A Wild Month...And Christmas Won't be the end

My sister-in-law, Amy, told Chris today that I haven't written enough (about the family imparticular) on the blog in recent weeks. I know, I feel bad too. But I guess the lack of blogging has been because of a combination of the Christmas Season and the fact that we are getting ready for baby # 2. So in a nut shell, here is what we have been doing in the last month:

• Turkey Day - Mmmmm...The feast of all feasts. This year we spent it at my Aunt Susie's house in Clifton Park. A day can't get much better then this...Family, eating enormous amounts of food, lots of football and a few beers.

• Christmas Picture Day at JC Penny's - Four words to describe this experience: It didn't go well!!. As soon as we put Charlotte on the platform, she freaked. It didn't help by the fact that one of the other photographers kept coming in the room to ask our photographer questions. Remarkably, we got one decent picture.

• A Visit To Santa - The experience was better then Charlotte's Christmas Picture. But that was only because the photographer was quick with the picture, was able to get a decent pose in the time that Charlotte spent on Mr. C's lap (about 30 seconds) before her lower lip started to quiver.

• Cookie Exchange - Chris and my Mom went went to the cookie exchange at my sister's while Charlotte and I kept Papa company. Charlotte had no intention of going to bed at G-mom's & Papa's house...So around 11:30PM when Chris & G-Mom came home, Charlotte, bright eyed, greeted them at the door.

• John Mellencamp - The man from Indiana was in town, so we shipped Charlotte to G-Mom & Papa's house for an overnight while we went to the concert. We had dinner at the new PF Chang's at Colonie Center and then it was off to the concert. Mellencamp was great (as usual) and PF Changs was superb. This was a big night for us (epically Chris). Not only was it our first rock concert since Charlotte was born, but it was the first time Charlotte spent the night away from us. Chris survived and Charlotte had a blast with G-Mom & Papa.

• Annual Family Holiday Dinner - Every year we invite my parents and my sister & her family over to see our tree. It becoming a nice tradition: every year we always have Mac & Cheese (homemade, not out of the box) and cookies. This is also the day that Mom gives all the kids their Christmas ornament.



• Michael's Christmas Pageant & Fire House Christmas Party - Another busy busy day. First it was off to Glenville, NY to see my Nephew, Michael perform Joseph in his class's living Nativity. Great job Michael. After that, it was off to a Christmas party for the kids at the Grand Boulevard Fire Department. All the usual stuff was there, including, Arts & Crafts, food, drinks, magic shows and Santa. Charlotte lasted 45 seconds and she Santa gave her a new doll, Dressy Bessy.

• Susie's Birthday Party at the Bayou Cafe - We have 2 months a year where we aren't celebrating and December is not one of them. The 20th was Susie's birthday so we went up to the Bayou Cafe in Glenville to celebrate.

• Time to relax - This past weekend we didn't have much to so, so the three of us relaxed, watched Christmas movies, "payyy" (play in Charlotte talk), watched football and waited for Christmas and baby #2. At this point, hopefully the baby won't make an appearance until the 26th.

That's all for now, you can see more pictures of all this an more in our family album.