We're back... Hooray!

John has been getting onto me for my absence on the blog. In the last entry, I was looking forward to celebrating (and posting resulting pictures of) Ty's birthday party with Grandmother Doris and Grandaddy Joe at the nursing home. That was just a couple days before Grandaddy passed away. I'll resolve to update more frequently because I know we have family who anxiously look for pictures and updates on this site.

I've posted the pictures with the most recent first. I have not yet downloaded pictures from Christmas eve or morning.

At church tonight the pastor asked what our favorite memory of Christmas was. These first pictures document one of our favorite memories this year: The Polar Express Train Ride.

Here's Santa handing out bells:The kids have enjoyed those bells. Lauren Clay first enjoyed it as a Rudolph nose:

We took the trip with Connor and his family. Had a wonderful time laughing, eating, looking out the train windows, and singing Christmas carols. Here are Lauren Clay and Connor toward the end of the ride:

Enjoying her lemonade:

Hanging out with Grandaddy:

Enjoying the view out the train window: (Thanks, Nana, for the precious dress!)

In early December we went to the annual McVay Christmas party. We hoped to get a good family picture here, but Lauren Clay would not give us a real smile. We have about 15 pictures of three smiling Sampsons and one silly face. Here's an example:

Here we are with the Bivins on the horse-drawn carriage ride through the neighborhood:

Isn't this a great picture of Santa? Ty's really trying to figure him out!

The first weekend in December we took our annual family trip to the SEC football championship. This year's game was one of the best: Alabama vs. Florida. This year's trip was also one of the best, since the kids are increasingly able to enjoy all the festivities.

In this first picture Lauren Clay is showing off the little rolls of tape that came with a book she played with all weekend:

Here's the crew at the post-parade, pre-game lunch. One of John's college friends who now lives in Atlanta met us for lunch (the guy behind Suzi):

Trying on daddy's hat:

The Atlanta Christmas parade. It was cooooooooold this year:

The weekend after Thanksgiving, we got our Christmas tree. It is easy to get into the Christmas spirit with kids around the house. Lauren Clay has soaked up all the joys this year.

And going WAY back, here are some pictures of our Thanksgiving trip to visit Nana and Papaw. The first picture is of John's half-sister, Nancye, with her grandchild (and my half-great-nephew), Draven. The kids are looking at toys in the Christmas catalogues:

John's cousin and his family of 6 came in from Louisiana. Here's the youngest girl, Rachel, playing with Ty. She was a good little babysitter:

Here are all the cousins (minus Brayden, who is just a little older than Lauren Clay). Brayden and family live in TX and didn't make it up for Thanksgiving this year. We hope to see them soon.