Christmas Eve morning we ate breakfast at Cracker Barrel (one of my favorite Garrison family Christmas traditions) and then spent the day just hanging out back at the house. That night Jim and his family went to the Christmas Eve Service while I stayed with a sick, sleeping little boy. (James was sick on Christmas, and we ended up taking him to urgent care on Sunday, but all was well... just a really bad, long cold). Thankfully I got to watch the Christmas Eve service online while I was making cheddar chowder (one of my favorite Hall family Christmas traditions), and I even got to see my Dad's message too, which was almost as nice as hearing it in person! (Dad, I admit it did make me a little homesick for y'all, but it was a special treat too!) After church and dinner, we went outside enjoy the firepit that the neighbors had set up. It's really neat how the neighbors really hang out together in the Garrison's new neighborhood! They all know each other, spend time together and help each other out in a pinch. :)
Santa came to see James for the first time on Christmas Eve! Christmas morning we got up when James woke up, and everyone had to be in the room and ready before we brought James in because no one wanted to miss seeing how he'd react. He has a great time getting into the Santa presents, and then it was time to open the family gifts. I knew he probably would enjoy the paper more than the presents, but bless his heart he was a little overwhelmed by it all. As soon as he got one present opened, someone gave him a new one to open. He was so excited that we wanted him to rip the paper, but he couldn't understand why we didn't want him to eat it afterwards! For Christmas dinner we had prime rib (my other favorite Garrison family Christmas tradition)! Then I made all my important Christmas calls home and to Nicaragua, and we just hung out together for the rest of the day.
The rest of the week consisted of shopping, playing golf, taking family photos, bowling, meeting Emily's room mate, cooking tasty treats, and just spending time together! It was sad to leave, but we were al consoled by the fact that the Garrisons were headed on a cruise and we were headed to my parents house for more Christmas fun.
On the way to my parents, we stopped by my Granddad's house so that he could meet James. We ate sloppy joes for lunch and had a great time sitting outside in the beautiful Florida weather talking. Then we headed to Tallahassee for New Years. We opened more presents and ate a yummy New Years dinner... and a few homemade caramels! It was a short visit, but I got my "family fix". Somehow I managed to forget to get my camera out when we opened presents or for New Years dinner, so the photo with my dad is the only one.
I think I'm almost caught up on posts.... phew! More to come soon!
Lots of Love,
Jim, Ally & James
Our family photo... posed by me and taken with my tripod and the 10 sec timer on my camera! ;) 
Aunt Lauren took James over to see the horses at the park where we took our family photos. He'd never seen a horse before!
Sleepy James chills on Nana's shoulder at the fire pit.
Santa brought James: books, Disney's Robin Hood (mommy's favorite Disney movie), puzzles, a shape toy, a dump truck, more cloth diapers, clothes and a two stockings full of goodies! 
Aunt Lollie, James and Nana sport matching Christmas attire.
Aunt Ginny helps James play with his school bus!
James had to check out the Christmas tree.... but Nana was smart and put a gate up... darn... 
Ginny reading the family cook book I made for all the sisters.
This is a funny story. Jim's dad used my brownie spatula to lay tile in our kitchen and broke it. so he bought me another one and had Ginny wrap it up like it was his present... then he passed it to me. It was hilarious!
One of Jim's favorite presents- a new Georgia Tech polo!
James had fun playing with his new school bus toy from Nana and holding the rope for Jackson.
But he didn't like it when his little friend was banished outside for a while.
When he came back in, James and Pa G. played with him in his cage. 
Daddy bowled while James...
chased cheerios and...
played with Pa G's hair!
James had a blast with the celery sticks and straws at dinner one night!
Beth, doesn't he look so much like Blayne in this picture? ... I mean his"best friend Blayne that he hasn't met yet" :)
James with my mom's dad... my Granddad... his Great Granddad!
James and his BigDad play dinosaurs... roarrrrrr!
Ewww... it's ichy! Now, look at my hands!
Did you see me mom? I did it myself!!
First he pulled his baby gym over onto himself from where it was "resting." Then he tried to get into my rocker and then climbed under the piano on the way to get something else (because going around would just be too easy)
Next he "helped" mommy unfold the clothes in the basket.
Then he wandered into daddy's "office" to see what "help" he could be there. "Let's see I'll chew on your power cord, distract you for a minute (you probably needed a break anyway) and then I'll climb on your boots!"
At first Daddy tried to help James walk in the snow, but James had other ideas...
Maybe sitting in it would be better...
No, let's try lying down in it... that way I can eat it.
I'm cold and wet... this isn't so much fun now...
Can't you see the sadness on my face, Daddy... why aren't you picking me up? 
Oh, this is much better!
