Christmas Weekend

Christmas weekend started Thursday night. We went out to grab a bite and some drinks at a new bar in Monona called Off Broadway. It's a cool place with good food and great service. When our waiter brought us our dinner he offered to hold Max while we ate. He walked Max around resteraunt, introduced him to the other tables, and to the other staff members. This was really funny, and it was nice to be able to both eat at the same time without having to juggle a little wiggle worm at the same time.

Friday morning we hung out at home and Max started crawling for the first time. He can really move. That afternoon we took Max downtown to see the tree at the Capital. It's a 36 foot tall tree decorated with lights and ornaments made by Wisconsin school students. Max was mesmerized by the tree and even more by the model train going around the base of the tree. Friday night we went over to our neighbors, Matt & Tabitha's, for dinner and drinks. Max got to play with their 1 1/2 year old, Sophia.

Christmas Eve morning we made the trip down to Janesville to Nana and Papa's. Uncle Ryan and his girlfriend Dana, along with Dana's girls Lainy and Sadie came over. We opened some gifts and watched the Packers get a big victory over the Vikings. After the game we went to Christmas Eve mass at St. Tom's. Max was great. He was a chatterbox, but didn't cry at all. There was a really funny moment, after the first song the congregation got really quiet and Max let out a huge burp that turned every head in a 20 pew radius. His timing couldn't have been anymore spot on. After mass we went back to Nana and Papas for some good food and some of Great Grandma Anne's famous Tom & Jerry cocktails. Max got a really neat gift from Great Grandma Anne and Great Grandpa Larry. It's the Night Before Christmas book that they recorded their voices into, so as you turn the page you hear them reading along. It's a very beautiful gift that Max will treasure. Max fought bedtime later than usual on Christmas Eve. I'm sure this is a tradition that will continue the next several years.

Christmas morning we woke up and opened gifts. Santa came and was very good to Max. He got lots of great toys and clothes from Santa, and Nana and Papa. That afternoon we went over to Great Grandma Marian and Great Grandpa Vic's house. We were joined there by Kelsey's cousin Lindsey, her husband Corey and their kids Lola, Carson, and Ruby. We had a big delicious breakfast, opened gifts, and played games. After that we went to Max's great aunt Justine's house and hung out for a bit. Justine and Dale have a really neat new home on the Rock River. After that we headed home to Monona.

We had a great Christmas season with loved ones. The most wonderful time of the year is made all the more special being that it was Max's first Christmas. It adds new meaning and whole new level of appreciation for to the holiday.

Christmas in Indiana

This year we celebrated Christmas in Evansville with Gus's side of the family the weekend before Christmas. We went down from Wednesday through Sunday. Max was the best little traveler to and from. He pretty much slept the whole way both trips! We got in late Wednesday night and after sleeping in the car the whole way, Max was not ready to go to sleep right away. He stayed up until around 2:30.

That Thursday we hung out with Mimi & Pops. That night we ran around with Uncle Sammy and took Max around to see his great-grandpa Jerry, and then on to see some of Gus's uncles, aunts, and cousins. Friday, the rest of the uncles, aunts, and cousins got in. Friday night more of Gus's aunts and uncles and cousins, as well as some high school friends came over. We ordered a bunch of Turoni's Pizza, and the aunts and uncles did their gift exchange. This year the the gift giver had to recite a riddle about the receiver and everyone had to guess who the receiver was.

On Saturday we hung out at home all day. Max's Great-Grandma Jan came over. Max fell asleep in her arms for a two hour nap. They both seemed very content with this arrangement. That night we had a delicious dinner of Pork loins and Eggplant Parmesan. We did our family gift giving that night. After the gifts we watched home movies from when all the aunts and uncles were kids. Eli and Maddie got to see their mom and aunts and uncles when they were their age. There were some pretty funny moments as well as some embarrassing ones for everyone. It was a reminder of how important it is to document these moments. It's fun to imagine Max sitting around with his kids watching videos of him as a kid.

Sunday we had a big delicious breakfast, busted open the Christmas pinata, said our goodbyes, and hit the road. Max was great on the trip back. We had a great Indiana Christmas and now look forward to Christmas next weekend in Wisconsin.

Ready for the 7 hour car ride!

Pit Stop at the Bloomington, IL Stake N Shake

Late night arrival on Wednesday. Wide awake.

Hanging out with Marley Pups.

Hanging out with Marley pup.

Max & Great Uncle Ubbie

Getting lots of love from Great Aunts Wendy & Julie 

Mimi & Pops watched Max, so Mom and Dad could have a lunch date. 

Uncle Baby Sammy

Aunt Hattie Bear got Max a cool wall hanger shaped as an oar.

Max yucking it up with Great Aunt Amy

Cousins hanging out on the top bunk.

Great Grandma Jan loving the long nap with Max.

Hanging out around the kitchen island watching the Boilers and Hoosier ballgames.

Having fun with Aunt Sasse.

Max loves the Rhino Rider he got from his cousins.

Aunt Sasse's first Christmas as an aunt. She's been the most wonderful mother to Eli and Maddie, it's fun seeing her and Uncle Darren in their new roles.

Max got the Harry Potter glasses out from the Christmas Pinata.