Winter Smile

JD, lately you have been sleeping with a pal. Asbury has been in and out of your room for months now. Over the last few weeks though, he has really been content in your room. He takes a while to get comfortable and sometimes this annoys you but mostly you're OK with it. The other morning I went down stairs to get ready for work and as I walked by your door, you were cuddled up petting Az. I took this picture the other night around 11:00.

You had a great day on Friday as your class went on a field trip. The whole kindergarten took a Polar Express train ride from Dover, NH to Portland, ME. I took the day off to spend with Adam so Mom could go with your class on the trip. You both had so much fun. Santa came aboard the train and you got candy cane's and all sorts of other treats. Someone asked you if you wanted to sit with your friends or Mom and you chose to sit with Mom. I know this made her happy. On the way back you were able to go back to hang out with you buddies!

Adam, you and I had a very nice day too. We went outside and were able to build a cool snowman. I rolled the balls and you placed the eyes and nose all by yourself. Each day since you have been running over to the window, grabbing a chair and looking for him out the window. When we came in we played a lot of football! You enjoy throwing it as far as you can in the playroom. You have also been playing golf a lot. Funny, JD played golf a lot at this age too. You have also taken to blocks. You have learned how to build large structures and when it starts to get high, you get excited saying,"Wow, see?"

Addie, you have one of those smiles. Not many people have them. A smile that makes other people smile and lights up a room. It almost instantly makes you likeable. I know you aren't even two years old yet, but this smile will stick. I know it will. I talked with the president of my company once about, "Smiles that can get you places." I know how goofy that sounds, but it's true. I only know one other person to have a smile like that.

Saturday we watched a few holiday movies on TV. You are both still excited to watch the movies Nana sent up. One of them is very relaxing. You both just sit there and get tired. Mom and I like this one best! We also listened to lot of music on this day. We have been listening to Pondering Judd a lot lately. I saw them play a few weeks back and really liked them. We have had a few of their albums for a while. We have also been listening to Slaid Cleaves, Johnny Cash, Little River Band, Bob Dylan and some country stuff.

In the evening we decided to have Fondue for dinner. JD, this is one of your favorite meals to have. You enjoy putting raw meat into the oil to cook. You always ask if we can have this so we surprised you on this night. We just had beef and three dipping sauces, but it was so yummy. Adam, you were very careful with the flame and oil, and enjoyed dipping the beef and feeding me! This meal generally lasts a long time, and this night was no different. By the time we were finished it was bed time!

Sunday brought a pretty crazy Nor'easter. We got about a foot of snow and it came down hard. It was a great day to cuddle down and watch football! I went out very early in the morning to get milk and some other things and there wasn't a car on the road, including plows! I really can't imagine not having 4 wheel drive up here. It was kind of cool being out when no one else was out. Luckily the store was open and was able to get the stuff I needed!

We tried to go outside on this day but it was too cold and windy. We all got cold, especially you, Ad. You were saying, "Inside, please, please." Then we would get in and warm up and you would say,"Outside?" We had nachos and watched the Pats beat the Jets. It was a sloppy boring game but a win is a win. Two more for them to go undefeated!

Today, Tuesday, Grandie came down as she usually does on Tuesday's to spend time with Mom. When JD got home from school there was a food project waiting. Grandie and JD made a Gingerbread house! It looks so good! After dinner tonight JD asked if he and Adam good dive into it. Why not? I always see these houses sitting in people's living rooms and all the are, are decoration! By the time people want to eat them they are stale! JD, you were so nice to invite Adam to share with you. You both did some series damage on that little house!

Snowfall

Well I think its safe to say that we have seen just about every Christmas movie appropriate for kids, and even one that may not be appropriate. We have been setting aside a bit of time after dinner a few times a week for these movies. As a rule our TV doesn't go on after dinner but this time of year we have made an exception. Both of you enjoy these movies so much.

