Slow Start to 2010!!!

Ok, I have been off to a fairly slow start in 2010. Just starting to get some stuff posted up there in the last week or so. Check out the 2010 In Review Photo Gallery and also the YouTube Video Gallery. I will be trying to get some more videos up there in the next few days or so.

The gist of life is this: We are having a blast as usual. Life is good, everyone has visited us, Lydia is building tons of snow things, and we have had many adventures in the house as well. The freezer is filled with snowballs and ice-cycles. Doesn't get much better than this.

I hope everyone's winter is going as well as ours is. Soon enough it will be spring up here, and our winter wonderland will melt away, but it will be back again some other day!

Christmas 2009 Was a Smash!

What a great time Christmas was this year. During all the preparations and throughout the three day event for our family. My wife was such a superstar this year, as she finished her shopping up early, prepared the Christmas Cards, and wrapped up almost all of the presents. What a champ! I am so grateful everyday for the wondrous person she is, and all that she accomplishes. She makes life so comfortable for our family.

Here is the Christmas 2009 Photo Gallery (click here to go to a bigger slideshow of the photos)



The big events kicked off on Christmas Eve, where Nana Kay and Pop-pop had a great little dig at their house. Dawn, Marlin, Alex, and Austin representing from Kay's family. From my neck of the large tree came myself, Suzanne, Lydia and of course lets not forget Gramma Dolores and Grampa Bill. The food was great! They had everything to eat from shrimp, veggie and bread platters, and cheese and crackers to a wonderful spread of mac cheese, turkey, potatoes, various caseroles, and don't forget the gravy. Yummy! Enough food to feed a small army. Of course Suzanne made her famous stuffed mushrooms, and nearly a half a platter to send home with her biggest mushroom fan, Marlin.

After about two hours of eating, it was time to open presents - WOW! What a great time. Lydia had soooo much fun!



The next day at our house, Lydia opened a few presents in the morning from Santa and Suzanne, and then the rest of the presents would have to wait until after our brunch offering. I am proud to say that Lydia had NO problems waiting to open the gifts. The two she opened that morning provided her with enough fun for the morning. Suzanne made a great spread of food including the usual appetizers, halupki, stuffed mushrooms, and lasagna. Oh my goodness - I am such a spoiled boy. What a great layout of treats!



Then it was time to get back to present opening. Everyone exchanged presents, and had a great time! Lydia received so many presents. She would open one, and then play with it for a period of time, and then open another, and play with it. Repeat...Repeat...Repeat. By 5 PM or so, she had enough with the present ordeal, and proclaimed that the rest would have to wait until the next day. WOW - what character this little one has! I am so proud of her for not being subdued with material obsession. She was so much more into a great quality time of curiosity and exploration.



So by 3 PM the next day, she had finished opening her presents. She loved EVERYTHING that folks had sent her, and doesn't appear to have an outright favorite as of yet. Family discussions will NEED to be had about downsizing the purchases, but that aside, it was a great experience for Lydia. Lots of fun was, and still is being had by all.



For everyone who was able to share this wonderful holiday with us - thank you - thank you - thank you. We are so blessed to be in such a great situation, and please think of those who are not as lucky as we. Merry Christmas - the New Year is just around the bend!

Some other notable holiday videos:

Lots of Photo Updates!

There have been a ton of photo updates since November 10th, so family and friends, check out the new photos.

2009 Year in Review

Now with everyone scattered across the country, We expect to see photos and videos emailed to me for posting on this FAMILY blog as well as FAMILY video galleries and photo albums. This is VERY IMPORTANT to Us and Lydia who will not see the family as much these days.

Lydia Plays With Bernie the Bunny! In his cage!

Fall Is In The Air - Well the Leaves are Anyway

It is that time of year again, and as tradition dictates, it was time to work on cleaning up the leaves the day after Halloween. So off to the front yard I go, to rake up Lydia a big, huge, massive leaf pile for her. This was really the first year she was able to enjoy it! And enjoy it she did.

One trip to the leaf pile on Halloween day, and three trips to the leaf pile the day after. Wow! This is awesome!

From 2009 In Review

(There are more leaf pile photos in the referenced gallery above)

Here is a great video of Lydia LOVING IT!

2009 Happy Halloween!!!

Wow what a great Halloween Lydia has had this year! After nearly a month's worth of preparation, and lots of events building up to Halloween, we have finally wrapped up that chapter! Great stuff.

Check out the 2009 Halloween Photo Album.

Lydia has marched in her school parade, carved a pumpkin, attended a Halloween Party at the discovery center, and of course spent a day at the Jackson's Pumpkin Farm! Good stuff!

Video of Carving the 2009 Pumpkin:



Video of her first house of Trick or Treating:



Video at Uncle Jack's:



Hope you all enjoy watching this great stuff...it was a blast!

Getting Caught Up Since July

Well it is official, more than half the family has officially fled to Florida, and as such, I must start providing them with material to show what my family has been up to. So to start out, here are some galleries that have been posted/updated since July:

2009 Year In Review
Sesame Place Trip
Trip To The Outer Banks of NC
Lydia's First Day of School

I will start posting stuff a bit more regularly here now that everyone has fled for the winter...

Me personally...I LOVE THE CHANGE IN SEASON!