Jingle Bells

I took piano lessons for many years and every year on Christmas morning my dad would turn on the video camera and I would play a Christmas song on the piano before we started opening our gifts. Looking back this was probably to buy my parents some time to get coffee/diet, but regardless it was our tradition. Charlie has always loved playing the piano at my parents house and on Thanksgiving while he was playing he started singing jingle bells. I am not sure where he learned the jingle bells song, but apparently he knows it. He is quite the piano player, isn't he?

Class Photo

Charlie recently switched classrooms and somewhere in the mix we ended up without a class photo, but it finally showed up today. We looked at each child and Charlie knew the name of everyone except the blond boy all the way to the left. I asked who he was and he said, "I don't know. I don't like him anyway". Tomorrow night is parent teacher conferences, so I will find out who this mysterious boy is and why Charlie thinks he doesn't like him.

(The kid screaming right behind Charlie is one of his best school friends)

School Pictures

Charlie's school pictures arrived yesterday and I am cannot get over how great they turned out. These days it is tough to get him to sit still and he will never smile on cue, but he listened to the photographer and did a great job.

Big Boy Bed

This weekend Charlie was finally released from his crib prison. Actually, he liked his crib and never complained much about getting in and out. Recently, he started asking for a big boy bed and we decided it was time. His former nursery now looks like a big kid's room adorned with Mickey Mouse decor and a big boy bed.

(yes, that is a smile)

(wide angle view)

City Living!

A little bit of country in Chicago. Granted, you need to go to Menards to find such country and tractors.