Christmas Party III: Christmas Party

A couple of Evan updates... My dad taught Ev how to say "Donald Duck" in a Donald Duck voice! My dad did that voice for Brit and I when we were little. That and Ernie and Bert. We made him talk like that all the time until he'd get a sore throat. I think it's very cool that he taught it to Evan. Also Evan points the remote control at the tv and clicks, following in the footsteps of his PopPop and dad. o great

Also Evan will start dancing if you yell "Dance, dance, dance party!". He even starts shaking his head to the music. I must upload a video of it. He also coughs to get sympathy from his grandmother.

Evan: cough. (a real one)

Grandmom: Oh poor baby!

Evan with wide open mouth: ..... cough! (fake)

Grandmom: Do you have a cold? poor baby

Evan: Cough!

Grandmom: Awwwww!

Evan: Cough!

Grandmom: Faker!

Evan: Ha!

O yes, the party....
Those are sweet potato/peas eyebrows. so gross.

Ev is all cleaned up and playing with his new toy.

Here's some of the family right before the "Grisly Christmas Exchange" game. Everyone has to bring a wrapped gift worth $5. Names are called out, gifts are opened, exchanged and stolen, fights break out. It's a tradition now for years. The Gagliones are notorious for wrapping up stuff they find in their pantry. Aunt Genie got one of their gifts - an economy sized can of sliced apples from BJs! What!? Not only that, but Aunt Wanda said to check the expiration date, because she didn't know how long the apples had been sitting in their basement! Aunt Genie tried to leave it in the downstairs bathroom, but my mom found it before she left and forced her to take it home... So Aunt Genie then left it on the seat of Josh's van. hehehe

Evan enjoys the festivities upside down.

Aunt Ella, Brit, Evan and Josh (Brit and Josh are in Tobago right now! They left the day after Christmas.

Jessie's in the background here.



My mom had everyone over for leftovers the next night. Mike had to leave during the party since he had to work Wednesday... That sucked. I was sad to leave on Friday. The end of Christmas always makes me sad. Also, as soon as I brought Evan up on our porch, he puked all over me... over and over again. We came inside the house, which was stupid on my part because he did it again. I was covered in it... Thank God my parents drove me home, so my mom cleaned up while I gave Evan a bath. He fell asleep immediately and woke up burning with a fever. What bad ending to Christmas.

...But then I thought about how Mima and PopPop were coming to visit for a few days. Also, our street in Roxborough goes totally out with the decorations and lights, which I'm sure will be up until Easter. No, Christmas isn't over yet - yaaaaay!!!!

Stay tuned for Part IV!

Congrats, Aunt Brittany

So I have to say it again, my sis was nominated employee of the year at inDemand... and she hasn't even been there a year and a half yet! Evan was so proud of his little aunt...

This is a cute shot, but you can't see the shirt.

Evan took off for the bath tub, so I got in to get his picture. Now you can see the shirt, but his face is crazy.

Success on the 42nd shot!

ooops... we forgot to post Evan's 11th Month Birthday

Someone refused to cooperate this time. Little stinker.

It's been a long time...

I love, LOVE this photo.

I know it has been a long time since I've updated the blog, but I've been at my parents' house while Mike was in NYÇ and their computer is hopeless. I can't do anything on it except check my email and sometimes I can't even do that. Just a few new things about Evan... He completely stopped sleeping through the night. He's been getting up about 4x a night! I've been a walking zombie. He's also barely eating solid food anymore. Is it a tooth? I don't know, but it's driving me crazy. One cool new thing... he sometimes stands on his own!

By the way, Mike called me from NYC this morning because he was at Rockerfeller Center when the Today Show was taping. He had TV's Al Roker yell "Hi, Stephanie!" into his phone as he was talking to me! Then I saw him wave behind Meredith Vieira's head. (Mike, not TV's Al Roker.)

