Merry (late) Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Well Christmas has come and gone :( . We had to take down our tree and festive lights :( . But, a new year has begun and there are so many things to look forward to. First and foremost in out minds is the impending birthday or our little Monkey. He is about to turn one. I know that this is the usual course that these things take, but I for one am in shock. My little man is already going to be a year old, no longer a small amount of months, but a whole year... Hmmmmm. maybe I better take a deep breath and relax :) . So now for the exciting part, what to do for his birthday. What do you do for a child who shows little interest in the actual present but more interest in the wrappings? One who screams if you hold him in place for to long to pretend like he is opening the presents? Well I guess we just better make it fun for the adults and wait until he can really appreciate it to gear it towards him. Is that an awful thing for a parent to do? Well, awful or not, that's what it will be I am sure. Any suggestions on a fun cake for a one year-old? I want to make it. I know calm down everyone, I have used a microwave before.... that's how you cook a cake right (Ha ha ha)? But seriously, any suggestions? would love any and all ideas! I have none! well enjoy the pictures from the Holidays.

This is a toy piano that Michael and I had when we were kids. My parents got it out of the attic for Ben and he adored it! He was hysterical to watch. He loved to dance and bang on the piano.

Oh, and apparently he knows how to climb stairs... who knew? Certainly not his parents!

my mommy and Ben in the early morn. This is the only time that the cats would get near him! When he was immobile and asleep!

Ben in his Christmas outfit. Thank you Great-Grandma McCandless!!! She gave this outfit to him when he was born.

Uncle Mako holding Ben while everyone is unwrapping gifts. Ben was a little tired at this point!

This is Ben's stocking that my Mom made for him. It is amazing and such a treasure. The Santa is velcroed on so that Ben can take it off and play with it.

Ben playing Penguin bowling in the living room. Conrad and i got this for him, but i think that we use it more than he does :)

Mr. OSU Santa helping the little man open his presents

Hope all of your wishes come true in the new year!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow...

And it did... for 28 hours straight. On Saturday we received around 20in. of snow. It was amazing. It NEVER stopped! It was very pretty to watch, from inside our warm house :) On Sunday however, it took 3 hours to dig the car out :( here are a few pics to give you the general idea.

Random pic of Ben

Over the River and Through the Woods...

To Grandmother's house we went!!! And it SNOWED!!! We went up to Mt. Gretna to celebrate Conrad's Grandma's birthday with his aunt Barbara, cousin Dashielle and cousin once removed Nico. We got to meet Nico Charles Haskin Beaudoin for the first time. Nico is Dashielle's son. It was so fun to watch the two of them interact. Nico is 6 mos. older than Ben and MUCH more calm! He is an absolute sweetheart and has a wonderful disposition. The two of them together were very entertaining to watch. It was great that two (of the 4) of Joan's great-grandchildren could be there to help her celebrate her birthday. So for the reason that anyone really reads blogs... here are the pictures :)

We took a walk in the new snow and Ben fell asleep in his little cocoon of warmth.

The Cousins with their kids

Ben is not used to being bundled up like this so he fought us a little. Nico on the other hand was a CHAMP. He is very used to bundling... They live in Quebec... very cold... brrrrrrr.

Barbara, Ben, Joan, Dashielle and Nico

Dashielle entertaining both Ben and Nico!

Great-Grandma and her Great-Grandson

The two boys playing on the floor. Ben looking highly intelligent with a shampoo bottle hanging out of his mouth... We are sooo proud :/

We got Joan a Snuggie for her birthday. Conrad was so embarrassed to take it to the counter and pay for it. I thought it was hysterical to watch him squirm :)

Barbara got the boys these animal hats and they are sooo CUTE

Nico showing Ben the cranberry garland that was being placed on the Christmas tree.

Ben chewing on slippers and Nico dancing :)

Happy Holidays everyone!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

On Saturday we went to the Kennedy Krieger Institute's Festival of Trees. The Kennedy Krieger Institute works with children and adolescents who deal with learning disabilities/birth defects that hinder learning capabilities, ie. cerebral palsy, autism, down syndrome etc... Every year people decorate Christmas trees and donate them to the institute who in turn sells them at auction. The winner this year was a tree dedicated to the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. It was a really fun tree and very different from most of the rest of the trees. However the greatest part for us was to see Ben's reaction to all of the lights and sounds. We watched an Irish dance troop perform and when they had their really sparkly costumes on he was mesmerized! Here are a couple of pictures of our trip and return home.

Ben playing before we left for the festival...

We decked him out in a Christmas sleeper... thought it was appropriate!

Family picture in front of the gingerbread train

Conrad and Ben in front of the gingerbread train

The Cheshire Cat tree that won the contest

Ben fell asleep in the car on the way home. He didn't look very comfortable, but it didn't seem to bother him AT ALL!!

Ben and I watching the Irish Dancers troop in the sparkly costumes. He lost interest when they changed clothes and lost the sparkle.



We also celebrated our first Thanksgiving in our new house and I actually cooked my first turkey which I might add came out delightfully well. We usually go up to Mt. Gretna to visit Grandma Buck but this year we are going up for her birthday next weekend instead. Thought we would stick around town and do our own thing. It was a wonderful day. Here are a couple of pictures...

Ben surveying his conquest!

Conrad and Ben cutting our first Turkey in the new house!!!


I know we haven't posted any pictures of the house yet, but they are coming as we get things slowly together and finished. So sorry for the delay! We did finally get our kitchen completed thanks to my parents for all of their help!