Thursday, December 31, 2009

the end of a decade

Here's how we ended the decade...

Someone learned to pedal his brand spankin' new tricycle this morning.

learning to pedal 3

Then while the little guy slept, Jeremy and I busied ourselves making a delicious picnic of roast chicken, roasted potatoes, carmelized onions, strawberry salad, tomato and mozzarella salad, and a raspberry tart with whipped cream and berries for dessert. Yum. No photos but trust me, it was good.

Then we celebrated on the beach with friends.

frolicking in the surf

digging in the sand

They left early, but Quincy was in a fabulous mood, so we stayed and played.

picnic on the beach

Despite the gorgeous evening, the beach was pretty deserted. It finally got dark at around 9:30 and we enjoyed a small firework display that some other beach goers set off.

sunset on 2009

I can't think of a much better way to end this decade.


the end of the decade

Good night.

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Friday, December 25, 2009

a camper van Christmas

We woke Quincy up from a very deep slumber at around 5 to enjoy the evening with Quincy's Nana, Poppa, and uncle. Kiwi style.

Christmas Evening: chilling out

In the absence of cousins, who sadly couldn't make it, Cher proved to be a perfect playmate.

Christmas Evening: laughing with Cher

He was understandably tuckered out, but he somehow found the energy to devour the potato chips.

Christmas Evening: tuckered out

Quincy is always thrilled to spend time with his Poppa, and even with a busted up lip, tonight was no exception.

Christmas Evening: Christmas crackers

This next series is pretty funny. Quincy picked out a box of chocolates to give to Nana. Now this boy likes his chocolate, especially the good stuff. He has been talking about Nana sharing those chocolates since we bought them. I have explained more than once that when you give a gift, you can't expect to have some of it back! It clearly fell on deaf ears. Just check out his anticipation. You can see it on his face, in his posture, and even in his hands. He is convinced that a handmade Irish chocolate is just moments away.

Chocolate for Nana Mosaic

The kiss on the cheek was so not what he expected!

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Christmas Morning Magic

Christmas Morning: in bed 1

We were awoken this morning, at a very reasonable 8:10am, by squeals coming from Quincy's bedroom. "Open it!" "It's a fire engine!" Santa had left him a fire engine train in his bed. He was not expecting that! Jeremy has such fond memories of waking up Christmas morning as a child to a sack of gifts at the foot of his bed, courtesy of Father Christmas. So we decided to incorporate that tradition by asking Santa to leave one small gift in Q's bed.

Christmas Morning: in bed 2

We could have called it a day after that, but instead we headed up to the tree, two flights up, at a run.

Christmas Morning: the tree

And with A Charlie Brown's Christmas CD playing and Quincy screaming, "Santa brought you (me) a tricycle!" the fun continued.

Christmas Morning: tricycle bell

The gift opening and exchanging was at a nice and slow pace. Perfect. Although after we finished, all the presents for Jeremy's side of the family, especially those that held chocolate, were looking pretty enticing to a certain someone. Not naming names.

Christmas Morning: unwrapping Christmas Morning: message from Santa

Notice the message Santa left for him: Dear Quincy, I think you are ready to use the potty. Love, Santa. Those undies were the only gift not met with over-the-moon excitement and appreciation!

For the last two months, his two wishes from Santa were "a tricycle and a crane to lift the cargo up and down". His wishes came true, but while opening the crane there was a minor glitch that required some quick thinking on my part... You see, Quincy apparantly left a few toys in Cincinnati, so Santa very kindly picked them up on his way through and included them in the box with the crane. His confusion and my shock were caught on video. We'll be sure to save that one for when he's older!

Christmas Morning: the crane

After my clever recovery and before losing himself further in play, there was the very important business of finishing Santas' leftovers...a half-eaten marmalade biscuit and a bit of warm milk. Yum.

Christmas Morning: Santa's leftovers 1 Christmas Morning: pure joy

A bit more tempting, in my opinion, were the waffles that Jeremy made for brunch. We took a break to fill our stomachs before attacking the stockings. We are a house of chocolate lovers, so the Christmas crackers filled with chocolates were a nice accompaniment, for sure.

Christmas Morning: chocolate & waffles for breakfast

Onto the stockings, and this picture has to be my favorite of the day.

