Alex's First Band Concert

Alex chose the french horn as his instrument of choice at the
beginning of the school year, and tonight he had his first band
concert. It was a holiday theme, and he went last as part of the
'beginning band' group (that also played with the advanced band).
They played two songs actually quite well, considering that three
months ago he couldn't read music and had never played an instrument
before. Charlie and I snuck in late, missing the orchestra portion of
the concert, but made it in time to watch one band instructor find a
way to get 125 4th and 5th grade students in the right position on the
stage!

Santa and the holidays

Santa visited the Somerset lake clubhouse last weekend where Charlie
and Alex got to see him. It's pretty obvious who didn't like Santa!

More from Charlotte

Once we were able to move around after The Feast, we had a number of
great outings in Charlotte. A trip on the new light rail system,
visiting the Discovery center and seeing the Body World exhibit, golf
(for me, one birdie in the midst of several snowmen), seeing an NBA
game, visiting the US National Whitewater center and the Raptor
conservatory. We did a lot in only a few days! The next time we
visit, we definitely want to go kayaking/rafting at the Whitewater
center--completely manmade and controlled, it looks like a lot of fun.
Throw on top of that that a few of us learned how to play cribbage as
well as see a number of movies, and it was a great trip all-around.

Thanksgiving in Charlotte

Reasons to love Thanksgiving in Charlotte:

Great company.
Great food.
Great weather.

As we got home and I put on my coat Monday morning to head in to work,
I realized that there is something to be said for weather nice enough
to sit outside relaxing and drinking wine in late November. An
all-around great day, and the food was wonderful, from the butternut
squash soup to start the meal to the turkey (I was blown away by
whoever did the amazing job carving the turkey) to the squash
casserole to the pumpkin, pecan and apple pies. Charlie didn't have
much of a nap though, so he was a bit cranky during dinner (so he had
an early bedtime that night ;)

Hey! Look at me!

I got a haircut!!! Charlie's first haircut; Nov 19 2007. A woman
who cuts hair at your home came over and cut Charlie's (along with 5
other neighborhood kids) in our kitchen. Charlie didn't like having
to sit still, but at least he doesn't have a mullet anymore!

Overnight on the USS New Jersey

With the Cub Scouts, Alex and I spent the night on the USS New Jersey
(located just outside of Philly, on the NJ side, in Camden). The New
Jersey is the most decorated battleship ever, having served in WWII
through the first Desert Storm. It is also the fastest battleship in
the world, reaching speeds of >33 knots. It was recently renovated in
the early 80's (Thanks, Ron!), updating its arsenal to include
Tomahawk missiles and the latest radar and defense systems. We had
dinner Friday evening, followed by a lengthyl tour that lastest until
10:30 on a very cold night. Lights out at 11, we slept in bunks that
were 3 high (during peak operation, they were 5 high, so we were told
to enjoy the extra few inches that afforded us). I was amazed at how
well we slept before we got up at 7 the next morning for morning
colors and breakfast. After another go through the flight simulator,
we headed back home just in time to watch tOSU beat UM in football.
Again. :) Jenny had done this last year with Alex, but it was
actually during the OSU-UM football game, so Charlie and I hung out at
home and watched it instead.

Visit to Rochester Nov 2007

We headed up to Rochester to visit some of my relatives for a weekend.
We left PA early afternoon on Friday and made it up in time to enjoy
a great fish fry dinner that evening (although we had to do takeout,
since someone gets a little fussy at restaurants!) We had lunch on
Saturday with G+G, followed by a stressful afternoon watching tOSU
lose to Illinois. Appetizers and dinner were great, though, and we
relaxed watching tv that evening. After a nice brunch on Sunday, it
was back on the road headed back to PA. 6 hrs door to door; not too
bad. Charlie did well on the drive back, although he was fussy on the
drive up. Alex brought the portable DVD player and was able to keep
himself entertained with that and the books he was reading.

Halloween 2007

Alex went as a spy, Charlie as a dinosaur. Only a handful of kids
came through our section of the development, so while Alex was out
with Jenny, Charlie and I went over to the neighbors to partake in
adult beverages while passing out candy. It was definitely the way to
do it, and Charlie had a lot of fun walking around to everybody's
basket of candy and tipping it over again and again and again!

Picking pumpkins

We spent a windy October afternoon at Ramsey's farm in Delaware going
to the pumpkin patch and through the multi-acre corn maze. Alex and
Charlie both had a great time, with Alex going through the corn maze
himself, and Charlie getting to spend some time playing in the hay
maze. We topped it off with some hot soup and a hay ride around the
farm.

Who knew???

...that eating doughnuts could be SO MUCH FUN?!

Some final parting shots from Columbus

A few more pictures from Columbus, including Ben in his Dumbo costume

Jail time

Alex was able to escape the dog crate when the boys got distracted, and exact his revenge!