Happy 2012!!!

(It was still January when we started this... so somehow this New Year's post still counts)

To cap off our holiday extravaganza, we continued the theme of celebrating multiple everythings, and rocked two New Year's Eves.  Oh yeah.

Go ahead, I dare you... pull my finger.

First up was the annual rendezvous with friends in the 'Cuse.  Good times, great beer.  Both homebrewed, of course.

The most awesome dinner EVER.

Next, we made another stop over at Lakewood for a New Years extravaganza compete with cousins, party hats, homemade ice cream and a dance party (oh yes).

Papa-- what do I do with this?  Can I wear it??

When we made it back home, a New Years present awaited wee Zoe in the mail.  Her very first check!!  For over $100!!  You see folks, all of that ad clicking that you've been doing on our blog HAS paid off.  In real money. Zoe Mae is super thankful for the nice chunk of change to put in her bank account.  While she's a little on the young side to fully understand fiscal responsibility, rest assured that Papa is readying his lesson plans.  In the mean time, Happy New Year to you all and keep on clicking!!

Are you sure it isn't a shoe??  

The Post Christmas Post

With one Christmas tucked neatly under her belt, Wee Zoe packed up the car and pointed it north to begin the rest of the most festive holiday...  Up to Lakewood for Christmas Part Deux: Still Not Christmas Yet!

"No, no Mama, the stripes on the Santa go diagonal!" 

First, to work!  Cara and Zoe diligently took their turn manufacturing confectionary delight for everyone to consume.  Cookies for everyone!  Thanks to Grandma's advanced baking techniques, there were delicious treats aplenty for everyone at the Lakewood homestead.  The perfect way to cap off pretend-Christmas Eve numero dos.

Ready... Set... Catastrophe!

Then the big morning!  It was a mad dash of present opening bliss, where it sure seemed that the kids outnumbered the adults by a far margin - even though science might suggest otherwise.  We took it in a couple stages, so that the kiddos could bask in the newness of their acquisitions before searching for more, more, and more.

On Donner, On Gracie, On Gavin, On Emma...

The big hit of the day was a brilliant old sled for the Zoster.  It had been well broken in by the likes of her cousins, so Zoe was eager to give it a go.  Old man winter hadn't exactly cooperated in the snowfall department, so the next generation put on their thinking caps and realized that carpets share several of the finer qualities of snow...  And off to the races they went!  It was a splendid demonstration of sharing and taking turns, with each child basking in the brilliance of a free tow around the house, balanced by the burden of being a tow-mule for the next three laps.

Mama!  The holiday is doing it again!!!

OH MY GOD IT'S CHRISTMAS AGAIN!!! That's right folks, on actual Christmas Eve, which was pretend Christmas in Lakewood, the family wagon was hitched up yet again to push even further north and east.  This time to the 'Cuse for another Christmas with another fam.

Zoe brought her new tea service along, and it was the surprise hit of the season.  Kids big and small were wrestling over the little pastel plastic pleasantries, and even poor Rocco was coerced into a few cups of delicious imaginary tea.  (The grown-ups enjoyed imaginary hot-toddies...)  Good thing the drinks were hot, because baby it was cold outside!

Something tells me we're not in La La Land anymore...

And the snow!  Okay, it only counted as snow-dust by Syracuse standards, but it covered the ground and cars and everything, and it required a pair of JPCs to take care of it!  James the Third was a particularly good shoveler; his knack for efficient snow removal coupled nicely with his fervor for the task.  The driveway was nice and clear by the time the OG JPC rolled in...

Hangin' with my homeboys. And remote-control fireplace.

Proud of his role as the big shoveller in the house, James saddled right up to Zoe Mae for the obligatory cousin-shot-by-the-fire.  Millsy, on the other hand, is more of a keepin'-it-warm-by-the-fire kinda guy, and he befriended a strangely compelling squishy-stretchy pillow that was a ghost of Costello Christmas's past.  Not a bad decision when faced with a northcountry winter outside.

Did someone say "Northcountry" ???

Zoe's Second First Christmas

We awoke this Sunday to a snow-covered lawn and gently falling snowflakes.  A perfect morning for Christmas: Round 1!  Since we will be rendezvousing with family for the actual day, we decided to have a  quiet Christmas morning of our own a week early.  Zoe Mae was confused, and then very pleased by the pile of gifts that greeted her this morning.  The first gift she eyeballed was a vintage rocking chair-- straight from Grandma's attic-- you see Mama had used this very rocking chair as a wee child.  Since Zoe has what can only be described as a "chair fetish", it was instant hit. (Wait - Zoe digs furniture? The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, now does it?)