We have watched Rudolph, Frosty, and many others. Adam, each time the Mean Snowman comes to the screen in Rudolph you put your hands over your eyes and say, "Scarey." You then spread your fingers and start to peak through again until you are convinced he isn't coming back anytime soon. We are running very low on movies right now so Nana sent us a few in the mail. JD, one of these movies was about a snowman and there were no words, just music in the background. I think this may have been you favorite movie so far.

Over the weekend we enjoyed the first snowfall of the season. Adam, you do not like getting put into your snow suit, there is no way around it, you just don't like it. But I zipped you up and out we went. Mom had spent the prior night in Mass at Brooke's so it was just the three of us on this day.

We went outside in the morning on Saturday. Our big sled from last year popped and we got rid of all of the others as they had defects so we are left with just Adam's pull sled. I pulled you both around the yard for quite a while. We started out back and then went around to the small hill on the side. I think you both like snowball throwing more than anything else, though. Adam is learning that you actually have to pat down the snow into a ball shape before you throw it. He had many unsuccessful throws prior to learning this. JD enjoys throwing snowballs at his brother and I. And I have to say, I do like throwing them back!

We have gone outside during the nights a few times too. Asbury loves to play in the snow, he has since he was a puppy. When mom and I brought him home in January of 1999 there was snow on the ground and it seemed to stay for months. He loves to chase snowballs even though they are virtually impossible to find.


On Sunday night we all helped mom bake some cookies. We had one of those jar things with all of the ingredients inside and mom and I had a major sugar craving. JD, you bake with Grandie all the time so you cracked the eggs and helped to add in the ingredients. Adam, you did a great job of interrupting the process by sticking your hand in the mix and licking your fingers!

We rounded up Sunday night watching the Pat's beat the Steelers. Its been a pretty interesting year of football for the Patriots. They are one of the best teams ever and have a very good shot at going undefeated for the whole season. If they do they will be only the second team ever
to do so. Adam, when football comes on the TV, even just the highlights, you come to find me wherever I am in the house. You say, "Daddy, Daddy, F'Ball!" And then you motion for me to come with you. When we arrive you say, "Look" and point to the TV. You are so excited to show me, its like every time is the first!

The Celtics are off to a good start too. They are 12-0 at home this year and so exciting to watch. Its weird having basketball be relevant in Boston again. I'm enjoying it just as much as I had hoped I would.

We are supposed to get a Nor'easter this weekend, maybe a foot of snow. I really need to pick up some sleds somewhere. I wonder which one of you guys I'll get to shovel?

Tractors and Snowballs

Well its officially the Christmas Season!

Friday was your first real introduction to Christmas this year. We have been talking about it since Thanksgiving and the ads and movies have been on TV, but we hadn't yet gone to any real events. On this night I went to a UNH Hockey game with Chris, Chad, and Ashley. I have to say for hockey being my least favorite of the major sports, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this game. They played UMass Lowell, and for the whole game I wasn't quite sure who to cheer for. Being from Mass I kind of shifted to that end of things, but in the end UNH won. The stadium probably only seats about five thousand people which surprised me, but there was not a bad seat in the house. It was nice to be that close to the action.

While I was at the game Mom took both of you to a, "Christmas Stroll" right down in the center of South Berwick, where you met her friend Leanna and her daughter. Here you both made ornaments for the tree, played in one of the stores, and even met Santa. Mom told me that JD's eyes opened wide when Santa came by. It was literally freezing cold on this night. Adam was in his snow suit (VERY reluctantly) and Mom and JD were also bundled up tightly. JD, you talked about this night for most of the next morning.

On Saturday morning while we were getting ready for a Christmas Parade in Berwick, JD and I noticed bird outside that we didn't recognize. JD immidiately ran upstairs to get his bird book. We found that it was a, Downy Woodpecker. We must have watched it for about an hour while Adam was sleeping. We even got this picture.

Mom and Grandie were working at a craft fair in Eliot so the three of us went over to Chad and Ashley's for a cup of coffee before the parade. Now this day was even colder than the night before. It was 25 degrees with crazy wind...totally freezing. I thought for a minute about not taking you guys, but decided to give it a shot. Once again Adam was thrown reluctantly into his snow suit for this trip. JD thought it was funny that we had to where two pair of socks and many layers of sweatshirt tops under our jacket!

