For the second year in a row,

I won't get to see my family for Christmas. It really sucks, and its totally due to the weather. Last year, we got snowed out big time, and this year, there just wasnt a way to make it work; on Friday, when we planned to leave for Mass, there was a huge storm down south. And today, when we would have planned to come back to Maine, there's a Nor'easter going on outside up here. As opposed to a Nor'easter going on INside....I guess.....

I really miss my family, and I am really disappointed that this weekend didnt work out; my mom always throws a big "clubhouse style" party on the Sunday before Christmas, and I look forward to seeing family I otherwise never get to see. Plus, this is Callum's first Christmas. So I'm pretty down actually. And it just seemed like nothing worked out this weekend with other plans either. Oh well. But today has been a good day, church had their children's pageant this morning, which is always nice to see. Plus, its just been snowing and snowing all day. I put on a homemade beef stew this morning, and I've been trying to keep the house warm with the stove. We also took a break to watch Charlie Brown Christmas. Clearly, Callum was mesmerized....

Look at how good he is getting at sitting up by himself. And check out those cheeks Last night Amanda surprised me by taking me to Cancun to meet the Garners for some great Mexican food. I ended up seeing some WHS students at the restaurant. The food was terrific as usual, and after, Chris and Michelle came back for movies, games, and gift exchanges. Callum made out like a bandit with some terrific new Sandra Boynton books. Amanda got a fiestaware set, and I got THE OFFICE DVD TRIVIA GAME!!! I challenge ANYONE out there to a duel....I will kick your ass. Bring it on Ponticelli! Here's Chris and I modeling our pants. Chris has some nice yellow balls. Printed on his pants.

I became nostalgic about Christmas this weekend, being as how I knew I wouldnt get down to see my family. Christmas music always played a huge role in my house growing up, and both my mom and dad have an extensive collection of RECORDS. (arent those those black things with grooves in them?) Top records I remember listening to around Christmas include Willie Nelson's "Pretty Paper" album, and Barbara Mandrell's "Christmas at Our House" record. I reminisced yesterday, searching for them on iTunes. This was when life was good....before idiots like Mariah Crapey and Jessica Crapson came out with Christmas albums.

Switching gears, Callum is getting really good at sitting up by himself! Look at this....he even reaches for stuff. One other thing we've noticed lately is how he is beginning to get upset if you take things he wants away from him. Oh goody!

As we were wrapping gifts this weekend, Amanda and I had the discussion about how Callum's gifts will be "divvied up" when he's older--which ones will be from US, from SANTA, etc. She asked me how my parents did it. It brought back a funny memory--my dad always wrote "from Santa," but my mom got a little more....creative. For example, after we reached the age of 12 or 13 or so, the tags STOPPED saying "from Santa," and STARTED saying they were from random people (who were supposed to be a clue for what we were getting). For example, one year I got a microscope, and the tag said "To: Jared From: Mr. Wizard." Or, if I was getting an MC Hammer tape, it would say "From: MC Hammer." If I got a baseball glove, it would say "From: Jason Varitek," and etc. and etc. It was just that "nice touch" that encouraged me to give up any last notion that there was, in fact, a Santa Claus....haha

I dont want any school tomorrow. I mean, I only have two days this week....but I just dont feel like shovelling....