Sleigh Riding.....

Taking advantage of a "bonus" day before our trip to the Midwest Daniel did a little sleigh riding in our yard this afternoon. Despite how he looks in this video, he did have a good time.

Merry Christmas (A Day Late)!

Merry Christmas a day late. Like many of you, Christmas is a blur with a little one since the day goes by so fast. Daniel appeared to have a good time yesterday and did quite well opening presents. We had a nice day celebrating with Grandma and Grandpa and Santa was very good to Daniel. He even left Daniel a snowman outside.

Here are few photos from our New Jersey Christmas 2008. Enjoy!

"I Love Santa"

"What's in There?"


Making Christmas Breakfast

"Cracking Eggs"

The Snowman Santa Left Daniel

"Merry Christmas from Us!"

We are off to "see the wizard" tomorrow as we head out to visit Mike's family for a week. Hopefully we will survive the plane ride (as will the other passengers) and not get sick from the trip. Merry Christmas and Happy 2009 in advance!

"Hey, Did You Hear???
Santa Comes Tonight!!!!"

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow.....

Winter came a few days early here on the East Coast as we received our first significant snowfall this season. Luckily Daniel and I had no reason to venture out and stayed home and enjoyed the snowfall together. Thankfully I was prepared for it with a snowsuit and boots. Though he looked like the kid from "The Christmas Story" he seemed to enjoy it - Well until he face planted as he was crawling in it. Here are a few photos from our venture outside earlier today. (I do have to say it takes a lot of energy to get a little one ready for the snow.)

"All Bundled Up and Ready to Go!"

"Huh - Not Sure Where This Stuff is Coming From"

"Yeah....It Snowed"

"This Stuff is Pretty Interesting"

"And REALLY Cold!!"

Snow Walk

"Enjoying My Deer at Dark"

Of course we had to try to make at least one snow angel.
It was not an "angelic" experience.

Not Much of An Angel - We Will Try Again Tomorrow

Hope your holiday preparation are going well. And there is only FIVE more days til Christmas!!

AHHHHHHHHHHH - Christmas is a Little More Than A Week Away!!!!!

Christmas in New York...

Given the fact it was 45 degrees, sunny and little wind, we chose to head into New York City and give Daniel his first "Christmas in New York" experience. Though I have to say I soooooo was not thinking or planning on doing this today but what a wonderful day we had. Daniel was a trooper and went and saw the windows at Macy's and Saks, and the tree in Rockefeller Center. He was done, and so was I, after our "visit" to the B&H store. (They sell electronics and are a mecca in New York). A bit over stimulating for me too!


Afterwards we went to see Mike's sister Angie and Brett for some fun in Brooklyn. We took a nice walk to the Brooklyn waterfront and took some great "New York" photos. Daniel even let Angie take a picture with him and even let her carry him back to her apartment. (See, there is hope Nana and Aunt Lori!!!!)

Here are a some photos from our adventures today and some sights of "Christmas in New York." (Yes, I included photos of me this time...)

Outside Macy's - Being "tourists" and enjoying our first Christmas window experience.

"Believing in the Magic of Christmas"




Of course we had to take this photo
Thanks to the stranger who took the photo

Standing in Herald Square


Having WAY to much fun on the escalators in Macy's


Going to see the Macy's Santa
(Ok - we did not see Santa cause the wait was an hour long and who needs another meltdown but Macy's did let you take a "Peek at Santa")


Through Santa's window
"Ok - that's enough"

"I think I need this Star for My Tree"

The Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center

Enjoying the sunset in Brooklyn
(With my Santi-wipe - Can you tell he was in a "bubble" all last year?)

"Hanging with my Aunt Angie"

A Great Way to End a Special Family Day

And since we were gone most of the day, when we got home, Daniel wanted KC to feel that she was loved so he gave her one of his stuffed toys to cuddle with as she went off to sleep...

Hope you created special memories today!
And there is only 10 more shopping days till Christmas...

Getting Into The Holiday Spirit...

We have been busy getting the house ready for the holidays and especially for Daniel's first "official" Christmas. I know what about last year?? But come on --- he was only seven months old and he was all tubed up and we really had no room for our tree. Not like we have room this year with all his toys but it is totally different this year.


Daniel seems to be getting into the spirit as he now recognizes "Ho Ho" and calls Rudolph "Doe".

Getting into the Holiday Spirit

We have had some episodes of him pulling ornaments off the tree and knocking over his Christmas tree but all and all this year we have a ton to celebrate.

Our tree. Yes, it is that tall and that fat.
It's a fake too.



But Daniel doesn't seem to care.

Daniel also has a little tree in his room, thanks to Aunt Anne, Uncle Tom, Kyala and Jon. Last year this is what we use to celebrate Christmas with.....

Mike went a bit crazy decorating outside and much to my disdain he "borrowed" an inflatable from a co-worker. For those of you who know me you know how much I HATE these things. Can you see why???

And it did not stop there.... Of course we needed Santa's reindeers...

And some BALLS for the tree..

And some lights set to music (and why wouldn't you...)....

But all and all when the reaction is this precious why wouldn't you do all this....

Hope you are getting into the holiday spirit as well.

Happy Holidays!!

Breakfast with Santa.....

This morning we took Daniel for his first "Breakfast with Santa" event. Being the rookies that we are, we so had to ask how the "breakfast" worked and thankfully a very nice woman suggested that we visit with Santa sooner rather than later since the line would most likely get pretty long once everyone finished eating. She was correct. As for Daniel, though he seemed very excited to go see Santa it was a very different story once we were on line to see Santa. He did great and stood against the wall checking out the "Big Man" prior to our turn.

"Yes, I am waiting for the Big Elf Himself"

"I can see him..."

But once we got up there, it was a totally different story and just like in the "Christmas Story" Daniel immediately started crying and this was the best photo I could get...

Oh well, maybe next year!!

Cowboy Daniel....

Back in October we went to a Fall Festival where they had free pony rides. Since we are not ones to miss the opportunity to do something for free or give Daniel a new experience we were all over the pony ride. Needless to say, Daniel LOVED the pony rides. He even went twice and did not care at all that we weren't by his side.

So.....guess what Mike came home with tonight.......a rocking horse. As you can see, Daniel took right to it and LOVES his pony.

(Yes, he did put the cowboy hat on himself)

Of course we could not pass up the opportunity to take a video of our little Cowboy. Listen carefully at the end of the video for what Daniel wants to do "MORE" of...

Climbing....

So apparently Daniel has mastered climbing....Like Father Like Son....

(It is a bit long but pretty funny.)

Happy Halloween!!

Daniel's first official Halloween, since last year we were held up in our spider hole, was filled with seeing family and friends and ended up being a fun-filled day. If you can't figure out what Daniel is, he went as a surgeon since in my head I thought it was would be funny and something he might be comfortable with since he saw a ton of them this past year. Thanks to Mike's mom, who made his costume, he ended up being very cute and was a Halloween Hit. Here are some photos from today... (I do have to say, it is not as easy taking a picture of a 17-month-old as it was a 5-month-old last year.)

"Have Lollipop - Will Cut"

"So that is What I Sound Like"

"Ummm, I Think You Might Have a TE Fistula KC"

"Getting Ready for Some Trick or Treating with My Buddy Kira"

We even did a little dancing to "Transylvania 1-2-3-4-5".....

"Gotta Go - Just Got Paged"

Hope your day was filled with treats!! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!