After our coffee we walked about a mile to the center of Berwick for the parade. It was SO fun! I have never been to a more "Maine" type of event since living up here. We determined that ANYONE could have been part of this parade, anyone at all! There were some cool floats like, trains, fire trucks,
and even a band. Then there were the backwoodsy floats, tractors, some decorated riding mowers (not kidding), and some people that were doing absolutely nothing. Needless to say we got some great laughs out of the whole thing and will not miss it next year. This will be a great winter tradition to help get us all in the spirit. Ash was big help when Ad decided he didn't want to get back in the stroller, helping me walk it all that way back to the house.

After the parade we went back to their house for some snacks. Mom called just about the exact time we got back and she was home from the fair. I left you both with Chad and Ash while I went to pick up Mom.
Both of you adore Chad and Ash. They are very realistic people and have excellent idea's to keep you guys entertained. Ashley decided it would be fun for you to make ornaments and decorate a small tree she brought out special for you and Chad broke out the video games which JD loved!

By the time Mom and I got back, Chris and Tara weren't too far behind. They arrived and we put together our plan for the evening. We have all tried to get into a Sunday dinner routine, maybe one or two times each month. Mom and I did dinner a few weeks ago and Chad and Ash volunteered this week. We had also planned to pick out our Christmas trees together on this night, something JD had been looking forward to all week!

It was about 5:30 by the time we all got out to get the trees. Now it was pitch black and FREEZING. So cold that my big gloves couldn't keep my fingers cold. Addie, you guessed it, back in the snowsuit! This was by far the coolest experience I have ever had getting a tree.

We drove to a tree farm, right next to JD's school and looked to be closed. No lights or signs or any signs of life. Mom decided to get out and knock on the door to find out if they were open and luckily they were. The guys working it told us that it was 18 degrees out, and that was without the wind! We had saw's and flashlights just in case because at this place people cut down there own trees rather than just picking them out at a lot. We walked way, way, out back. Chris had a head lamp and JD had a big flashlight to guide us on our way. Adam, you walked by yourself and followed the crowd as best you could. We finally came upon a forest of Christmas trees. The trunks were about four feet tall and they all varied in many shapes and sizes. Mom and I agreed upon a tree after barely looking at it. It was so cold we just wanted to chop it and get out of there! We never actually found out exactly what it looked like until the next morning. It was BY FAR the best tree we have ever picked out! It is the perfect height and so full!

After we left the tree place we went back to dinner at Chad and Ash's house. It was a great day. We all enjoyed spending time together and the food was excellent. Toward the end of the night, "Crazy Adam" came out. Ad, you were dancing and jumping, wrestling with Chad, and pushing around Chris. You were very tired and laughing at everything, we all got a kick out of you!

Sunday morning arrived and JD got us out of bed early. JD, you wanted to put up our Christmas stuff and did not want to wait! After we did some cleaning and Mom went shopping, sure enough it was time. Both of you went up to the attic with Mom to grab the decorations. We have about 4 large boxes of Santa's, snowmen, and all sorts of other stuff.

After you both put up the Santa 's and stuff we decided to tackle decorating the tree. Mom had tons and tons of ornaments from her childhood so she went through the box and pulled out the pieces she wanted
to put on the tree. You both have many ornaments too. Adam, you did a great job for your first time decorating the tree. JD is now an old pro and I would say the this is one of his favorite times of year!

Later in the evening, before bed, we watched one of my favorite Christmas movie's from when I was a kid, "Emmit Otter's Jug Band Christmas." We sat around with the tree lights, and the window lights on and truly enjoyed the end of the weekend together.

Monday was a surprise for JD as his school was cancelled due to snow! We got about six inches overnight and it was nice heavy, wet, snowball snow! Mom took you both outside where you threw snowballs at each other and went exploring around the yard. Adam, you loved your first snow adventure as a walking person! JD later in the day you even got to skiing outback down the small hill. Mom has been great in encouraging you do to this and she is a great skier herself. Hopefully this winter will bring many more fun memories!