thing and seeing my friends from JWC and meeting some new women from GNO. I brought home a very nice decanter and glasses set to boot.

Me and Stephanie, one of my absolute favorite people! :)

the cheesy, sorority-girl picture: Sara, Me, Stephanie and Christine, more of my favorite people! :)

Me, Sara and Stephanie

my favorite picture of the night --- Christine, me, Sara, Stephanie and Williesha, we're all JWC provisionals and Sara is our "mom"

Bear Bands, Again

They are just too cute not to post about again this week! We made it to service today knowing that we would have to leave early because of the VFW committment. About five minutes into the service, Clay's nose began pouring blood. We decided to go ahead and leave so he could get cleaned up and not have to go in and out twice. Since we were close to Midtown at Forest Acres we stopped there and headed into Barnes and Noble.

To wile away the time, Ben and I went out to watch Leonard Bearstein and his band and then I walked down to Belk's and did a little Christmas shopping. This week I was actually able to get some pretty good shots of the band and Clay's nose stopped bleeding...he's perfectly fine now.

The Six Saturdays of Christmas....Saturday 4

I can't believe there are only two Saturdays left until Christmas! WOW!! Time sure has flown!

This morning we stopped for lunch and then went to 5 Points to check out the Christmas celebration we'd heard about. It was pretty much a bust, but the boys got pictures made with Santa, we bought Maggie treats from her favorite bakery, stopped at Starbucks for a mocha peppermint frap and found a ton of goodies on the "$1 sale" table at Greek Store and More.

After an afternoon nap, Ron and I ran a few errands before dinner at Red Bowl Asian Bistro, which was very, very good. Now, we're back home watching one of our favorite movies, National Treasure (we're as excited about the opening date for #2 as Christmas!)

Either way, both are COMING!!

Company Christmas Party

Last night Ron's company had their Christmas party. The food was yummy and it was nice to meet the folks he works with and their spouses. Not to mention, I love a good opportunity to buy a new outfit and get all dressed up! :) (I couldn't decide on just one picture, by the way!)

In this one, you can see me carrying the lion purse from an earlier post!

Too sweet!

Actually at the party, too bad Ron's eyes were tired and hurting by this time, he couldn't keep them open.

The Six Saturdays of Christmas.....Saturday 3

My parents came down to Columbia on Saturday morning for a FULL day of Christmas shopping. We hit the Village at Sandhill, Jewelry Warehouse, Toys R US and a couple of stores at Columbia Mall. It was great to see and spend the day with them. They did much better at shopping than I did. I came home with one bag....of goodies for me! They, however, finished their shopping! We can't wait to see them again on the 22nd to celebrate Christmas together.

We also stopped by the community Christmas party for some yummy snacks and punch later in the evening. This is our second this year and though it was okay, it was definitely not as much fun as the first one the other night.

I thought this was a really cute picture of me and my Maggie right before Ron and I left for the party!

Christmas in Spartanburg

The boys and I picked Ron up at work on Friday afternoon and headed straight to Spartanburg to celebrate Christmas with his family, particularly Ryan and Miriam (Ron's brother and his wife who live in Orlando and we haven't seen since last Christmas!). We met Ryan, Miriam and Michelle (Ron's sister) at their parents house before we all, all nine of us, went to dinner at Kanpai. After dinner we exchanged gifts back at the house.

It was so good to see everyone. We really miss Ryan and Miriam and wish we could see them more often. We always have such a great time together though when we have the opportunity. The boys love their aunts and uncle and enjoy spending time with them.

And, Miriam, I LOVE my slippers! I wore them the whole way home! :)

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JWC Christmas Party

The first Christmas Party of the season was the Junior Woman's Club party on Thursday night. It was a lot of fun, with some terrific food, and it was nice for Ron to finally meet the folks he hears about and I actually met quite a few other women from the club.

And, of course, it was even more fun to hang out with our friends, Stephanie and Rick!

All of the appetizers were yummy.....I tried a new recipe which was so super easy and it turned out pretty good (cheese cubes, chiles and salsa heated together for a dip and scoops). My favorites were Michelle's sausage balls, Stephanie's fat-free brownies and the pimento cheese and bread from DiPrato's!

Unfortunately our "turtle dove" stockings didn't win, but we still enjoyed a great time!

Me and Stephanie

Me and Elizabeth

Getting Ready for Christmas

After a slow start, we finally started our tree this week. Ron offered for us to go out to Harmon's and cut a tree, but (1) his allergies and even though he was willing I didn't want him to suffer and (2) I couldn't figure a time we could actually go. So, Clay put up our pre-lit artificial tree and now the boys are decorating. I used to be real particular about where ornaments should be placed and think that I had to do it. This year, I decided that it was going to be the boy's tree! I think they're having a good time with it !

Ben does his favorite part of decorating....setting up our small nativity set that was painted by grandmother.

The Tree as done by Ben and Clay!

Making Stockings

My friend Stephanie met me at the school this afternoon to work on our Christmas stockings for tomorrow night's JWC party. Stephanie came up with a great idea to make "two turtle doves" and came with feathers and googly eyes. We had a wonderful time talking, laughing and hanging out while we made our stockings....we were very proud of how they came out!