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?

Christmas Lighting at Peddler's Villiage, Lahaska, PA = 11/2009

We took a trip up to Lahaska, PA, to see Peddler's Villiage's Christmas Lighting Celebration. Its actually pretty cool, which say a lot for me to say that because I usually shy away from all things popular and trendy...but this is a pretty nice gig for a gig that is both popular and trendy. Plus, Christopher loved it. He got to hang out with Mommy and Daddy...even Nana Marianne came along for the ride. He got to ride on Daddy's shoulders for much of the trip, which was a blast (mostly for him...he's a tank, so Daddy had quite a neck ache in the morning). It really made the trip worth dealing with the traffic and the incredible mass of people to see Christopher's face light up with wonder when they powered up the Christmas lights. He was completely shocked and amazed and kept saying "WOOOOOOOOW" over and over again. All-in-all, a great trip for us to take and one that will continue as long as Christopher enjoys it as much as he did...definitely a sacrifice that I'm willing to endure again and again for him.

Christopher just before the Peddler's Village Christmas lights "power up"

Christopher's "WWOOOOOOWW" right after the lights "powered up"

Bubbles with Kaylee and Max

We got some surprise visitors Sunday afternoon -- Actually, Christopher got some surprise visitors Sunday afternoon.  Aunt Chris walked over to our house from their house (they live around the corner from us) with Kaylee and Max.  Kaylee found some bubble mix and the bubble fan-gun that we had bought for Christopher for the summertime (which will be the only gun that Christopher will have in my house if I have anything to say about it!).  The kids spent about an hour playing with the bubbles: Kaylee dipping the bubble fan-gun in the bubble mixture and Christopher and Max running around my back yard chasing the bubbles.  It was very, very cute stuff and had to be photographed and documented for prosperity's sake.

(p.s.: don't mind the leaves, I'll get to them this weekend)

Christopher's First Haircut

BEFORE

We took Christopher to Feasterville, PA, to get his hair cut.  It had finally gotten to a point where it was just taking too long to get his hair "did" in the morning.  Moreover, it was to a point where it didn't really matter what we tried to do to his hair...it was just a hot mess.  We finally did some checking around and found this neat little children's hair cuttery in Feasterville, PA (about 15 minutes from my house) called Kids Kuttery or something like that.  They had neat little childrens' seats in place...Christopher was in the car, but they also had a motorcyle and an ATV (4-wheeler) there as well as cartoons on at every station (they also had regular seats too...appropriately sized for their clientele, of course.   I have to admit, though, that we were a little apprehensive when we arrived because the place looked a little on the shady side from the outside...and one of the hairdressers was outside smoking, which doesn't really bother me so much, with a look on her face that gave us the impression that she hated her life.  We ended up with her as Christopher's beautician.  I have to admit that I was too quick to judge her.  She ended up being very nice and, more importantly, very patient and did a great job with his hair...

The bottom line is that his hair is no longer a hot mess, and we were able to retain the curls a bit. Everyone was happy.  Best of all, the cut only cost us $10!  Cha-ching!  Enjoy the pictures.

                      

                 

AFTER