Sneak up on 'em!

Shawn gives the "thumbs up" to his friend Jamie's big fish.

First big snowfall

It took us a long time to get home tonight, as the storm hit just in time to mess up rush hour. They're predicting less than a foot. Hopefully, it won't pile up the way it did last year.

Big Fish at Taylor's Island

Ramos Gin Fizz

Shawn put his Christmas shaker to good use tonight and shook (and shook and shook) us up a batch of Ramos Gin Fizzes. This classic New Orleans drink hit the spot.

Yellow Perch for Dinner

Shawn went perch-jerking tonight and bought home dinner.

My favorite is the yellow perch eating a baby catfish.

We got to eat the perch - the cycle of life continues!

Happy New Year!

I made it! Twelve minute miles, when you subtract the almost 10 minutes it took me to cross the starting line.
More than 5,000 people signed up to run. If you count the bandits, like me, who didn't register, there were probably twice that many people on the starting line. If you look closely, you can see Lorenda and me in the crowd shot.

And the best part - we had fireworks for at least the first 15 minutes of the run.

At the end of the race, Lorenda posed with a pair of women who dressed up as Emerald Nuts. If I ever do this again, I'm wearing a costume for sure!

Central Park at Midnight

Much, much more fun than ringing in the New Year in Times Square!

New York City!

Lorenda talked me into coming to New York City for New Year's to run the Emerald Nuts Midnight run in Central Park with her. I'm sick, tired after a week of company, old, and out of shape. But I'm here!

The weather - after a big snowstorm last week - is cooperating. Predicted temperature at midnight: 42 with calm winds. I think I can do this!!

Sarah tagged along with her mom - her first trip to the Big Apple. We're staying up at Columbia Medical School's executive residences (thanks Ross!). Last night, we took the train to the Upper West Side to join UT alumni in New York City to watch the Vols' last second loss in its bowl game.

After the game, we rode down to South Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, then wandered uptown to look at the construction at Ground Zero. We hopped off the train at Times Square to look at the ball, 24 hours before it's scheduled to drop. At Sarah's request, we got her some genuine New York City street food.

Shawn tagged along with me. I couldn't convince him to run, but he couldn't pass up the chance to get oysters and champagne in Grand Central Station in the middle of the afternoon on New Year's Eve.

Artwork

Ella had a little help from her dad, coloring this page in one of her Christmas coloring books. Looks familiar, eh?

Last fishing trip of the year

Shawn and Daniel got skunked today out on the water, but at least it was a beautiful day to be out there!

Let me out!

Tucker likes to climb the stairs, so we keep a baby gate in place to keep him from getting away from us. Sometimes, he manages to slip through when we're not looking. That boy is keeping us on our toes!

The Christmas Card Photo That Wasn't

Cookies!

I overdid the holiday baking this year, so there were plenty of goodies left for the kids. They made a major dent in my surplus.

Ella can't decide if she wants a tree or a snowflake, so she takes one of each. Yum!

Tucker likes his Christmas cinnamon roll!

What is it??

A new mandolin!

Presents!

Christmas Morning in Stevensville

Ella's gonna be a baker like Grannie Diannie.

Tucker checks out the loot under the Christmas tree.

He can't wait for his new toys, so he made do with a vacuum cleaner attachment.

Happy Birthday Cory!

Crockett loves Christmas too!

Crockett, playing with "Justin Beaver," a Christmas present from his California cousin Benson.