Fireside chat?

After some good old-fashioned rocking by the fire, Zoe plunged right into the holiday spirit.  Presents!!  She found a new way to express her inner artiste, via a snazzy magnetic doodle pad from Grammy.  Look at that girl draw!!!

Not bad, eh?

To her delight, she also found a new favorite snack.  After all, it wouldn't be Christmas without a tri-flavor popcorn tin.

Nom nom nom.

Inspired by the Christmas spirit, wee Zoe was even so kind as to offer Papa some popcorn.  The emphasis on "offer," as most of the kernels were offered only in jest.  Just as Papa would chomp down, Zoe would pop the corn directly into her own mouth. Hmpf. She did, eventually yield a few ABC* pieces.  (* Already Been Chewed - mmmmBop!)

You want some popcorn big guy?  Well too bad, no popcorn for you!

Revived by a full belly, she ripped right into her last gifts.  Granted, it took her a few minutes to figure out the whole "presents" thing, but she's a professional now.

Wait - it's a toy, wrapped in paper? WTF?

Now, she's really cooking.  With an electric inspired stove from the 70's.  They don't make em like they used to.

You'd never believe it - this thing was COVERED in paper!

But try as she might, Zoe just couldn't sneak up on the stove.

New favorite photo? We think so.

See ya for Christmas, Round 2!

Destination Thanksgiving

This year on Thanksgiving, a fine new tradition was started-- the first ever Phillips "destination" Thanksgiving in western NY. There was good food, laughter, and room to run around.  The sun even came out for the occasion. Who could ask for anything more?

Zoe Mae had a blast with her cousins.  She was even willing to let them each have an itty bitty piece of Papa's lap.

In return for her generosity, the cousins did their best to teach her the wise ways of the world.  For instance, playdough is in fact for playing, not for eating- even when it comes directly from the kitchen of Grandma Phillips.

The cousins also showed her how Grandma loves to have help with blowing out her birthday candles.  But you better not hesitate, cause a certain curly towhead is quick on the draw...

All in all, a great Thanksgiving/birthday celebration was had.  A great start to the holiday season indeed. Stay tuned for Christmas!!

Zoe "More" Mae

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It's Zoe's first snow!!!!.... that she'll remember!!!... maybe.  In any case, it was pretty darn exciting for the munchkin.  We got her all bundled up and she had her first go at holding little snow/ice-balls with fleece mittens.  She was up for the challenge.

Zoe was so excited by the snow that she insisted on bringing it inside.  So, under Grandma's tutelage, she had her first lesson in phase changes.  A mass of compacted ice crystals quickly transitions to liquid when subjected to a heated home and hungry puppy.  Who knew?

After a fun filled weekend of snow and the loving attention of grandparents, Zoe was ready for Halloween.  Thanks to hand-me downs, the girl had many outfits to choose from-- but she insisted on wearing the cape for her costume party at school.  Who could blame her?

Then, on Halloween night, she used her superpowers to transform into a frog.

If only she could have figured out how to use those superpowers to fill her bag with candy...  But no worries-- Zoe is no stranger to asking for "more" of everything.  More spoons for her yogurt...

More barrettes...

And more of Papa's breakfast!

Fall River Shivers

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With Fall in the air, Cara, Tommy, and Wee Zoe loaded up the box and pointed it North for one last river adventure this year.  Unlike years past, the chosen date for the big autumnal visit was the weekend before Columbus Day.  Strangely, this meant freezing temperatures and rain, whereas this particular year Columbus Day weekend was decidedly summery - 80º and sunny.  Funny, that.

Slow Down!  This is a 15mph town...

Nevertheless, with a huff and a puff, they got the good ol' tandem back in action for a brisk and lively trip around the park -- or, as they like to call it, the T.I.Park 500. With such cool damp weather, a fast bike ride is sure to wake anyone up and make them demand a hot whiskey asap.  Not so with the Zoster...

Zoe: officially slowed down. We seem to have ridden right past naptime...

She loved the bike ride, and was giggling away and pointing at things right up until she went right to sleep.  At speed.  On a bike.  Even whispering sweet nothings in her ear had no effect.  The girl was tuckered out!

Culinary perfection is not to be taken lightly.

That, and she had to get home to feed her baby. Turns out that babies get really, really hungry.  Good thing Zoe knows how to take care of them with some good ol' home-cooked invisible food.

Run faster, Papa!  And backwardser. 

And then it was time to speed around the park again.  This time in the little well-loved umbrella stroller.  The rules were simple:  1) Everyone would run.  2) Rocco was clipped to Tommy's belt.  3) Tommy would run alongside Zoe and Mama while doing his best impression of a steadycam.  4) Slow shutter speed. 

