Dickens Scares the Dickens Out of the Villagers

 And then naps with his nose in my stocking!



Christmas 2010

Christmas morning started before dawn, somewhere around 7am. CJ waited patiently, as he did last year, while we made coffee and Tucker and Dickens ate breakfast.

Tucker was quite the helper, making sure that all the presents smelled just right.

I got coal in my stocking!!!

 This year's big gift for CJ was not the PS3 that he had asked for and we were a little concerned about how it would be received. It was not on the list, nor had it been mentioned even in passing (at least not for a long time).

He likes it!!!

He really likes it!

We spent the rest of the day enjoying our gifts and each other's company.

A Trip to Wisp

This year's trip to Wisp was a great time. It snowed each day and we skied until we dropped. This trip was a first for CJ in that we were joined by two other families. That meant that CJ had other kids to spend time with. His first vacation where he wasn't the only kid, yippee!

The boys hung out at dinner and then back at the hotel they enjoyed the peace and quiet of a hotel room without parents. We also enjoyed the peace and quiet of the bar without kids!

Christmas Tree Hunting

This year we opted for a Charlie Brown tree. While hunting at the 4th tree farm of the day we found this little tree that needed a home for the holidays. It is probably the smallest tree we have had in recent years, but it once we got it home and decorated it was just perfect.

Orchestra Concert

This year's orchestra concert was great. CJ's group sounded great. They enjoyed entertaining us and especially enjoyed playing Alvin & the Chipmunks with Alvin himself joining the show.

After the middle school finished their performance we were treated a performance by the high school orchestra. We were amazed by how professional looking and sounding they were. The music was amazing and they all looked so good in their dresses and tuxes. Yes, tuxes! 

Thanksgiving in Philly

Thanksgiving morning we gathered at Dan and Terry's apartment in Chinatown. It was a great place to watch the last few snowflakes fall from the sky. We enjoyed a yummy brunch and had fun seeing all the Mercers together.

 

Each visit with Bunny requires a height picture. This picture shows that

CJ is taller than his grandmother!!!

After brunch we headed back to Roxborough for dinner with the Ziejewski clan. More good food and fun with family. Unfortunately for a couple of family members their favorite football team did not win, maybe next year.

On Friday I went with MaryKate to see South Pacific, Steve went to the Flyers game with Mark and CJ went to hang out with Bunny and then Dan & Swati.

We all met up again (minus Bunny who went to bed) at M & MK favorite restaurant.

At some point during the visit CJ showed his AuntKate his Christmas list. This year's list was quite extensive and categorized. As you can see, the list brought a laugh to everyone who read it!

The ride home was uneventful and we were very thankful for that. The previous day had been spent at the dealership and the day before had blown hoses and an empty radiator.

Lyle and Tucker were very good travelers, keeping us entertained most of the trip.

Halloween

Halloween this year meant that CJ got to Trick or Treat twice. His sitter, Loren lives within the city limits and Columbus Trick or Treats on the Thursday before Halloween. So while Steve and I were all exploring Joshua Tree, CJ was filling his bag full of treats.

On Halloween he once again put on his 'cereal killer' costume and went out again. The hat he is wearing is from Alcatraz and very appropriate for both the costume and the colder than usual weather.

The adults once again gathered around the fire handing out candy to friends and neighbors.

This year was the first year since CJ's birth that we did not carve pumpkins. We had planned to carve after hockey on Sunday. That was until I shoved too much stuff down the garbage disposal and Steve had to cut out the pipes and run a snake down under the house to clear the clog. And then put it all back together again in time to hand out candy. Don't think I will be using the disposal anymore!

Palm Springs

This year for the first time, I accompanied Steve to his company's annual sales meeting. The meeting was in Palm Springs, CA. We landed in Palm Springs on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. As we walked through the airport we noticed how clean and fresh the air was, like being outdoors. Then we looked up and saw that we were actually outside! After a short drive to the hotel we spent the afternoon by the pool, it had rained recently and the water was too cool for me but it was nice to be poolside with the sun shining down on us.

We later wandered the hotel's golf course.

Dinner was an informal affair. We opted to sit around the fire on the back patio, while looking out at the golf course.

Monday morning meant that Steve had to work. So off I went with some friends. The Palm Springs Tram proved interesting. The tram took us 8500ft up the San Jacinto Mountain to the beautiful forest above.

The top of the mountain was wooded and green, the air was clean and cool. Very different from the desert below. We enjoyed a short hike, lunch and a trip to the souvenir shop. Back at the hotel it was time for reading and relaxing on the balcony and then dinner. Dinner was an 'informal' affair. The front of the hotel was converted into an outside restaurant with an amazing assortment of food.

The next two days, Steve worked while I explored the area and hung at the pool. The last evening was a formal affair with Steve in a tux and me in my 'little black dress'.

The sales conference was an incredible event. We spent four days meeting new people and  catching up with some that I met back in the CS&S days.

On Thursday, we spent the day in Joshua Tree National Park. The park is the convergence of two types of deserts. The high desert is greener and full of granite. The low desert is brown and flat. We were fortunate to be there about a week after a rainstorm and were able to see some green in the low desert.

On the way to the park we passed the windmills. I had seen them before (back in the CS&S days) about 17 years ago and was amazed then. Now the numbers have grown and therefore they are even more amazing. They line both sides of the road and back on the side road on the way to the park.

Joshua Tree

High Desert

Joshua tree                        Dandilion

Granite Outcropping

 San Andreas Fault

The fault can be seen running horizontally through the middle of the picture. The ridge is higher on the far side because the plates are pushing against each other and lifting the earth. I never imagined that you could actually see the famous San Andreas Fault. We were glad it was quiet that day!

Low Desert

As you can see from the number of pictures we enjoyed the high desert much more than low desert. The rock formations were amazing. The granite looked as though it had just been dropped from the sky. They hadn't though, they were actually pushing up through the softer rock. The park was a great experience and an amazing exploration into an ecosystem very different from ours.

Friday morning had us up very early for our trip back home. This is a picture of our walk to the gate after having checked our luggage. Those trees are outside, just as we were. What a great place to spend the winter!

We got home in time to meet CJ off the school bus. While it was a great trip, it was hard to be away from CJ for so long. He did great without us, but was happy to have us home.

Soooo Big!

Tonight when Casey, the dog, came by to visit with Tucker I grabbed my jacket and quick put on a pair of shoes. No big deal or so I thought. I had on my thick winter socks and the shoes I stuck my feet into were loose. The shoes I threw on, belong to CJ!!!

From 'sooo big' to too big in the blink of an eye!'

Clam Boy

These pictures are from our trip to San Francisco last summer. We tell the story of CJ and his big bowl of clams often. Somehow the story never made it to the blog, until now. On our second day in SanFran we spent the day wandering Muir Woods and the Presidio. For dinner we decided to try a restaurant that had been recommended by a few people back home. CJ ordered the clams and the waiter was very skeptical. He figured that there was no way the mere child would eat an adult portion of clams. When the clams arrived we also were skeptical.

That's a big bowl of clams!

That's a lot of empty clam shells.

 

The bowl wasn't completely empty but for a kid of just 11 years, that is some impressive shellfish eating!

Pumpkin Time

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon we headed out to find the perfect pumpkins for our Halloween pumpkin carving.

Our first find was not a pumpkin but a cornstalk horse.

OK, where are those pumpkins?

Which one to choose?

Let's sit and think a moment.

I like this one, now if only I could get it to the cart!

The sunflower says - 5 feet tall!!!

Check back later for the jack o'lantern pictures.