Snow Play

After our 2nd Nor'easter storm, the official region-wide lock down (a.k.a. State of Emergency), and our son's steadily increasing cabin-fever, we all decided that maybe some snow-time would be in order. Unfortunately for us, it was absolutely frigid outside so we didn't get a lot of outside time in, but we fit in what we could. We did just enough to take a little bit of the edge off of Christopher's hyperactivity to keep him reeled for the remainder of the day. We were going to go back outside again the next day, but it was still frigid. We asked Christopher, who again had a heightened level of energy, if he wanted to go outside. He replied,"Nooooooo. Cooooooooold." So we opted to get him dressed and go to the local mall play area in the morning before it got over-populated with kids. That ended up being the best idea we've ever had as parents (to this point). He played for about an hour-and-a-half and ended up being very manageable for the remainder of the Nor'easter lock down. Below are some photographic memories of Christopher playing in the snow.

In his Winter Onsie


Not a fan of the mittens, but forgot once he got outside


Throwing snowballs....the first thing Daddy taught him to do with snow


our special needs snowman....I was trying to build one in a hurry because he was very cold and wanting to go inside. So we got a little one put up in about 5 minutes and called it a day.


the finished product

Charlie's 2nd Birthday

A good friend of Colleen has a little girl, Charlie, who celebrated her 2nd birthday last month. We were invited. Christopher had a blast.

Charlie and her mom, Kristi


Let them eat cake....and ice cream...and make a huge mess


Christopher and Charlie playing with balloons


The poor kid was tuckered by the end of the night

Its Been A While

Sorry for those of you who follow this blog (all 6 of you!)...things have been crazy here so I haven't had much time to keep the blog updated. We've been getting pelted by Nor'easter storms over the last 3 weeks (4 to count thus far) which have dumped over 40 inches of snow on our fair land. School has upped its demands on my work-load, and work has taken a lot out of me...Spring semester is beginning to run away with me and I'm finding myself struggling to keep up. So, I've included on this post pictures from our 2nd Nor'easter storm....There will be a "Mass Updating" going down here, too...so get ready!!

Thanks, Aunt Karen

Speaking for Christopher:

"I would like to thank Aunt Karen, Uncle Nick, and Zooey for the wonderful presents. I really liked them a lot. I took lots and lots of pictures with my camera, and rocked the Hendrix t-shirt at day care today (I know all the other kids were jealous, but who wouldn't be?). I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."

encl.
ttk

Christmas Day

Here are some photos from Christopher's Christmas Day. He woke up around 7 a.m. and we went to church. We got home around 10:30 or so and began opening presents around 11. He was hungry and tired by then. He got a Radio Flyer Horse and Wagon from Uncle Pat and Nana/Pop-Pop Marianne and Bob (respectively) and his Christmas was basically done. Uncle Pat ran him around the house for about 15 minutes and you would think Christopher had died and gone to heaven (so the saying goes). Christopher sat in the wagon for another 1o minutes or so saying "Paaa?", "Paaa?" But Uncle Pat was done playing bridled horse. He made it through 2 more presents before he began getting fussy (hungry and tired)...so I gave him some applesauce and juice to hold him over until breakfast was served. Christopher, however, decided that he liked the applesauce but that I could take the juice and shove it as he threw his cup from his high chair to the floor. At that point, I figured I'd lay him down for a nap. 5 hours later, he woke up and was ready to go. All-in-all, a good Christmas for the boy....he got some cool stuff, which he got to play with for a bit, then got tons of sleep. I can honestly say that I was a bit jealous at that!

(Good picture of Uncle Pat and Christopher until Rosie decided that Christopher needed some attention...totally destroyed the photo-op.)

Its the Holiday Season

Its the holiday season. I thought I would share our home decorations with you all. We got a much smaller tree this year, which was a great thing because the tree from last year was a little on the ridiculous side. This tree is much more manageable. Got the stuffed snowmen on the ledge there above the piano, our obligatory nativity, stockings, garland, et. al. Colleen really likes to put her stuffed Grover, Hermey, and a stuffed bear I gave her the first Christmas we officially "dated." On the outside of the house, I opted to buy new lawn decorations. We have color-changing LED lights to go along with the snowflakes and presents from last year. I also decided to add lights to our wreath. I wasn't sure if I'd like it, but it ties everything together somewhat nicely I think.

Last week we decided to take a chance with the annual "Santa pictures." Instead of going to the local mall, waiting in some crazy line, just to see a mediocre picture that costs somewhere near $30/sheet. We went to a local outdoor/garden store called Feeny's. Its not actually "local" in Philadelphia-esque terms, but could be considered "local" in Kansas terms. He did great until we got to Santa...even then he didn't do terrible. The thing about Feeny's is that they provide Santa and you're supposed to take the pictures yourself. This would have been great if someone who was more patient than me was taking the pictures. I got 2 shots, neither of which were that great, and we didn't stay up with Santa for more than a minute tops. I began getting paranoid that I had transformed into "that guy who takes way too long with Santa to get the perfect shot when, in reality, its never going to be quite perfect and now we have to wait for Normal Rockwell to finish his painting so we can have a turn." In reality, I hadn't turned into that guy at all...nor was I even close. I just got impatient and slightly paranoid.

After we got back home from Feeny's we decided to let Christopher see our outdoor lights up close and personal. He kept saying,"W000000000000w!" over and over again. That's his new shtick. I do have to admit that the second picture reminds me of the movie "The Secret of Nimh" for some reason.

Last night, around 1a.m., it began to snow....the only problem is that its still snowing. We're caught in the middle of a Noreaster and a snowstorm that has dropped snow on the ground continuously since then through now. This nonsense is supposed to continue until 6 a.m. Sunday. All I can say is, "YES!"

Hmmmm..

So, do you think Maury needs to do a DNA test to prove he's mine or what?