Christmas--Day 4--December 25

Christmas with Ryan's Dad's side.....

Mema Jones fixed quite the spread, as she does every year. Uncle Pete even thinks we should submit her table and decorations to Southern Living or Better Homes and Gardens.



Uncle Joe shares a story of his various world travels.



Let's eat! Ryan and his dad are ready to get the party started.



Cousin Melanie helps in the kitchen.

Photo op: Dad, Uncle Joe, Ryan.

Stirring trouble, Uncle Rick and Ryan.

Thanks Mema for these cute ornaments!

Hugs from Mema.

Christmas--Day 3--December 24

Christmas with Maria's Mom's side....



Now I know I took ALOT of pictures at this gathering, but it seems I wasn't holding my own camera for some of them. With three of us having the same camera, I guess that does present some complication. But here are a couple I managed to get....

Nena Lulu with her girls--Aunt Donna and Mama Cathy.





Auntie M and Ashtyn.








Another cute one of Ashtyn.

Christmas--Day 2--December 23

Christmas with Maria's Dad's side.....

Ashtyn was ready to open presents as soon as we walked in the door--that seemed to have been the deal--"when auntie m and uncle ryan get here, we will open presents". This box from Mimi and Papa Ra was so big she needed to get on top of it to get the paper off.




Let me help you put this together Daddy.


Now Auntie M, to iron your scarf, I'm just going to set the temperature on low.



Perfect!





This doll is actually quite intriguing despite it's somewhat frightful appearance. She swims in the tub or swimming pool--needless to say we tried it immediately--it worked.





Photo op: Brandon, Kelly, and Ashtyn.

Let's eat!

A brother sister moment--a strange one actually looking back--what can we say?--we like grape crush.




Papa Ra and Ashtyn playing one of their games of "you ask me a question and if I get it right I get a piece of candy".



Now Nena wants a piece of candy so her question from Ashtyn is "who is the cousin of your cousin?" : )




So once everyone got their questions right and on a sugar high, Ryan kicked in on the drums, Brandon joined in on an indian themed chant and Ashtyn immediately started doing a tribal like dance of which I have no pictures because I was laughing so hard. This went on for at least four minutes.





Then there was a puppet show which was the grand finale of the evening. Aunt Da held the curtain and Ashtyn with her Crocs as the puppets on her hands put on quite a show. Some of the highlight lines were "Hi, I'm a Croc", "God of the Crocs" and "Jesus was a Croc". Of course this was all about the shoe brand "Croc" (just in case anyone reading this does not know of the Croc phenomenon) and our sides were sore from all the laughter.

A father daughter moment.

Christmas--Day 1--December 22

Christmas with Ryan's Mom's side......

Nathan worked hard with his new matchbox car set.

A blue ball!

Barry was excited about his gift--a signed photo of Fox8 local news anchors Cindy Farmer and Brad Jones who he watched also in Blacksburg, VA while attending Virgina Tech when they were starting out there. "Ho Ho Hokies!"

We wanted to get something PINK for Tammy and Anna Grace who is due to arrive in January. The bag has her initials in pink.

Photo op w Nathan.

Ryan and Mother Teresa.

More cute pictures of Nathan--looking mischevious.

Just before Nathan was headed to bed, Teresa found him at the table putting those chocolate filled candy sticks into the cake like they were candles. Which he did proceed to "blow out" once he had four or five in there!

Random Things

This is the Mosley Reunion...Brandon, Roger, and I took part in serving the beverages, and thankfully no one was injured or poisoned.




"Stop looking at me," Ashtyn said, "or I'll give you four spankings."




Fresh fall flowers...They tasted like gumballs.



Here is a serene winter cow pasture at my great uncle's farm in Asbury...A few minutes after this photo was taken, a giant cyclops came running over the hill and devoured all of the livestock. It was totally unreal.



Shortly after I changed jobs to Fox8, I entered the "No Spin Zone" with Bill O'Riley, but he suddenly vanished when I pointed my finger at him. Ooops!



Maria couldn't read the prompter and naturally froze up. What you are unable to see is that she began to violently color a candy cane forest underneath the desk. A special report on the matter is still to come. Stay tuned, mortals...

Westfield, NC

This is me and my ol' dog Sam aka Samantha aka Sammy hanging out at my Mema's just before a family dinner. She appears to be quite give out. Probably had a rough day of napping, eating, and lying around the yard.






Here's my first cousin, Nate. He seems more like the nephew I never had. He likes long, quiet dinners by the bay and short walks around the house. He'll be 2 years old this February. His favorite books are "The Great Gatsby" and "Green Eggs and Ham."





Here's my Mema Cooke and Nate just before bedtime. Everyone's been fed, and we have nothing to offer but smiles. Ain't they just so sweet!

Horne Creek Farm Corn Shucking--17th Annual

Ah, we descend to the main event of the annual Horne Creek Farm Corn Shucking Frolic. Around 10,000 folks showed up for the gala, taking part in old time music, food, and historic tradition.




Here's Uncle Rick(the man who makes this event possible) and myself getting a smile in for the camera. We are the smartest people in the family. Two geniuses of different generations, sharing the warm sun.

This is a little farm girl, quietly praying to the Blue Grass Gods.

This is RyMar. Voted "Best of Their Generation" by People Magazine, 2007.

Not sure who this guy is. He just sort of jumped ship to be there. Love you, Dad.

This guy walked from Scotland just to be seen in Shoals, NC, wearing a kilt. After a long day of bagpipping, he said the only thing left for him to do was "lay down."

Here's the famous Nunn Brothers doing what they do best: pickin', grinnin', and tellin' muscial stories. Rock On!

Yeah! Shake whatcha mama gave ya! Uncle Rick doin the boot, scoot, boogie. Get er done!

This was quite the multi-cultured event. Nothin but love from Asia!

These kids must not have any allergies! Playin' in all them corn husks would have sent me straight to the hospital.

A little jump rope anyone? The Ladies of Shalot were tearin' it up!






Whatchoo lookin' at fool? Whatsamattta you never seen a stressed out lamb?

Moo Cow and little girl conversing about the Bush Adminstration.

"We have been together for over forty years!" Now that's true love!

"This sign has got to come down," the goat said. "I told Rick if the people fed us and we got sick, we wouldn't blame him, we would blame the state."

This cat was getting ready to be fed to the massive "Horned Creek Monster," lurking somewhere within the blue grass midst.



The Three Amigos smile and wonder when there will be a sequel.

Here's the parents Cook enjoying the music and festivities. All they wanted was to eat some Mexican.

In closing, from left to far right then front and center: RyMar, Dad "The Commander," and Mema Jones "The General."

**Note: My wife will have you note that she did the pics, and I did the commentary. Seasons Greetings! Christmas Time's A Comin'!