Meredith Carson... Across the Pond and Back Again...

It shouldn't be this easy or this fun to deceive a loved one especially after we've done it so many times, but after pulling off another flawless surprise for my father in law, we realized that we laughed just as hard this time as we did the first time. The first Carson Surprise (that included me) happened at the Greensboro airport.  Pawpaw was coming to visit us and our first, new baby for Christmas.  His other son, my precocious and adorable brother-in-law David,  was already at our house but had spoken to Pawpaw several times previously and apologized about the fact that he would not be able to come for Christmas.  Before we left for the airport, David got dressed in a full-on Santa suit complete with beard and hat.  During the drive he practiced disguising his voice.  Seated in the backseat next to my clueless seven-month-old, he drawled in a gravelly voice, "Hey Buddy, can I bum a cigarette for the road?"  Over and over he ...

Christmas has come and gone in a blur of twinkly lights, carols, sugary concoctions, jingling bells, sticky kisses, whispered prayers, and yule tide cheer.  Here are a few of the highlights that I was able to catch with my camera. The night before Christmas eve, these jolly little elves worked diligently to construct this delightful-looking gingerbread house which served as a perfect centerpiece to our holiday table for the next few days.  Never mind the fact that my two-year-old ate 37 gumdrops and 24 M&m's for dinner that night. On the morning of Christmas eve, George managed to make festive pancakes even though we couldn't scare up any food coloring.  Sophia and her little sister were rather impressed... At four o'clock, we all went to church, dragging Pawpaw and Uncle David along with us.  Emma rang with the Prime Chimers, Sophia had a lovely reading during the sermon and George and I made it through the Minuet Noel before my voice completely fr...

PawPaw and Uncle David arrived yesterday, and there were two little girls at my house who were none too excited about having to go to school this morning.  They sucked it up, however, and climbed onto the bus bright and early this morning.  To ease the ache just a bit, I picked them up a little early this afternoon.  School didn't seem all that awful when I got there.  Sophia's class was in the middle of a Christmas party with a very strong sugar-theme, and all of the kids in Emma's class were seated in the floor, eating popcorn and watching Ice Age on a big screen at the front of the classroom.  Emma's teacher suggested that this animated feature somehow tied into their science unit on prehistoric creatures, but I didn't require an explanation.  I used to be a teacher myself and know that on the last day of school before Christmas vacation, we teachers are allowed to use any means necessary to keep the peace. Lili made herself right at home in Emma's cl...

What a great weekend we had!  On Thursday we were joined by Pawpaw, Barbara and Uncle David, and we were all geared up to help George ring in his fourth glorious decade on this earth.  But, first things must come first... Lili enjoyed meeting her Pawpaw for the first time ever.  She agreed with the rest of us.  That Pawpaw is one funny guy. On Friday, George had the day off, and the gang spent a sunny afternoon playing softball and croquet in our big old Michigan yard.   At some point I sneaked inside and decorated the house with giant posters that the kids and I had made earlier in the week.  They looked something like this... ...and here is one created by Sophie... Somehow I managed to successfully deceive my husband, and he was completely caught by surprise when about 15 of his friends showed up to help with the celebrating.  Yay me!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GEORGE!!! Uncle David and I did a little cuttin' up and attempted some sal...