Christmas 2011 in pictures

Well, a few words too.  I know you're already disappointed. 

Christmas eve we went to Kelley's dad's family in Biscoe NC.  Lots of fun, lots of people, seriously lots of food.

She loves a bald eagle.  What can you say?

Evil Genius fell in love with these earrings and had to give them to Kelley.

Santa Claus dropped off a load of toys for the good girls this year.  Thanks to a coal shortage, the bad girls and boys got Nickelback cd's.  We ended up with two very happy little girls and no Nickleback cd's.

Dad, his mother, my mother

Summer and Michael just got back from a European tour for 6 weeks.  Incredible trip.

These girls are ready to open presents

Bigun is terrified of this giant horse

Our family photo this year.  Appropriate for fridge placement

All the grandkids and great-grandkids.  Natalie, Morgan, Bigun, me, Grandma Flynn, Evil Genius, Kelley, Summer, and Michael

After the typical Christmas morning breakfast and Santa party, we headed back to Greenville to visit with my parents and brothers.  We found out that Summer is pregnant, and I am unbelievably happy about being an uncle again.  They are going to go nuts over the kid. 

Making biscuits with Grandma.  Nothing could be finer.

Grandmother Barnhill (86) and my Aunt Angie

Sombody got completely worn out after all that Christmasing.  Turns out, it was mommy.

Liz, Sarah, and Will.  Will is about to graduate high school, and Sarah is getting married October 20th.  That date sounds familiar....

There's an old family tradition about building a gingerbread house...

and promptly destroying it.  Mission accomplished.

We did the Barnhill Christmas the next morning.  We knew my cousin Sarah was engaged, but the first thing she said to me was "don't plan a race for October 20th, we've already booked the wedding venue".  That also happens to be the date for the Beach to Battleship, so I won't be doing another Iron distance race in 2012 after all.  Oh well, refocus. 

It was also revealed that my cousin Emily is pregnant!  She just got married in April, so it happened fast which is more of a blessing than a surprise.  By next Christmas we'll have two new babies and a new husband joining the Barnhill family Christmas.  This year my cousin Ben had to be with his in-laws so he couldn't make it with this year's only new baby.  I still haven't met his new son, so a return trip to Greenville is quickly in order.

After the Barnhill Christmas we headed down to Kelley's mom's house in Prosperity SC for the Blackwell Christmas.  We always have lots of fun on the lake.  This year the kids got these crazy blanket things with hoods on them.  EG's looks like a monster, and Bigun's looks like a monkey with her face as the monkey face.  I think that one's quite appropriate.

We are really glad to be back in Raleigh and have lots of unpacking and cleaning up to take care of.  I put on plenty of extra holiday weight that needs to come back off before the Charleston Marathon.  Also last night I got into the first yoga class at the new gym!  It felt so good to be back on that horse, and I really liked the instructor. 

Still to come:  a 2011 year in review and setting the 2012 goals!