Big fish for big men

As you might have guessed, Dann & Lisa Wollet are visiting from Michigan, by way of New England, where they spent the holidays with Kris & Rachael in their new home. We're glad they could take a couple days to spend with us.

Shawn took Dann fishing this afternoon while Lisa and I engaged in a little retail therapy. While Shawn caught the monster, this is Dann's first rockfish. The Wollets had such a good time, they're talking about coming back for spring break. We hope they do!

St. Michael's w/ the Wollets

Dann checks out his dream boat -- a canoe built around a cannon!

Shawn & Dann compare notes about how they'd outfit their fishing shanties.

Shawn tries his hand at oystering.

With Dann & Lisa at the top of Hooper Straight Light.

Shawn & Dann wait for Lisa and me outside one of the many cute gift shops on Main Street.

Uncle Shawn

Mitch Surprises Suzi...

... with a Gibson hollow body electric guitar. He said she's been wanting to start playing again, so he decided to outfit her with something she'd have a hard time putting down!

Shawn helped Mitch pick it out -- he loved his maiden voyage to Elderly Instruments (tried to convince me that a '56 Martin D-18 should come home with us; I told him he could buy it, but he couldn't put any gas in the boat until it was paid off... it's still at the store!) -- and I wrapped it up. It took Suzi about 10 minutes before she realized that it was from Mitch and not us!

In any case, the guitar was a big hit with my little sister.

It's MY present!

Crockett & Mom play tug with his new football.

Judy & Benson

Fred & Milton show off their blobby toys

The real Fred Claus

Playing Santa on Christmas Morning in Leslie

Come on down the mountain...

Milton entertains us with his favorite bluegrass song....

... while Uncle Shawn helps out on the chorus!

Extreme Brown Bag

Nascar driver in training!

Milton tears up the virtual "road" with his new Nascar game. Judging from his squeals of delight, it's a good thing he can't REALLY drive yet!

Crazy Christmas '07

No Christmas would be complete without the Miller Family's Annual Crazy Christmas, complete with grab bag and brown bags!

This year, we gathered at Lorenda's house on the Sunday before Christmas. Judy and Benson flew in from California. Uncle Bill & Aunt Lee and Cheryl & Tom & their girls drove up from Ohio -- they get extra points for navigating a snow storm.

There were a few tense moments when we lost power for about an hour. Just as Andy was getting the generator hooked up, the lights flashed back on. Yea! No Crazy Christmas by candlelight!!

In the pictures:

1. Freddy and Milton learn the concept of "gag gift," as this is the first year we didn't have a separate bag for the kids.

2. Judy scores a particularly good gift.

3. Andy and Sarah wonder when everyone will leave so they can have their living room back.

4. Tom, Erica, Adrea (facing away), Cheryl, and Katy laugh about their brown bag goodies.

Merry Christmas from the Bay!

Spotted by Shawn while fishing under the Bay Bridge this afternoon. He said that traffic was backed up as people tried to get a glimpse of Santa on his jet ski!

Deep Creek

Shawn took the little boat out tonight and brought some great pictures. This is the calm, literally, before the year-end storm. We leave for Christmas in Michigan tomorrow.

Crockett poses on the bow of the Eldo Craft.

A heron perches on the a piling.

Late Night at Boot & Bill's

After everybody else left, the real fun starts!

Ella shows her parents how well she can "sing" with her new toy....


... and has more fun playing with Dad than watching Ratatouille with the rest of us!

Grandparenting has its privileges

Though Ella doesn't look so thrilled to be hanging out with us, we ALWAYS enjoy our time with her!

Scenes from the Jordan Family Christmas

We headed to Georgia this weekend for Shawn's family Christmas celebration at Dru & Bill Cross's house.

There wasn't quite perfect attendance, but most of the extended Jordan family made it. Shawn and I flew in from Maryland, the kids drove down from Knoxville, the Jones' came north from south Georgia, and the Atlanta-area cousins and aunts were out in force.

It was good to catch up with everyone -- we've missed the past couple family Christmases and didn't make it down for Thanksgiving this year.

In order, the pictures are:

Angela Jones hides behind her twin nieces Keeley and Kinsley Jordan.

Eric Tabor poses with two-year-old Landon. Landon's kind of a shy boy at first, but he warms up quickly.

Dru Cross gathers the next generation -- Keeley & Kinsley, Landon, and Ella (in pink, with her back to the camera) -- for a story.

We met the newest member of the Jordan clan: Wimberly Kathryn Jones, born July 7. She's a lucky triple 7 baby (07/07/07)! Angela and Kim are relishing their new status as grandparents.

Cory rocks out on Ella's new guitar. Notice that he's even playing chords!

Christmas Card Photo '07

Coming soon to a mailbox near you.... This was taken on the beach at Cape May. Shooting into the setting sun is not the best recipe for a clear photograph, but we had fun watching Shawn set the timer and make it into the frame in time for the shot!

Who is this masked man?

Cold weather is not a deterrant to my husband, the intrepid waterman!

It's up!

Shawn shot this picture of a naval destroyer steaming up the Bay when he was out fishing this afternoon.

Go Vols!

Ella cheers the Vols to victory over Kentucky in four overtimes last night. SEC finals, here we come!

Who needs to go shopping when you can fish?

I swear Daniel and Shawn were on this fishing trip (Tiffany, Ella & I did go shopping; Jacob slept in), but Cory seemed to be the only one who had any luck.

He landed the biggest rockfish of the day, the biggest perch we've caught since moving to Maryland, and a pretty nice looking trout!

The Atlantic Ocean at Sunset

Jacob hikes down the beach toward the setting sun.

The Kimbro boys at the beach.

Daniel & Tiffany

Ella bundled up against the cold.

Ella w/ her Granddad & Grannie Diannie