Another update. My sister, Brittany, was given the title "Employee of the YEAR" at InDemand. Not just for Howard, but the entire InDemand. Awesome job, little Boo!

Tree hunting

I've been Christmas tree hunting with my family for 30 years now. Brittany for 26 years, Mike for 2 years and now it's Evan's first year! We usually go to Eisle's Tree and Bee Farm, which is a 5 minute walk from my parents' house. Mr. Eisle also has bees and sells honey. It's pretty cool. Last year Evan was in my big, fat belly when we did this.




Hanging with daddy

Setting up the tree

Evan was soooo helpful setting up the tree with PopPop.

He's looking...

He lends a helping hand...

No, PopPop... Do it like this!

Evan is finished putting up the tree and shakes his stick to show what a good job he's done.

And then we end the decorating with dinner.

More Christmas...

Mike got these great shots from outside my parents' living room window.

Notice Evan's nosed squished against the screen. My mom had no idea that Mike was even out there because it was dark outside. As you can see, Evan saw him.

Dinner with Jacey

Here are some pics of Friday night when we had Jin, Jacey and Justin over for dinner...

Dinner Theatre

On Sunday, Evan and I drove to NJ to join the family for "A Christmas Carol" at Elaine's in Cape May. It was a great time and the actors were surprisingly very good!

Here's Uncle Larry, Aunt Wanda, Aunt Genie, Olivia and Jessica watching the show.


Evan grooving to the music with Grandmom

Happy Birthday, Aunt Kelly!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to Aunt Kelllllllleeeeee!
Happy Birthday tooooo yooooooouuuuuu!
Ehck! (I miss you!)

PhanataClaus and Macy's Christmas Lights

Saturday, I took Evan (All by myself. Steph was worried, but we did allright!) to meet Dan and Elizabeth down at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillie Phanatic was dressed up as Santa Claus, and was taking pictures with kids.

First, we ran into Baseball Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas in the parking lot and got a picture with him. Then I asked him to do a "...Swing...and a long drive, watch this baby, outta here! Home run Evan Cronin" but he told me he had to get going.



We had to wait about an hour in line. Evan waited patiently and didn't cry or squirm at all. Heart of a champion, that kid! Finally, the pay off! It cracks me up, because although he has grown a lot, this is the exact face he gave Sir Rod back in July!



The Phanatic then offered to take Evan for a solo picture. Let's just say Evan is OK with the Phanatic only when daddy is around. I've never heard Evan squeal and squirm with such terror. Here is a shot of him leaning far away from his furry friend.



The Philles 2008 Ballgirls, dressed as elves, offered to take a picture with Evan next. For some reason, this time he was completely OK with daddy being far away for this photo!



Next, it was Dan and Elizabeth's turn.



Then Evan talked Elizabeth into getting in another picture with the Ballgirls!



Steph said I could take Evan down to the ballpark only if I promised to make sure he gets his lunch right after photos were taken. And what better place to feed him than Chickie's and Pete's! Here are Evan and Elizabeth enjoying lunch.



Evan saw Elizabeth getting all hopped up on Shirley Temples...



...And decided to make a power move!



Later, he went back to his delicious meal - crab fries, buffalo wings, mozzarella sticks and pickles.



Steph and Mel then met us at Macy's downtown, and we took in the light show. We also toured the Dickens village at Macy's as well! Here is a shot of the Wanamaker pipe organ, the oldest in the nation, from our third floor vantage point. They still play it during every light show.



Evan on my shoulders, again from the third floor.



Steph and Evan in front of the Christmas tree in the lobby, and the the enormous gingerbread house, both in the Ritz Carlton. We had a great day!

Dinner with the Fourneys

Sunday night we had Dan (Evan's Godfather), Mel and Elizabeth over for dinner. I made a vegetable lasagna which was surprisingly good! Evan and Elizabeth played, but Evan was a little rough on her. He kept pulling her hair and trying to bite her. Elizabeth is such a sweetie and was such a good sport as I kept saying "Evan... No! No biting. No pulling hair! Let Elizabeth play with that toy." Little stinker.

