Ronald Family Pic

Group Ronald Family Pic (taken at Myrtle Beach, S.C.)

Christmas Day in Ohio...

Christmas in Ohio at Don and Bridgette's place (Connie's brother and sis-in-law). Top 2 pics: opening stockings on Christmas Day; bottom: Crystal with cousins Aiden (left), and Brennan (middle).

It was an adventure coming down. We ended up getting about a foot of really wet snow the night before we left. We planned on leaving at 5am, but it took us 2 hours to dig ourselves out of the driveway. Thankfully, we were able to get some new high-quality all-season tires on the Sonata the day before we left (the original tires do nothing but spin in the snow; they're horrible). We're sure we wouldn't have even gotten out of the driveway without them.

While going down the 401, it was reduced down to 1 lane from 4, and was still snow covered. From Cambridge to Windsor, we counted 7 tractor-trailers jack-knifed (really bad), including one that mounted a snowbank while the trailer swung across 2 lanes of the 401. This is not to mention a number of cars in the ditch, median, and one that became airborne and landed 30 ft away on its side. It was only after we were on the 401 for an hour that we heard a public appeal on the radio by the OPP for people to stay off all roads until the plows and salters have had a chance to clear things up. Having said all this, we ended up safely in Ohio only 1/2 hr. behind schedule, and also to a green Christmas.

Crystal's new bath friend...

Crystal gets attacked by the giant shower-octopus: courtesy of Uncle Shawn and Aunt Susanne!

Chirstmas Party at the Daycare

Crystal finally gets to see Santa! This isn't her first experience with Santa (that was last year at the mall), but I think this is the first time she could appreciate who he was!

Morris family pics...

Morris family pictures taken while we were down in Myrtle Beach. Good time to get some pictures done while we were together! Ronald family pictures also taken, but we don't have a copy yet! Coming soon...

First snow day of the year!

Crystal's first real snow day of the year this week!

Myrtle Beach Video 2

To the Bass Pro Store! Everything is on the main floor, but it has what appears to be a 3-storey ceiling!

Top: Scanning the front entry and the main layout of the store. Second, the great white shark hanging from the ceiling. Bottom: Indoor target practice!

Myrtle Beach Pics 3

Parents took the kids out to the arcade for a little fun (all the minigolf was closed that we went to). Bridgette riding a Harley -

Above, Crystal and Brennan checking out a cool car-stroller in Myrtle Beach mall.

Top 3 pics: Our last night, we all (Connie, Chris, Don and Bridgette) went for a night out minus the kids (thanks to the Ronalds for babsitting). We tried to go to a place that wasn't a buffet (and this place was the only one that didn't advertise being one we could see), but it was mostly buffet anyway! The food was really good, and we were greeted by a pirate at the front door (the guy had to be 6'3 and 250lbs - that was scary enough..). The place was pretty huge, and they had lots of models and sea paraphernalia; in the background is a replica (1/3 scale) of the Mayflower.

Myrtle Beach Pics 2

Crystal and cousin Brennan in our hotel room. All the rooms come with an ensuite and kitchen with utensils. This was a God-send because we could put the kids in the next room, and cook some of our own meals instead of always going out! Thanks to Grandma Ronald for paying for the rooms for the kids!

About half of us ended up getting the flu, I think it seemed like one different person got it each day. Except for that, it was a pretty awesome time.

Above: Crystal gets a new monkey tether (to keep her from bolting when we're in the mall). Not shown is her reaction when she actually goes out walking in it... 8)

Top: Everybody went out for lunch in the local Myrtle Beach Mall

Ferol on the beach, North Myrtle Beach in the background. Oceanfront hotels line the coast behind.

Above, Mom (Morris) and Richard collecting sea-shells. We got a couple of sand-dollars, and came across a few jelly-fish washed-up on shore (and one sea-urchin!)

Top: View from our balcony to the outdoor pool-area and the coastline.

I'll have to do more posts, because I can only put up 2 or 3 pics at a time, or the formatting gets all screwed up...