A Grand Return to Blogging...

Hello everyone!!! Boy has it been a while since I last blogged! This is partly because I'm lazy, but mostly because we've been having a rocking time with family and friends in Utah :). This post is just a quick run through of some of the fun we had up through Christmas. After Christmas fun will have to be another post, since we have too many photos for just one. Here we go:

First of all, we spent a lot of time just hanging out with family and friends.

Lazy times at the Curtis home

We also went to the mall. Who doesn't love to go to the mall at Christmastime?

I just thought this picture of Jenny was funny. It almost looks
like she's holding a "will work for earrings" sign.

After some heavy-duty shopping.

All of Topher's Curtis aunts took turns holding him, but he seemed to like Amy best the day this picture was taken. I think it's because she offered him sugar...

We, of course, had some moments of randomness too.

The birds were half off at Wal-mart thanks to the poor economy.

Padre's lucky hat. Unfortunately, nothing can help you win when Amy cheats.

Curtis clan (minus Madre and Becca) playing games a few nights before Christmas.
I love everyone's faces! They probably didn't think they were going on the blog...

Topher was lucky enough to meet his great (freaking awesome) aunts!

Alison and Topher. Look like twins don't they?

Linnea tried to get Topher to look her way, but at the first mention of Ute
football, he wasn't interested.

We spent time at Scott's house too, where we were entertained by Santa Dog :)

Christmas Eve we went to see Christmas lights, ate an insane amount of tacos, visited with family, wore new pajamas, and watched my sisters do the nativity.






Christmas morning we were up bright and early. Scott couldn't sleep well Christmas Eve (he claimed he wasn't feeling well, but I know he was really excited for Santa :) and so we ended up opening presents with Topher at 5:oo in the morning.

Topher didn't even pretend to care that Santa had come.

Then it was on to the Curtis home for a plethera of presents, the opening of which Topher slept through entirely. Sleeping through that amount of screaming has to be a talent!

Matt and Bry helped Zach play Santa. They also helped me open some presents.
Thanks boys!!

After Christmas the boys enjoyed playing Rock Band for hours. Some good male bonding went on during songs such as "Carry On My Wayward Son."

Scott with my brothers, Zach and Jared. Scott loved playing the drums so if this whole
therapist/teacher thing doesn't work out I think we have a back-up plan.

Well this was just the start. We also had a ton of fun with Scott's family (pictures to come!) and other exciting events that will have to be part of the next post. All in all, we had a great time in Utah and we love and miss everyone there!!!

Inefficiency 1, Scott 0

So, of the many things I hoped to get done while on break, exactly zero of them actually happened. I couldn't even get around to posting on the blog regularly. For a dramatic recreation of what I have been up to, here is Topher:



We're really not bad parents. Topher just likes game shows.

Anyway, Megan will be around soon to do a big update of our many exciting Christmas adventures. We'll be back to Connecticut on Wednesday, then maybe I'll get back to work.

Christmas is Here

Yes. We're that excited.

I'm Coming Home

Monday morning at 6:00 am we took off from Connecticut for Utah. None of us had enough sleep going into it and almost missed each of our three flights, but we had a good time.

Taken before we had to run half a mile through the Vegas airport. Thus, I can still smile.

Topher was apparently vibrating in this picture.

Topher did great during the flight. He only cried when we were getting off the airplanes.

The turbulence was a bit much for him.

When we finally made it, Topher found a gaggle of people excited to see him.

Topher meeting his grandpa for the first time.

And a whole mess of Aunts

Now that we're here, it's time to get ready for Christmas


And some quick notes: I wore the first outfit as Joseph and Kari won the throwdown (Thanks for the comments).

Cuteness Throwdown

I was going to use the blog to rant about my misadventures into the world of Linux after my Mac forgot how to charge its battery, but decided I'd leave it to this:

[Insert Linux joke here that only one of our readers will understand (Hi Brett!)]

So, instead I'm declaring a Cuteness Throwdown!

Anyone who dares accept the challenge should leave a note in our comments section pointing us to your post. Link back to this post in your entry so that your unique readers can find all the other entrants. With that, bring it on:



Is that not enough for you? Try this video of Topher in his new swing:



Still not impressed? Let's get up and personal:



And now for the coup de grace. The big reveal:


So, let's see what you've got. I think we're all excited to see what you all can come up with.

Party!

So, our church had a Christmas party today and we were asked to play Mary and Joseph for the brief program they put on during it.  Having a baby makes you a prime target for these things.

We spent the day trying to figure out how to dress up.  We didn't want to just wrap sheets around us, so we pulled out Megan's fabric collection and got a little more elaborate.

Below you will find our three finalists for my Joseph outfit.  We'd like to take a poll of your favorite, so leave us a comment saying which one you like best.  We'd let you all pick which one I would wear, but the party is already over.  We'll let you know our pick later.  Without further ado:

Option #1: Karate Fighting Buddhist Monk

It also looks something like an Elvis stance.  This was probably the most elaborate set up we had, using two large pieces of cloth and a whole mess of safety pins.  

Option #2: Pirate

Megan didn't think it was right for me to go without a head covering.  I think a head covering makes me look too much like a pirate (Not that there is anything wrong with pirates, per se.  I just don't think Joseph would approve).  As soon as they asked if we would play the parts, I tried to convince Megan to let me grow a beard.  She didn't take the bait.

Option #3: Mephistopheles

I'm not saying we picked this outfit, I'm just saying this picture is wicked sweet.

Because I know the real reason people visit the blog, here's a picture of our little Baby Jesus.  He wouldn't stand for being put in the manger, however.

Thanksgiving Holiday - Another Photojournal

Well, it's been some time since we've written.  Only getting two comments on our last post threw us into a fit of despondence from which we've only now recovered [Pity, please!].  But now we're back and ready for action.

Topher had a good time with friends and family at Thanksgiving.

He got a little sick over the break, but he's so darn cute that we didn't mind staying up a little with him.

Topher waited patiently for the turkey.  When the popper finally popped, he couldn't wait to dig in [note: this sentence actually describes Topher's dad].

Joy

It was a beautiful sight.  It will keep us fed for a long time.

All the turkey sure knocked Topher out though.

A flying saucer ghost made an attack, but we successfully defended him.

The following day, it was time to start setting up the Christmas stuff.

But things got a little messy.

Because Topher's so darn cute, we didn't mind the mess.

The tree looks great and Topher is really excited for you to see it. 

But you'll have to wait for the grand unveiling.

Happy Holidays!

In other news.  Topher's dad lost his eye in the Robot Wars.  His bionic eye is working out nicely.