Here's Evan with Aunt Mel

Evan and Elizabeth playing in Evan's corral or "cage" as I like to call it. Whatever it is, it's a godsend when I'm doing dishes or folding laundry and I need to keep Evan from climbing the stairs or something.

Awwww... The kiddies are tired.

Evan and the Fat Man!

Yesterday, we drove to the King of Prussia Mall to see if we could get in some time on Santa's lap. We were in luck because we arrived at 4:30 and Santa took off around 5pm. There wasn't a line at all. There were two kids on his lap (one was a baby named Evan!) and a little boy waiting in front of us. The santa looked like the real deal with his real beard and nice outfit, but I think he had been there all day because he was super grouchy. The little boy in front of us cried the whole time on his lap and Santa did nothing to calm him, but looked tired and annoyed.

When it was our turn, Santa instructed me to put Evan on his lap facing front, so he wouldn't have to see Santa and freak out, but we didn't need to do that. Evan was completely cool as I stood behind the camera lady and made faces at him. After the photo, I picked up Evan and faced Santa and told him to tell Santa that he would like spoons and boxes for Christmas. Evan cracked a huge smile. Then Santa actually smiled back! We walked away and Santa again just seemed tired and annoyed. He was greeted by his last customer of the day - a screaming little girl. A couple minutes later Evan and I walked by to see that Santa was gone. He was probably off drinking whiskey in the mall broom closet.

Playhouse Disney

Here's one pic that we scarfed from Aunt Kelly. We went to the show with Carol Daly, Arlene, Mima, Kelly, Grandmom, Jack, Danielle, Avery and Colin and left the camera at home. I'm such a retard. Evan had a cold and was more interested in the family behind us rather than the show, but Colin, Avery and Jack were mesmerized! Afterward, my mom watched Evan while Mike and I had a date at Henry James.

A long overdue update... Baby's First Thanksgiving!

So we've traveling and running around like nuts. And so we didn't document Evan's FIRST THANKSGIVING!!! What?! I know! Stupid me packed Mike's old camera without the memory card. Mike and I did get a new camera now, so we will be back on track with taking pictures (and video too). Well, we had a fantastic Thanksgiving! We stayed at Mima and PopPop's the first two nights and drove out to Paul and Sue's for the big feast. Granny and Grandpa Gifford were there too! We had a rocky start when Evan was carsick on the hilly, windy roads by Sue and Paul's, but it was all good after that. Sue and Paul's house was beautiful and they had so much yummy food including Sue's homemade pumpkin pie and homemade vanilla ice cream. Evan had a feast of homemade cranberry sauce, Aunt Kelly's corn casserol (which was delicious!) and the most yummy sweet potato casserol I have EVER HAD! I think Granny Gifford made it. It was like a dessert! Evan ended his turkey-less meal with some pumpkin pie. Paul smoked the turkey in his "big green egg" in the back yard and from what I heard it was delicious.

Two nights after the feast we stayed at Kelly, Mike's and Jack's. Mima, Kelly and I toured some model homes down the street while the kids slept. That was very cool. Everyone had steak except for me... Mike Gifford cooked me up a huge tuna steak! Plus we went to a Christmas light show with a crazy carnival at the end. The people working the carnival were a little sketchy. Some were drunk or worse, so Evan and Jack didn't go on any rides, but we had fun anyway with my prize, which was flashy rainbow teeth. We looked for a rave afterward so that I could use them, but we couldn't find one and the kids were getting crazy. hehe

Then the next two nights we stayed at the Hyatt since Mike was working. Kelly met Evan and I for lunch since the hotel was right in the middle of stores, restaurants, and even an ice skating rink!

We had a great time, but we're all 10 pounds heavier. Again... sorry about the lack of pics :0(