Christmas Morning: the stockings

A tiny bit of silliness

Christmas Morning: stocking stuffers

and a lot of chocolate and candy canes were involved.

Christmas Morning: more chocolate

Christmas Morning: hysterics

His excitement was seriously contagious. Only 365 days until we can do it again!

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evidence: Santa was here

evidence: Santa was here

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Thursday, December 24, 2009

milk + cookies for Santa

milk + cookies for Santa

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Christmas Eve 09

Christmas Eve: a moment in time

What a fun evening! With Over the Rhine's Snow Angels and Josh Groban's Noel playing in the background, Q got to open his gifts from my side of the family.

Christmas Eve Mosaic

He was so so excited when he saw the presents under the tree, he mustered up all his might but still couldn't run fast enough!

In typical Q-fashion, he opened the treasures slowly and methodically, taking in each detail before moving on. Pausing occasionally to get toys he already had that would work well with the new ones. Thank you Mom & Dad, the Norway Rickes, and Lucia. You were very generous and made one little boy very happy tonight.

We began a tradition last year that we borrowed from my sister...giving him a Christmas book and reading it together on Christmas Eve. This year it was Merry Christmas Curious George.

Afterwards he wanted to sleep on the couch in the lounge to wait for Santa. What would he say if he awoke and saw him? "Merry Christmas!" A very appropriate answer. He is quite certain that Donder will eat the carrot we left out. If the dogs don;t get to it first, that's a distinct possibility.

At 9:30 it was off to bed and for the first time ever he didn't ask for his lion and schnuller while reading; his hands were otherwise occupied with Lightly McQueen and Tow Mater, courtesy of his cousin.

And now he is fast asleep while dreams of pavlova dance in his head.

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staycation

It is so nice to have Jeremy home for the next twelve days. I love when he gets into holiday mode and is able to really relax. I would say Quincy agrees.

jungle mosaic

A lot of people here travel at this time of year, but we are all happy to just have some quiet time at home together, unwinding from a sometimes stressful year and enjoying our Christmas traditions.

I can't wait to share in Quincy's excitement tonight and tomorrow. I feel like a kid again myself!

By the way, Q was so proud to wear those plaid shorts because he said they made him look like a big boy.

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Merry Christmas

ChristmasCard2009

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Wednesday, December 23, 2009

sometimes Santa just gets it right

Quincy received this parking garage from Santa last Christmas.

Santa got it right last year

He has played with it virtually every day since. At the Cincinnati Zoo Festival of Lights, he learned that Lucky the Elf painted it. That has only made him love it even more.

I wonder if it's possible for Santa to get it so right two years in a row...

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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Christmas Wishes and the Portable North Pole

Quincy is fascinated by Santa this year. In fact, so fascinated that he is rendered speechless.

Santa's Lap 2009

But he gets it. He totally gets it. He has not wavered from his original wishes for "a tricycle and a crane to lift the cargo up and down".

Santa Mosaic 2009

At the Playcentre Christmas party, he was very happy with the "cool nature book" Santa gave him but he did briefly wonder where the tricycle and crane were.

Yesterday when he received a video message from Jolly Old St. Nick via the Portable North Pole, I knew it'd leave a big impression. You might say he was a little uncertain at first.

receiving a message from the Portable North Pole

But then relief set in when he got confirmation that Santa thinks he has indeed been nice this year and that a tricycle might be in the cards.

Santa thinks he's been nice.

But he did ask why Santa forgot to mention the crane.

Anyway, it was no surprise that he was mesmerized and had to watch Santa's message several times to take it all in.

mesmerized by Santa

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Monday, December 21, 2009

end of a two-month hiatus

It's hard to believe we have been back for nearly two weeks. We are having so much fun reminiscing. I would love to make some time to do a photo recap, but for now let's just say our trip began like this...

welcome to cincinnati

Continued in this fashion...

laughing with lucia

on the tramp with the V girls

And culminiated like this...

hangin' with the older cousins

Happy times.

And I have thousands more photos to prove it.

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Wednesday, December 16, 2009

wonder(full)

I love seeing the world through his bright eyes.

climbing trees climbing trees (bw)

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