IT'S A DICKENS CHRISTMAS IN SKANEATELES

Jeff and I had such a fantastic weekend. We headed to Skaneateles, NY for a romantic night together. We finally got around to using a gift certificate for a stay at a local inn that we got 2 years ago. We couldn't have used it at a better time. With the stress of Christmas approaching and Carter still not sleeping through the night, we needed a little getaway.


Skaneateles is a beautiful town. It is one of the Finger Lakes. The Finger Lakes are known for their wineries. Something to do with the soil and the wind, makes for a very good grape. This time of year is a wonderful time to go, the whole town has been transformed into a Charles Dickens novel.


On our way to Skaneateles, we stopped at a winery called Fox Run. Wow! What a view and what a wine. It was one of my favorite tastings ever.

On the way to the winery, I looked out of the car window to find a bison staring right back at me. Of course I had to pull over and take a picture of this amazing creature.

This is the Fox Run Winery. Isn't it cool?

This was the view from our balcony.

One of the quaint stores that lined the streets of Skaneateles.

There was a Christmas Tree at the end of a jetty in the middle of the lake.

This gazebo was in the heart of the village. A picture out of a Dickens novel indeed!

This is their Water Dept. The Town of Tonawanda never saw anything like this.

This is the Sherwood Inn. We stayed at the Packwood House right next door. We ate dinner at the Sherwood, next to the fireplace.

Charles Dickens himself!

Jacob Marley

Why, it's Ebenezer Scrooge!

We could not leave town without stopping in at Bass Pro Shop.

Here is Jeff getting ready to walk into his version of the pearly gates, right into Heaven.

This place is incredible...they even have a Santa Village inside.

A large mouth bass that Jeff wishes he had caught.

What a wonderful weekend. But I am glad to be home with the boys.

THANKSGIVING WITH THE MORRIS'

What a wonderful Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for this year. We are truly blessed to have what we do. We have a great family, great boys, and we have each other.

This year we went over to my in-laws for dinner, and it was so good! I chronicled the evening for you in pictures...

Tucker thought it would be a good idea to help me clean the spoon, after all who is going to clean off all of the chocolate if he didn't?

The aftermath...

Daddy and Carter are comfy cozy before dinner.

Tucker was on a roll last night. He pretended he was a cat, and my MIL put down a bowl of water for the kitty. Ridiculous!

What do you mean my brother is drinking out of a bowl on the floor?

Aunt Amanda and Carter staying warm by the fire.

Mommy and Carter pose for a pic.

I told you he was on a roll...here he is performing for Uma, Amanda, and Margaret.

Even Daddy and Carter stopped to watch.

Carter eating his first Thanksgiving dinner.

This is the only way I could eat dessert in peace.

Carter is taking over Tuckers stool at the coffee table.

Tucker doesn't mind. He just made a Christmas Chain Garland. He did it all by himself!

All in all, a very good Thanksgiving. I am still full! And the boys were both in bed by 7:00! Can you believe it. I was asleep by 8:00. LOL!

NANA AND SUESUE CAME TO TOWN

This weekend my Mom and my Aunt Sue came to visit us. I haven't seen SueSue in almost 2 years. She is quite the world traveler and every time I go to VA she is out of the country. (I'm just a wee bit jealous of her)

They flew in on Friday morning, and after spending the day with Carter and I, they got to surprise Tucker when he got off of the bus. He was so excited.

I don't think that Nana could be any happier!

On Saturday we went to the hotel and invited all of the family to go swimming with us at the pool. Scott brought Amelia and the boys, and Marc and Amanda brought Poppy. Uma and Upa even came to watch. It was really neat to be in the pool with snow right outside the window.

Here is Carter and Amelia

Miss Poppy did not enjoy the water at all. But she was very content watching everyone else.

Carter got in on that action.

This was the funniest thing...Nana and SueSue were singing Christmas Carols and Carter just looked at them like they had lost their minds. He didn't even crack a smile, he just stared.

SueSue enjoying a moment with Carter-Man

This is the effect that the visit had on Tucker! Just Kidding Nana and SueSue! Poor little Tucker struck a fever on their last night here. He didn't let it get to him. A little Tylenol and an ice pack go quite a long way. 5 minutes after this picture was taken he was running around like a wild man.

OUR FIRST SNOW OF THE SEASON

We went to bed last night with light flurries outside, and to my surprise, this morning the ground was covered with white fluff. Tucker woke up this morning and Daddy told him that it was snowing, and he all but ran out in his PJ's. So I promised him that we would go out and play before the school bus came. We had such a good time. He found a shovel and thought that he would shovel off the front porch. He made snowballs, ate about a pound of snow, and was even trying to convince me to let him make a snow angel.

Natures freezer. This is a yummy pot of Chicken Noodle Soup that Jeff made last night.

I had to show you how proud Carter was of himself for pulling himself up on the chair. He is getting quite mobile these days.

ALL IN ONE DAY!

This past Friday was a very big day for Mr. Carter-Man. Two of his bottom teeth broke through his gums, he learned how to sit up from a crawl position, he stood up in his crib for the first time, and he pulled himself up to the coffee table for the first time. My little man accomplished so much in one day. He was so incredibly proud of himself. I wish I could pause time to have him slow down a bit, but I don't think that is how it works. He are the pics of him standing up in his crib for the first time. I put him down for a nap and all I heard were grunts coming from his room. I thought he was trying to poop. I was wrong, and I caught him in the act...

"I should be sleeping, but I know I can do it this time!"

"Look at me Mom!"

"I did it!!!" How adorable is his smile? He was so proud of himself!

He got so good so fast, within minutes he was scooting around the edge.

Don't worry, I quickly lowered his crib mattress down to the lowest setting. Now he just sits in his crib and plays, stands up, sits again, etc... It keeps him busy for a while. Unfortunately he thinks that it is fun in the middle of the night. And it's cute until he is too tired to remember how to sit down again, and stands there screaming.

Tonight is our annual trip to the Hurd Orchard to indulge in a Thanksgiving Harvest Tasting. It is a wonderful fully functioning farm with beautiful decorations and very tasty food. I will let you know how it goes.