Merry Christmas!

Chris' first Christmas!

Ben and Uncle Ned visit the creche after Christmas Eve Mass.

We hope you all had a very merry Christmas and wish you a wonderful New Year!

Festivities

We had friends over for pizza and Christmas movies... and lots of running around in circles which we're sure our neighbors just love. :) Here are Ben and Caleigh enjoying one of our favorites.

It was all a little much for Chris.

We braved both the cold and the mall on the Saturday before Christmas to see the Olympic torch relay. How cool is that?

Getting excited about the Olympics! Or maybe its just about being allowed to sit together on the couch... :)

The boys latest tricks - Ben has cut his last 2 molars so we're done with teething, for the time being anyway. He's also adding more and more words and signs all the time. His current favorites are "duck" for just about any bird and the sign for "reindeer." The dvd we get constant requests for has reindeer, bears, dolls, a bus, and kickline, all of which he can sign or mimic- you should see him do those high kicks :)

Chris is trying very hard to roll back to tummy. He hasn't had any success yet but once he figures out how to get that pesky arm out of the way he'll be there. Mostly he's a happy camper full of smiles and coos.

Hanging out at home

Cool Chris after a tough time at Mass.

I'm ready for the snow Dad, where is it?

Burning off steam when it's too cold to play outside.

Everybody enjoying the Rockettes' Christmas Special.

One, two, three... three months old. Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!

Out and About

Showing off the hat Dad was given for speaking at the Jr. Naturalist Club.

Getting ready to go watch the Santa parade. It went right past our building and Mom and Chris could hear the whole thing from inside!

Mom and Chris with the statue of his namesake at the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Lewiston.

We met Mom's friend Sarah and her family at the Shrine. Here she is with her oldest, Jacob, who is just a couple months older than Ben. Her new little one is just 3 months older than Chris! The big boys had a blast running around the cafeteria during dinner and we all enjoyed the light display on the Shrine grounds afterwards.

Happy Thanksgiving (part 2)

Our second Thanksgiving feast, a little happier this time.

Pretty soon Chris will be too big to sit on the table any more.

Too much turkey? (Interestingly, we bought that onsie here in Canada last week. Silly American company sending shirts a month after Thanksgiving or so the salespeople thought. Wonder how many they actually sold.)

Laundry day - a basket just right for everyone.

Cool Chris.

Monkey Ben causing mischief. Yes, he was stuck.

Relaxing.

A preview of our family pictures... boy was that an adventure.

The latest tricks

Chris is smiling all over the place and checking everything out.

Ben has started saying (out loud) every parent's favorite word - "NO!"

Two months

Chris weighed in at 12 lbs 12oz with a height of 22.5" at his 2 month checkup.

Someone else's toys are always better.

Chris is very taken by the light-up ladybug.

Brotherly love.

Welcome November

Yea! I'm enjoying these return trips to Canada!

I'm beat from all this international travelling.

Super busy week!

Chris handled his first major road trip well!

And Ben survived his first haircut!

Ben and Dad checking out the wagons at Pie in the Sky.

We attempted to get a picture of the boys in a wagon. Maybe next year.

Ben watching a bird fly overhead.

Our Mr. Potato Head pirate pumpkin - Ben loved helping put him together but would have nothing to do with it once it was done!

Pooh and Christopher Robin after the Halloween parade.

And Kanga and Roo.

So adorable and so very tired.

We ended our week with Chris' baptism at St. Mary's.

It was great to visit and to celebrate with everyone!

See Chris, you just lean to one side to roll over.

Ahh! Where are my hands?!!

Chris fell asleep at our visit to the beach thanks to Mom's knitted sweater and blanket.

Come on Dad, let's hunt for buried treasure.

Ben removed the dead grass.....

so he could spread grass seed before first snowfall.

Thanksgiving #1

We had a very nice Thanksgiving, despite the expressions on the boys' faces.

All the boys. Check out those faces :)

A very chill Chris had a good 1 month doctor's appointment - 20-some inches long (it's tough to get those legs straightened out!) and 10lbs 3oz!

Monkey Ben climbs up to the table to get himself a snack.