Where have I been?



That speck middle left is our mailbox - Xmas Eve snow storm



O Mr. Blog where have you been hiding? With all the holidays - 7 Christmases, count em' seven! And the travel that goes along with them plus the hosting of my own conference this week I haven't been very good at updating the blog, obviously.  Well, there was that and the 5 days of mourning required for losing a Rose Bowl.  The first such loss since 1953. So let me post the family's New Year's Eve Resolutions.

Chicago December 2010



Carrie -  According to my wife (not sure how I missed this over the last 7 years we've been together) but apparently she doesn't make NYE resolutions.  So, allow me.  She is using 2011 to dedicate more time to cooking and cleaning.  These are two of her favorite things to do and she just didn't spend enough time doing them in 2010.  Of course I'm kidding.  She wants to shovel more, lots more.  Alright, alright I mean she's going to spend more time pampering herself.  She has a goal to get to the Cedar Rapids' Ritz Carlton spa once a month for all of 2011.  They serve the best and I mean the best caviar while getting a stone massage.

Gavin - He cooed he to me that he would begin to sleep through the night.  He promised.  He's currently trending the other way.  We think this might swing into Quentin territory but are holding out hope he figures out that nighttime is meant for dreaming.  That is one serious resolution we hope comes blissfully true.

Dad - Dear old dad hopes he gets to spend more time at home.  Ironically moving to corporate HQ has actually taken family time away.  I don't travel to CR anymore but I'm gone before the kids get up and return only to see them for about 90 minutes before they hit the sack.  I still have numerous travel obligations but since I'm flying out of a small airport travel times have increased as direct flights have decreased.  Well, there's that and the deicing.  So I am hoping to be much more efficient with my trips and to limit them to overnights if possible so the boys and that wonderful wife of mine can spend more quality time together.  I also promise to never allow Bucky to lose to a non-AQ school in any bowl game again.

Making cookies (and then eating them)

Quinny - Quinny had a serious lengthy list so we had to explain to him it was unlikely he would be able to accomplish all feats.  Instead he should choose a couple and focus on those.  Ultimately he decided to give up his bah (pacifier) and use it only for sleeping for now.  He did later promise to give it up completely before turning 2 1/2.  He also decided he's ready to transition to a big boy bed.  The first night he promptly fell onto the floor.  At that point dad promised to buy him a child railing thingy to keep him firmly in the bed.  Kids, you have to love them and their courage.

Best gift ever! Vacuum!!

We actually caught Quinny slamming three cookies for breakfast one morning.  I have mixed emotions about buying him that stool that now allows him to get into everything! Quinny loves vacuum cleaners and is constantly getting ours out of the closet at 6 am as in the first thing he does when he gets up.  We were happy to have a smaller one for him to play with.  There is also a photo of the 9+ inches that we received on Christmas Eve.  It snowed for about 30 straight hours.  Shoveling is so awesome.  And Carrie and Gavin posing in front of the tree in our Michigan Ave. Chicago hotel lobby.  We shopped until we dropped.  Enjoy!