A Very Southern Christmas

For most of you, Christmas is still a couple of days away.  But for our little family, we've already finished celebrating.  At least with our Mississippi contingent, that is.

Similar to many folks, Conor and I have always alternated years with our families for the Christmas holidays.  This used to mean that we spent the actual week of Christmas with either his family in Minnesota or my family in Mississippi.  This year, however, we are sticking close to home for the actual holiday so we can begin to form our own holiday traditions with our little guy (soon to be little guys!). 

This meant that our trip to Mississippi occurred a bit on the early side this year.  We traveled on December 14-20.  And I have to say that the airport situation was much improved from last year when we traveled closer to the 25th.  We zoomed through that security line -- it was awesome!

Once at home, we enjoyed some time with family...and some amazingly warm temps.  It hovered in the 70s most of our trip.  Craziness!  Fionn was nearly overdressed in his long-sleeved tees.  No complaints here though.  Love myself some warm Mississippi winter weather.

Yo, it was the perfect weather for some fro-yo, y'all.

We spent most of the trip with my mom at her house.  So Fionn got lots of GaGa time.  And Ellie time too, of course.

While there, Fionn really enjoyed walking Ellie and giving her salmon treats. Ellie seemed to appreciate both of these things as well.

Fionn was also mesmerized by all of the many Christmas decorations my mother had in her home.  In true boy fashion, he managed to make everything a choo-choo train, including my mom's little Christmas village.  That's Santa riding the train, by the way.  Frosty?  Well, he had to wait.  "No more room on train," Fionn declared.  Darn weight regulations.

Fionn received some wonderful gifts from my mom, including an adorable sleeping bag and some fingerpaints.  However, his favorite gift was definitely the electric car that was given to him by my mom's boyfriend, Clint.  Oh, our boy was so excited.

Of course, driving it around my mom's carpeted house simply would not do.  He insisted on taking it out onto the open road.  Or at least to my mom's driveway.

When his Uncle Jay came over to visit, Fionn had to show off his new wheels again.  He even attached the special trailer and sports car to the back of it so Uncle Jay could get the full effect.

After a few days in Jackson, we packed up the car and headed to Natchez for one night so we could see Uncle Shelby and enjoy some of the beautiful decorations in this sweet little southern town.  Fionn enjoyed seeing his great-uncle and also the decorations...but they paled in comparison to one thing.

Duke.

You might remember Duke, my uncle's boxer, from my last visit to MS.  Fionn and Duke were thick as thieves during that visit too.  Well, not much has changed in the last 8 months.  In fact, I think their mutual affection has further deepened.  Check out their play date upon our arrival to Natchez.

Hey, Duke, how ya been, old buddy?

You're looking good, my canine friend.  Mighty spry. 

And it continued like this for an hour.  Hard to say who was more worn-out following their antics -- boy or dog.  It definitely made us think that maybe our initial plan to get a lazy bulldog for our family dog at some point might need some revision.  I think our boy needs a dog who can match him in energy.  And, judging by how hard Fionn slept that night, perhaps we need it too.  

While in Natchez, we strolled the town square and took in the sights.  Fionn especially enjoyed seeing a little electric train in one of the storefronts. It was initially turned off, but Fionn pressed his nose up so hard against that window that the store keeper took pity on him.  And she clicked the "on" switch for our boy.  And...mesmerized. 

That night, we went to the waterfront and took a gander at the Christmas decorations.  Natchez puts out a whole host of lights and moving figures (Santa, Frosty, etc) for people to enjoy.  We tried desperately to get a good picture of Fionn during our viewing of the decorations, but he was not a willing participant.  Here's as good as it gets.  I thought maybe Fionn would pose if it meant he could put his face into a display with a bunch of lights.  Yeah, not so much.  Check it out.  At least Mom and I look cute, right?

Mom, GaGa...You guys are idiots.

Upon our return back to Jackson, we packed up yet again and headed out to my dad's house for another couple of days of QT.  Love, love, love this pic of Boy and Granddad.  It was captured in my dad's garage where Fionn was having a ball opening and closing the garage door.  He'd never seen such a thing.  A garage?  Private enclosed parking for one's car?  Whoever heard of such?  Not my city boy.

 While at my dad's, we were able to see a lot of family members who stopped by for lunch.  It was awesome to see so many beloved people, many of whom I never get to see.  I especially enjoyed seeing my Aunt Margaret Anne and my cousin, Karen, who were in town for a wedding.  It was also wonderful to see my cousin, Gail, and her twin daughters, Sandra and Virginia.  I was so thrilled, in fact, that I just had to snatch a picture of the Crosthwait Family with Fionn before everyone left.  Fionn, in true fashion, looks bored out of his mind. 

Hurry this along, people.  I got snacks to eat.

That night, we had the pleasure of attending one of my dad's concert performances.  What?  You didn't know that my dear old dad was a musician?  Well, that's probably my fault.  I have been unable to attend any of his saxophone concerts in the 6 or so years that he has been part of a jazz band in Jackson.  This trip home was actually calculated so that we would be able to attend his Christmas concert.  Oh, and it was brilliant.  Absolutely beautiful Christmas music.  I was so proud of my dad.  Here we are post-concert with our talented guy.  

During this trip, Fionn also got to spend some time with his stepcousins.  Robert and Ashley were in town for the weekend with their two little ones, Conley and Robert Jr.

Sweet Conley, playing with the train table.

Baby Robert and his beautiful mommy, Ashley.

We also got to spend a lot of time with Vaiden and Lanier and their two little ones, Butler and Laura Vaiden.  Fionn and Butler once seemed so far apart in age at 8 months apart.  But now...it seems like nothing.  They enjoyed playing with each other...for the most part.  However, being that they are both little boys, they were both interested in the same toy items.  Do I even need to mention that these items included trains and cars?  I didn't think so.

Adorable Butler...contemplating how to steal back a train from Fionn perhaps?

JuJu and sweet Laura Vaiden

On one of our last nights in Jackson, we headed out to Canton, MS to view the lights and take advantage of the little carnival that they have for kids at Christmastime.  Vaiden, Lanier, and the kids went with us to Canton (it was their idea actually).  It was so much fun!  Fionn loved riding his first-ever carnival ride, as shown here in the below picture.

Afterwards, all we heard was, "More car!  More car!" 

We also managed to snag a picture of our little group, thanks to my dad who was also in attendance.  I think Butler was a little distracted by the Christmas light display behind us.  Oh well! 

Speaking of my dad, he seemed to have a blast accompanying Fionn on a few of the rides.  I'm not sure who was smiling bigger -- Fionny or Jim.  Here is a final pic from our trip which was taken on the carousel by the nice Carousel Man.  Fionn, as you can see, was not playing around with safety during this picture.  He was not about to move his hands from that bar or look up for a silly photo.   Puh-lease!  Safety first, people!

Although it was a good trip to MS, we are also excited to be home.  Both Conor and I are eagerly anticipating our first-ever Christmas in DC.  Whatever will Santa bring?  You'll have to wait and see!  Merry Christmas, Everybody!