Christmas Week to Christmas Eve

Tillman sporting the outfit Cici made for him!

We spent Christmas in Lexington, SC this year at Cici and JRS's house.  We've alternated each year between Ohio and Lexington since we've been married.  Either the week before Christmas or the week after Christmas, we visit both sides of the family.

We arrived back in Lexington from Ohio on Tuesday, 22nd.  Originally, we weren't to come back to SC until Wednesday, but the weather report didn't look very good for Wednesday, so we headed back a day early.  The drive back was very rainy, and Nick didn't cut off the windshield wipers until we were in SC.  It went from snow, to a wintry mix, to rain the further we drove south.

We didn't get on the road until around 9AM, so the last hour of the trip, we had a screaming baby!  Tillman was absolutely DONE with the car!  We pulled over at one point, got him out the seat, and he did great!  As soon as we sat him in the seat, he was angry!  We just decided to drive on and listen to him scream!  Nick and I knew that the end of the drive was in sight, but Tillman was letting us all know that he wanted out!

 During the week, we just bummed around Lexington.  It was nice to have a "do nothing" few days.  The only things I wanted to get done was to get the car washed and to have a movie date with Nick!  Man was our car a mess after being in the snow. 

We went and saw the Little Fockers.  It was ok...like most every one's review of it, but it was great to have a date with Nick.  Tillman and Cici hung out while we were going.

Family photo before Church on Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, we went to the 5:30 service at my home church, St. Peter's Lutheran.  This was the first time we'd been to that service.  In the past, it has been a tradition to always go to the late service, but 10:30 wouldn't have been the best time for Tillman.  Plus, I am sure people attending worship would be less forgiving if my child had an outburst (if you can relate to people shooting daggers at you when your child makes a peep)!

We arrived at church at 5:25, and I won't make that mistake again!  We ended up on the FRONT row, organ side!  Usually this isn't a big deal, but Tillman is not a fan of loud, sudden noises.  He was chilling out in his car seat, and once the organ cranked up, he "primpt" like he was going to burst into tears.  I rescued him out of the car seat, and held him for the service.  He did really well through the service, but the last five minutes, he had to be taken out!  Nick was on duty for that, so my parents and I enjoyed the remainder of the candle light portion of the service.

After the service, we went home, got in our jammies, and settled in for the night.