Oh ya! Show me those pearly whites!
Philip and Dad pose by the tree.
Anma and Dad begin to take the tree down.
Anma!
The tree ... and Philip.
A man on a mission.
Our large southern magnolia in the backyard.
Philip really gets into decorating the tree.
Our tree angel
Anma decorating the tree
Philip tries his hardest to fit onto the settee.
Dandy
Daffy
Mom and her knitting project
Philip's first rootbeer float
Philip relaxing in his favorite spot.
Mom in the kitchen.
Let the Mexican Christmas dinner begin. Mom and Eric with the soup.
Mom in action setting the table for dinner.
Sopapillas... mmmm.
Crab and Lobster Tomales
Bean Salad
Dad takes the role of wine pourer very seriously.
Tonight's choice of wine
Christmas Day festivities begin with the dogs getting their presents. Philip shares the fun with CJ.
Happy birthday Mom, with Dandy and Eric looking on.
CJ wants to help Eric open his presents.
Anma gets the shoes she wanted!
Oh yes let the hiking begin!
CJ has to check out her toy. The squeaky must die!
And Anma gets the sweater she wanted too! Thanks Kirk and Sharon.
What could that be from Philip and Anma?
Mom takes a good peek at Anma and Philip's present.
Mom gets a purple sweater with pearls.
Here's proof that Anma transported Elisabeth's present to and from the U.S. and opened it on the 25th.
It's a photo album of work colleagues!
Dad tries to eat something in peace. Good luck!
Of course he gives in!
Anma tries to figure out her new Ipod while Mom and Eric discuss sushi making.
The tree in all its glory.
The gorgeous couple.
One of the houses in the neighborhood
The house
A fresh and Colonial Williamsburg-like Christmas decoration.
Holiday Wreath
Indian corn and juniper
Anma in front of a tobacco decoration.
Magnolia, holly, pine and tobacco.
Anma's forest creation.
Philip wishing he had brought his fishin' pole to the creek.
Philip playing in Ivy Creek.
Philip wishes he had a buddy at this moment.
The beginning of our adventures at the Appomattox Court House...where the Civil War ended.
Philip in front of one of the surrounding battlefields.
Anma in front of a battlefield.
Philip looking very military.
Confederate Cemetary
Confederate Cemetary plus one Union soldier who was found in the area.
Philip is caught hugging a Civil War tree. The old ones need a little extra love.
Anma hugs her Southern Magnolia.
Anma and her Southern Magnolia
Philip points the way to where the signing of the end of the Civil War took place.
Anma in front of the house where the signing took place.
The General Store
Blocks of very old cheese.
An old lonesome tree, which did get a hug.
A visit to the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA. The landing on the beaches was called Operation Overlord.
The National D-Day Memorial. A video of the sculptural representation of the landing on the beaches of Normandy.
Water jets represent the shots being fired on the soldiers.
The landing on the beaches from a different angle.
President Eisenhower's message to the troops before the storming of the beaches.
The memorial with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background.
Climbing to Victory
A moving representation of the struggle.
The flags represent some of the countries involved.
Mom and Philip read about the countries involved in the allied forces.
Surprising to learn how involved some countries were.
Names of soldiers who lost their lives for our freedom.
Norwegian and British troops named.
A replicate of a fighter plane.