Better... Now stop cutting Mama's head off.

The end result mightn't win any photo contests, but wee Zoe sure loved watching Papa running sideways while being pulled by Rocco and precariously holding the camera in one hand.  By some miracle of chance he didn't even run into anything and he managed to avoid falling into the river.

Finally - you gots it!  Now faster Mama...

Hot.  If only ever day could be a leisurely river day.  (yes, yes, we know, every day could be a leisurely river day, but we've got THREE rivers in the 'burgh, so there.)  Even all bundled up, Zoe LOVED motoring around the park.  No surprise; she's a speed demon, just like her mama.  

Quick - somebody refill that man's beverage, lest he drink the child!

After such excitement it was time to sink into the oh-so-plush couches and say goodnight.  There's Grandpa giving little Zoe a smooch goodnight after a celebratory glass of champagne: just a week earlier marked the big 40th Anniversary for Vera & Jim - go team!!!   

Somewhere there's a funny caption about three generations in this photo.

And Grammy gets the final goodnight snuggles from the little munchkin, while Zoster consoles her (no-longer-starving) doll.  Happiness is a heated cottage in the off-season.

Tommy's New Do?

Huh.  So that's what Tommy would look like in black-and-white with reddish-purple hair.  And strangely black pupils...

While tidying up my office amidst working on my dissertation I found this leftover passport picture stuck under the window ledge.  Somehow the sun managed to fade my hair into that nifty shade - I can only wish that my passport ever sees enough sunlight to suffer a similar fate.

Laboring to Jamestown

Like any kid, Zoe loved school, but was even more thrilled at the prospect of a long weekend, just two days into the academic year!  August had been a very busy month, with Tommy in rehearsals for Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Park's Merry Wives, and Cara back in full swing as the semester began at CMU.  Thus, a trip up to see the cousins was planned for the long weekend!

The Buff Loaf.  Culinary excellence, two pounds at a time.

Cara's a master baker, especially with a Zojirushi in her hands, so while Tommy was busy baking in the sun at the opening of Merry Wives (preview here), Cara set to doing a little baking of her own...  Unbeknownst to either of them, the loaf came out decidedly R-rated!  Whoop, there it is indeed.

ZoWee!  

No visit to Lakewood is complete without ample backyard time, so the pool and slide quickly joined forces to amuse the kiddies.  Funny how water has proven such an endless source of amusement for humans.

What's a little psi to a tow-head like me?

Gracie is no exception, proudly raising to the pesky hose's challenge.  Rest assured that no Anderson was harmed in the making of this photograph.  Gavin was standing close by with a bucket of water, lest Grace somehow managed to escape wetness from such an endeavor. 

Slip sliding away, you know the nearer your destination, the more you slip sliding away.

Emma on the other hand, channeled her physics knowledge and let the water do the work on the Slip & Slide.  

Why on earth would they call this awesome sprinkler a Slip & Slide?

Wee Zoe saw all the fun, and immediately needed to be part of the action as well.  This was her first ever meeting with a Slip & Slide, and she probably should've spent a bit more time researching the etymology of the term.

ALERT! ALERT!  This thing is slippery!  Sooooooooo slippery!!!  HELP! HELP!

Slip & Slide she did - right onto her keister! Poor lass - sometimes the world is such a cruel and unjust place.  Especially when your age is counted in months.

All together now...

And the afternoon ended with a nice communal swing - with Gavin as the photog.  This is before he ventured too close to the action looking for the perfect shot, which ended up with him taking a shot of his own.  Thankfully the blonde cushion of curls helped to protect him when the Zoster's swing bonked him as he crept in below.

Question of the day: Who's having more fun?

First Day of School!!!

Zoster, hard aground.  On our sidewalk.

We recently found this awesome boat at a nearby yardsale for a couple bucks.  It's just like the ubiquitous Little Tykes Car, except it's a boat, which makes it better.  Wee Zoe really prefers the salty aesthetic of a lapstrake hull...  This one even has a working throttle and a built-in beer drink holder.

Can I go to school already?  I'm done with pictures, I wanna play!

What a big day!  Zoe Mae started school on September 1st.  Her teachers were well impressed; she absolutely loved it, took a nap no problem, and made quick friends with a bunch of other toddlers.  Her report card said that she learned her ABC's and 123's.  Not bad for a first day.

Rocco, on the other hand, immediately seized the opportunity to catch up on lost sleep.  Little Zoe keeps him on his toes most of the day, so a the first few hours without the little instigator were spent curled up on the couch...

Zoe's footwear of choice...