In the throes of the holidays! - by McP

We are indeed in the throes of annual holiday traditions, from the usual, such as trimming the tree...

...to lounging while watching "Rudolph" on CBS (even though we have the DVD, it is still an event!)...

...to putting a Santa hat on a helpless animal!

RINGGOLD'S DOWNHOME CHRISTMAS PARADE AND CELEBRATION - I fear that my daughter soon will feel too "grown up" to pose with Santa. I told her she could stop anytime that she wanted to, but he might decide to stop believing in her as well! She gladly complied with the photo shoot.

MAC'S LEVEL FOUR HOLIDAY SHOW - Mac did a great job singing, dancing and xylophone playing with his class for the annual holiday show. Alina's class goes next week. Cal watched patiently and clapped for each song.



A GOOD DEED INDEED - Mac's cub scout troop today went to sing Holiday Classics to the old folks at Morning Pointe Convelescent Home. Some of his friends played instruments, from recorder to electric guitar "unplugged".

Thanksgiving Day and the Last Football Weekend - by McP

THANKSGIVING - The kids first went with me to the Poston family gathering at their Aunt Bunny's farm. Later they would go with their mother to the Vaughn family Thanksgiving.
It was a beautiful day, and while Alina and Cal started early on the eating portion of the day, Mac and I spent some quality time outdoors. Mac is such a smart boy, and a joy to be with and share deep conversations. He has a remarkable take on the world. We were joined by Eleanor, the beagle.





Also, it was my nephew Sam's 28th birthday. His birthday sometimes falls on Thanksgiving Day.

A MEDIEVAL TIME WAS HAD BY ALL - On Friday the kids and I headed down to Athens for the last regular season football game of the season. As we drove up I-85 toward Athens I was looking for somewhere we could eat supper and they could burn off some energy. We found it in the form of a complex off Sugarloaf Parkway near Lawrenceville. There we found a Dave & Busters as well as a place called "Medieval Times," which turned out to be Medieval Dinner Theatre! We were seated in the "red" section, where we would cheer on the Red Knight as he and his horse did sword fights and jousts "to the death" with the other knights and some political intrigue between the King, the Princess, the King's brother and some beautiful and very real horses. All three kids got really into it, especially when they served us in the traditional fashion (no utensils). We drank our soup from the bowl, and we each got a half a chicken to eat - with no forks or knives - and even some beef rib. I was amazed how the atmosphere made the kids eat stuff that I could never convince them to eat anywhere else! It was too dark to photograph much, but here is Alina who just had to turn around and look up to see the King and Princess.

A RAINY DAY IN GEORGIA - We got an early start, with Cal leading the charge. Outside, however, it was pouring and all predictions said that it was going to be raining all day. Of course, this part of Georgia has been in a historic draught so you kind of feel guilty wishing it away. So, we decided that after a hardy breakfast we would take it on!

I soon realized that sitting in a wet Sanford Stadium was just not something I was willing to do, especially with newly potty-trained Cal needing to go to the inadequate bathrooms all the time. That place is bad enough when the floors are relatively dry! We decided to soak up the atmosphere of the game just outside the staduim and around North Campus, and then we watched most of it in the Tate Center on big screen televisions, where there were snacks, computers (for Webkins) and wide-open spaces!


CATCHING SOME Z'S - Most of the two and a half hour drive home was spent well in the back seat. I put on some classical public radio and the rest was history. It was a great weekend and I will long look forward to the next time to spend with these three.

Pre-Thanksgiving Activities - by McP

CUB SCOUT HIKE AT THE BIRD SANCTUARY - Mac's cub scout troup, along with a few tag-alongs, hiked the Bird Sanctuary on Friday. It was VERY cold, and some of the kids were still dressed from "pajama day" at school. The kids seemed to have a great time, and although it is just a mile or so from Graysville I had not been to the Bird Sanctuary (now called "Audubon Acres") in many, many years. Mac is shown on the trail with his friends Jay and Gabe.



ALINA, THE GIRL OF A THOUSAND FACES - Here is a girl who can change her appearance in a second from what I like to call the "deranged rabbit" to a beautiful daughter who is a BIG fan of Miley Cirus (a/k/a "Hannah Montana")


"AND THE NATIVES WORE POLKA-DOT PILLOWCASES AND BEADS..." - Well, that is not how history reflects the garb of the Native Americans who reportedly met the Pilgrims on the first Thanksgiving, but Cal's class in pre-school did a pretty good job with it.

SATISFACTION AFTER A JOB WELL DONE - One of the best success stories of 2008 was the speedy potty training regimen that Cal went through. Mere mention that his good friend J.T. was also undergoing potty training was almost enough of a motivator, but the real inspiration also came in the form of the treat of a sucker after each, well, successful launch.

Cal's Third Birthday Weekend! - by McP

It just doesn't seem possible that Cal is THREE! This year his birthday fell on a Sunday, and we celebrated it with two parties to cover all family availability.

First, on Saturday, we had a birthday party in Graysville at Grandmother and Pa Mac Poston's house. Grandmother baked a chocolate cake and many of Cal's aunts came and welcomed him to becoming a "big boy." Technically, back in Kazakhstan it was already his birthday. Alina and Mac picked up on that notion, and are now ready to stretch their own birthday celebrations for thirty-six to forty-eight hours!

On Sunday, we had a birday party where Mama's side of the family came, along with our friends the Edge family. This cake featured Spider Man! Cal seemed very happy with his extra-long extended global birthday weekend!

Mac's School Presentation - by McP

Mac's class at school gave a presentation at chapel where each child made a paper "leaf" and wrote upon it what they were thankful for. I am proud of him for being thankful for "water." Mac is very aware of the environment and the ecological concerns that we now face.
Back in the cottage, Mac shared with us some turkey candy that he made. He is having a great year at school.

Post-Halloween Candy Exchange, The End of Soccer, and Election Day - by McP

THE POST-HALLOWEEN CANDY EXCHANGE OPENS -
After the big night, the kids each made a pile of their candy and the trading began! Cal held his own, and even though at first he was a bit naive he drove his own hard bargains. Mac seems to favor Snickers. Alina likes just about everything. Cal is all about the suckers.
ALINA'S LAST SOCCER GAME -
Alina celebrated with her team, the Lightning Bolts, their last game. Afterward, Alina, Mac and Cal rode with me over to Pigeon Creek in Fannin County to their Aunt Katie's cabin for supper. Alina and Cal nodded off on the way for a good nap. Mac kept his attentions focused with his DS game system.
ELECTION DAY AND ELECTION NIGHT, NOVEMBER 4, 2008 -
Over the past few weeks, particularly after meeting President Clinton, Alina and Mac have been extremely interested in the election. Even Cal has joined in from time to time.
On the morning of November 4th, 2008, everyone was quite giddy, especially Alina.

The early votes having been locked in, and the final votes were cast in Catoosa County at 7:00 p.m. The tradition of Catoosa County's election night tote board was brought back with a modern, electronic board. The night was twenty years to the week when I celebrated my first election to the state legislature on the same grounds, back then watching the votes being tallied on an old chalkboard in front of the courthouse. The kids had great fun, just has I have had over the past forty-plus years, watching the votes being tallied in downtown Ringgold. Another generation enjoys a great American and Ringgold tradition! - McP