After the Fun

After many many many many runs down the hill, we decided to head back in.
















Uncle Alan's boots had barely survived.
















And hot chocolate was drunk.























Simon says, "Yup, this was one great day!"























Videos of Christmas and sledding coming soon- hopefully!

And the there was Sledding!

We tromped over to a small hill across the street where we (Uncle Alan, Daddy, Mama, and Simon) were the only ones sledding.
It was great!
















There was a lot of laughing.
















Uncle Alan went into the bushes. Oops.
















Simon did many rins all by himslef! He would even carry his own sled up the hill!

More more Rochester

Other fun was had as well- making and decorating cookies with Uncle Alan.























Playing with the Snarrs. Pictured below are Ali and Sara (and the back of Megan's head.)























And a trip to the Museum of Play!

More Rochester

All the preperations led us straight to a smile filled Christmas morning.





































































A little explanation- This is Uncle Alan wearing one of the fun gifts. A expanding and retracting sphere. Or helmet.























Simon got lots of lovely presents and we thank everyone for their generosity and creativity- the lack of things that beep, blink, sing, and otherwise make noise and do the playing for the child was wonderful. What was also wonderful was that Simon loved everything about Christmas. The treem the lights, the ideas of Santa, leaving milk and cookies, and he even went to sleep by about 10 the night before.

Christmas in Rochester

We spent a very merry Christmas in Rochester.
(And even though it wasn't Chanukah we did light the menorah our first evening there.)
Here is everyone somewhat dressed up for Sue and Steve's 40th Anniversary party.
If you have good eyes and good memory you will notice that Alan is much smaller- 100lbs smaller!



















Getting ready for Christmas was pretty funny- we brought A LOT of stuff with us. 3 suitcases, 6 tote-bags of toys and presents and shoes, 1 big box, several small boxes in a laundry bag, 1 big back pack, 1 purse, 1 car toy bag, 1 car food bag, and what did I forget....























We helped decorate.























We laid out stockings.

"Let's go outside!"

Simon could hardly wait to go outside today. He started asking to go at 6:00 AM. We held ou until 9:15.


















It was hard to tell who was having more fun.
































Mama made a cool ( but impractical) fort wall.

A Good Gift

This is the gift Simon brought us from Beansprouts.
It is painted on a real stretched canvas.

We like it.

Trees, Big and Small

We enjoyed our anual trek to the big tree. Simon really liked watching the ice skaters this year.







































And that very afternoon we also enjoyed our anual trek to the nursery down the street to get out own, much samller, tree.
Simon and Daddy worked very hard to put it up.
















"Hey wait! How do I get out of here?"























Simon could hardly sleep that night and then was up to decorate the tree at 5:45. We hung the final ornament before 7! Can you imagine what Christmas morning will be like?

And Chanukah is Here!

Ooooh! Let the presents begin!



















We went to Uncle Peter and Aunt Erica's for Chanukah tonight. It was great- Simon was very happy to be there (and to get presents.)























We know it isn't the eighth night, but it seems OK to light all the candles in honor of the family beign together. (Notice the huge platter of latkas in the background.)
























Simon was also super happy to see Iva- though sadly, she was feeling pretty sick. Still, Simon enjoyed trying to help her feel better by reading her books.

Christmas is Coming!

Here is Simon looking all spic and span for the K's anual Christmas party.























Here is Simon running away from me as I try to take a picture of him in a Santa hat.























Here is the picture I finally got!























The party was lots of fun- and best of all- it snowed!

Piano Playing

The video speaks (sings) for itself.

As Easy as Pie!

(This is a little out of order.)
To contribute to the Thanksgiving feast, Simon and Mama made a pumpkin pie. We truly made it together and we made it from scratch. Simon scooped seeds. (And later--not pictured--scooped cooked flesh, blended it, helped measure and add the other ingredients, and helped measure and mix the ingredients for crust.)























Simon rolled out his own mini-crust. No way Mama was going to let him do the big one!
















Success! Look at those delicious pies!