Rock The Vote

Picking names is fun, but tough. To get some feedback on names we like so far, we thought we'd let people vote. Sounds fun. So...pick you favorite AND least favorite and let us know in the comment section. And if you have a name you like that you don't see, feel free to add that too. We'll update later on which name is "winning".

1. Ace
2. Memphis
3. Madoc
4. Hayden
5. Owen
6. Maysen
7. Maxim
8. Lucas
9. Ian
10. Aidan
11. Christian
12. Bob (just kidding...we're not naming a kid Bob)

The most wonderful time....

Doesn't it just suck when you get old? I mean, I can remember Christmas as a kid. It was just kind of magical....the things everybody did as tradition, the food, the presents, the family. Now I know what my folks went through for me to have that magic. I'm not complaining really. I still like Christmas time, it's just definitely different.....and in a good way I guess. Now I just want Macy to have all that excitement, and I think this year we did a good job. It's not all about gifts. It's the whole package: cookies, candy, milk, snow, music, church, the tree. We got it right.

Santa dropped this down our chimney last night, among many other gifts. It's a complete blast watching a kid tear open gifts. I couldn't get that excited without medication. (that's my big toe in the bottom right corner)

We started our Christmas adventure yesterday with a trip to Grammy's in Chillicothe. The interstate was an ice rink...top speed about 35mph. Once we arrived we had a great brunch, gift exchange, and our traditional game of Christmas Trivia. We then loaded up and went to Grandpa's house in Ludlow. The candle light service at dads church was canceled due to weather so we entertained ourselves with food and presents.

After our morning here, we loaded up once more for Christmas with Nana and Papa at Blackburn. This included more food of course. We will wrap up festivities this Saturday with the Riddle Christmas in Topeka.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Frosty and Fruitcake

We finally got to go play in the snow a little tonight. It was still a bit fluffy for making a snowman but it proved pretty good for snow angels. Macy was pretty content at just throwing snow on her dad. ( i do what i can to keep the kid entertained )

As you might suspect, I did the winter outfit shopping this year. To keep the girly-girl types happy she's got purple boots.

Our neighbors have been dropping off goodies to eat at the rate of one box per night. Despite this entry title we haven't received any fruitcakes (thank you). It's all been crazy good candy and cake and everything else that keeps Santa fat.

Macy ain't happy.

To say Macy was a bit unhappy would be an understatement. I only wish I had a picture of her face when we told her that her sister was actually going to be a brother. She quickly regained composure and decided a boy wouldn't be too bad.

Due to an unexpected trip to the OB/GYN we found out earlier than expected what was cooking in the oven. While I honestly didn't have a preference....I must admit that daddy is happy.

We picked up our rocker

yesterday, and are planning to pick up a high chair tomorrow, so the shopping has begun.

Macy's other big bummer is that her play room is soon to be transformed into a nursery. The poor girl's got it rough. If I don't run out of time and energy, I'm going to try and carve out a spot for her in the basement in hopes she won't disown us.

Well....Crystal's next appt. is Dec. 29. The next scheduled photo session is in late January.

Field Trip Day

Being at home does have it's advantages....like getting to spend time with Macy. We went to Tryst Falls park this morning to play on the jungle gym and I took the opportunity to snap a few pics. I have driven by this little park for the past six years and never pulled in. It's really neat, with the waterfall being the whole point of it. She already wants to go back, so maybe I can get some more pics when the trees turn green.

The Word Dog

And so another eventful week comes to a close. My dear union has supplied me with exactly $0 this past week due to adverse weather conditions. I hate to tell them the adverse conditions are likely to persist until late March, so maybe we could go ahead and put on our ear muffs and get to work. My sister was kind enough to throw me a bone by letting me do some chores for her company. ( I did this for about 8 hours and started to understand why people use crack cocaine )

The Christmas Cards have all been stuffed and addressed. We have a James family high of 58 this year.....seems like I should know more than 58 people. But on the up side, it saves me money on stamps! I really wanted to take a good picture of Macy and make our own cards (like everyone else on the face of the planet does) , but I couldn't get her to pose to save my hide. I even tried bribery, but soon realized she already has everything.

The coming week has us preparing for Macy's Christmas program at church, which is Saturday at 6pm. She will be in the choir dressed as a sheep. Now I just need to figure out how to teach a 5 year old 7 songs in 6 days. Next weekend also brings us another round of rifle hunting for deer...seems how the sausage went over so well, we need some more meat!

31, but not done

So today was my day. Well, mine and the hundreds of thousands of other people born on Dec. 1. Since work is slow (think syrup in January) I spent the day at home with Macy, which was about the best way to spend a b-day.

30 is checking out

Crap. I've had a good run of pestering my inner circle of friends and family about their advanced years. And while I'm still younger than they, it doesn't seem to have the same effect now that my own years are at their current location. Maybe it'll pick up again as 40 roles around.

The tree is up and the stockings are hung. 50 little santa's have taken up residence around my home and now....snow is on the ground. It looks like a pretty good start to the Christmas season.

We had the pleasure of lighting the first advent candle at church this morning, which was great. Macy will be performing in the Christmas program as a member of the choir. This means we have about five symphony length songs to teach her in the next two weeks. Lucky for us she likes to sing.

PETA hates my family

Two turkeys down and one to go. Dinner at moms was amazing as always. If she had started a diner 30 years ago, I'd be living off an advance inheritance in the Virgin Islands right now. She can cook. After gorging ourselves mom elected to watch the kids while Mary, Dave, Crystal, and myself went to see the new 007 flick. I left the movie wishing I was a blood thirsty womanizer, so James Bond lives on.

This morning we did a 4a.m. wake up call to go do our part to support over spending in America. While we did score some awesome deals, it's probably a good thing I don't have a conceal and carry permit.....my trigger finger would have been very itchy.

We're off this afternoon to Blue Springs for the James-Anderson family dinner at Mary's. The rest of the weekend will be devoted to decorating for Christmas. yippee

And we're off

In an effort to share info with family and friends, here we are. Since Cris likes to have pics and share stories with everyone, but doesn't exactly like to put it all together...you will be delighted to know that I'm taking the reigns. (well, you may not be delighted, but you'll have to deal with it)

Today is national turkey day, so we're off to Chillicothe to celebrate at my moms house. Tomorrow we jump back in the car to have dads family dinner at Mary's house. We actually went to Crystals family dinner last Sunday to make room for it all. The joys of having divorced parents.....

Yesterday we went to the OB-GYN for Cris' twelve week check-up. Everything was good and we got to hear a heartbeat. Macy thinks it sounded like a little sister heart, but I'm not painting the walls pink yet. For those who don't yet know, the baby is due June 18th.

Well, Happy Thanksgiving to all...and we hope everyone survives Black Friday.