Storm-Pooper

This proves that there is a market for zipper front armor. Dedicated to my brother, Michael.


*note: the original caption for this picture ("storm-pooper") came from the website below. http://www.theforce.net/humor/captioning/cap63.asp

Home again

We survived!
The tree is down, the decorations are put away, I'm back at work, and the champagne is on ice for tonight.
Thanks to everyone for the hugs, gifts, and warm hospitality. Yes, yes, we will send "official" thank you cards also.
We were able to buy a digital camera this week - as soon as we figure out how to use it I will send and post pictures.
I hope you have a wonderful New Year's Eve. Thanks for helping my family's 2005 be so great - cheers to another year.

rudolph picture

Run Run Rudolph

Greetings. We have officially named our car "Rudolph" this year, as we prepare for our 1st of 2 trips to Cincinnati in 6 days. We will be making the 3 hour drive south tonight, then returning tomorrow - only to head back down Tuesday and return home Wednesday. 12 hours in a car, 2 kids, 2 stressed out parents, 4 sets of families to visit, 3 loaves of freshly baked bread, 3 dozen cookies, 1 trunkload of presents - a partridge and a pear tree. Truthfully I am looking forward to the week of traveling and visiting. No work for 5 days - that always makes me smile. Although Courtney won't admit it to me right now (she bears the majority of the weight of packing/wrapping/baking...) she always loves the time in the car with her "captive audience". I can't promise we will do it this way next year, but we are certainly committed to making the best of it this week.
Can't wait to see everyone - won't be posting until I'm back for good on Thursday (28th).

Last minute details

Not too much to report today. I spent half of my day working on our new wine list for the restaurant and the second half getting ready for our employee Holiday party. We baked around 80 dozen cookies for the party and were able to trade other businesses for enough gifts to give one per employee. Courtney has also been baking at home, which has proven a little more difficult than it was in the past with the addition of little Maya. She called me today to tell me that her and Luke got Maya to giggle for the first time today. I can't wait to get home and hear her for myself.

Sledding

Purple Disk Sled - $5.00
Warm Gloves and Hat - $15.00
The look of bliss on your 3 year old's face - $priceless

I now believe, after a 30 minute adventure in the frozen tundra yesterday, that sledding down a golf course hill with a 3 year old is the single most enjoyable thing in the world. The cold was nothing that a cup of hot chocolate couldn't solve, and hearing Luke shout "be careful" to the kid braving the hill in a laundry basket with socks on his hands made me laugh out loud. I actually find myself hoping the snow doesn't melt so we can go again this week. Luke will be happy to see that Santa is brining him a giant Snow Intertube for Christmas. I bet we can break our speed record with it. The hotel fillion-ritchie is now taking reservations for anyone brave enough to venture north this season and join us on the hills. We'll supply the sleds, tubes, and hot chocolate - you bring the gloves and camera.

Slow Night at 31 Hundred

There is no predicting what a waiter will do on a slow night...I guess we have a new mascot at work.
(sorry the picture quality is so poor - I only had my friend's phone /camera to work with)

Early mornings

Up and out the door by 6am. 9 years in NW Ohio and I'm still not used to this cold.
We had Stephanie's boy, Nolan (5 weeks older than Maya), last night. It was fun - but I take back everything I ever said about wanting twins. At one point I had both babies crying and I was trying to figure out how to hold them both at the same time to calm them. I gave up right as Courtney came around the corner after putting Luke to bed. Good timing!
Tonight is a much needed Date night. Elle and Ed are watching Luke and Maya for a few hours so Court and I can go out to dinner. We realized how long it's been since we went out alone. Most of our "alone time" is spent when both kids are sleeping - and that usually includes one of them sleeping on or next to us. By nightfall we are both so tired that our normal time together involves one of us passing out in the middle of a tv show or movie. Perhaps tonight we can sneak a few moments of adult conversation without interuption.
I have been distracted by our snow as of late. Here is a good website if you are bored: http://nsdic.org/snow

Happy Shovel-Days

Softly, winter arrives with a hush of snow.

The snow outside our window looks so quiet and relaxing. Then I remember that someone has to shovel it! Do child labor laws apply in these circumstances? Unfortuantely, they just don't close work with a little snow. Court took Luke sledding yesterday which officially kicks off the winter season for us. That (and a few properly thrown snow balls) makes it all worth it.