Merry Christmas!

(Subtitle: Really, really long post full of pictures that Brandon is going to complain about. Sorry Brandon.)
However, Anthony will only have one "first Christmas," so forgive me my long-windedness.

This holiday was a little different for our family. Aside from the obvious (one more seat at the table), for the first time since Brandon and I moved to Miami, my side of the family celebrated together in sunny Florida. My mom and dad rented a condo in Sebring for the entire month of December (doesn't retirement sound nice??) and my sister Kerry flew down from Chicago. Here is some of the family fun:

What Christmas would be complete without a visit to Santa? If you wonder what Anthony and Santa are looking at, it's probably mom and grandma throwing decorum to the wind to get the little guy to smile.
Anthony and Aunt Kerry at the festival of lights, a really nice little event in downtown Sebring. Anthony's eyes were this wide the entire time.


Anthony and Grandma get ready to open gifts...


...and the little fella enjoys his first "taste" of present-opening.


They really do catch onto this whole gift-getting thing pretty easily, don't they??


For future blackmail purposes.

Christmas in Florida...Anthony enjoys his first swim.

Anthony and Grandma in their matching Johnny Cash shirts...Anthony's was a Christmas gift from Grandma and Grandpa. This picture was taken at the adorable Henscratch Winery just outside Sebring. What "baby's first Christmas" would be complete without a little wine tasting?

Yes, the winery did have baby-appropriate activities...Grandpa shows Anthony a wild boar, a chicken and a strawberry milkshake. Anthony was most interested in the milkshake. Smart boy.

Anthony is happy to find a rocking chair and a lap no matter where he goes.

Along with enjoying the great outdoors at the winery, the family also trekked off the beaten path at a state park (sorry, I only remember the names of wineries, not state parks) to take Anthony on his first nature walk. Since mom was busy shielding her head from large spiders, Aunt Kerry (a little more fearless than me) took over Anthony-carrying duty.

It was a really special Christmas and I'm so happy the whole family could be together. And we're thrilled that Christmas will be extended this year, as Grandma Char and Grandpa Dave are coming to visit in January. We can't wait to see them and keep the celebration going!