Just like the first day of  school, I’m going to write a small narrative  on what I did over Christmas break. Of course it’s three weeks late, but I can get an excused absence for medical reasons. My right shoulder had been bothering me ever since I picked up a light stand and felt the pain on my very last wedding ever, back in August.  Several thousand painful photos, The World Equestrian Games, a cortisone shot, physical therapy, and four months later, I had shoulder surgery on January 5th. I’m just now getting to where I can type and mouse again. It’s still a little sore, but I think I’m good for another 41 years.

We had a great Christmas as always. How can you not have a good Christmas with three kids who believe. We watched A Christmas Story a hundred times as usual, and they finally stood their ground and said no more Polar Express on Christmas Eve! Come on kids, Daddy loves that movie. We kept our new Christmas Day tradition going two years in a row by staying home all day, playing, being lazy, and going to eat Chinese, just like Ralphie and his family. Fa Ra Ra Ra Ra…Ra Ra Ra Ra!

After Christmas Natalie and I headed south to the Smokies for a few days of R&R sans kids. It was really pretty once we got there after being stuck in traffic forever on the interstate.

I brought in the New Years a little differently this year. The boys and I went Coon Hunting for the first time. I won’t mention any names, but a certain cousin of mine that I hunt with a lot, allowed us to get lost in the woods in the middle of the night. Then, shortly before midnight, I remembered that I had a GPS on my iPhone and thought it might be a good time to use it. So we brought in 2011, on a very memorable night, lost somewhere deep in the Carter County woods, between McGlone Creek and Jordan Fork. The only thing that would have made the night more complete would’ve been a little banjo music…ouch!

Finally, on January 8, I got to do something that I never thought I would do. I went to a wrestling match with Cameron and his friend Lee (sorry Jim Chadwick of Stanton, I mean no disrespect to the sport of wrestling, it’s just never been for me). But Cameron, however, loves it, and never misses a Monday or Friday night to watch it. He and Lee even give me verbal and written tests on the super stars of WWE, and they love to test my knowledge of different types of matches and the rules (rules!?! Really????). Anyway, I enjoyed it, and although I like to make fun of it, there is a lot of real pain and athleticism involved.

Well, that’s all I know to write for now Mrs. Whitabird, I’ll do it again when school starts back in August.

Cameron wraps himself for Christmas on the last day of school.

The Stephens grand kids and Uncle Brent

Somewhere near the Kentucky-Tennessee boarder, south of Williamsburg

Downtown Jellico, Tennessee

Stuck for hours on I-75 Southbound. And why? I still don't know.

We had to use four wheel drive to get to our cabin in Sevierville

Slip Slidin' Away

"Look Mom...it even has a fireplace!"

Gimping with my sling, with Nolan and Laura

This little piece of cartilage had been floating around my shoulder for months. So long pain!!!!

It looks like Jupiter, but it's not... it's the inside of my shoulder!

Alberto Del Rio and R-Truth battling out in the Smack Down ring at Rupp Arena..

Cameron and his friends Lee, left, and Chase, right

Cameron and Lee

Three days removed from shoulder surgery, but keeping my promise to Cameron, this was my view most of the night.