One More Holiday Clip - Alden "Singing"

Since we (I) finally got Christmas Part II up, here's the last little clip from the holidays that we wanted to share with everyone: Alden "singing" along with Frank Sinatra to "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" on Christmas day, 2007.

- Chris

Christmas Part II (Finally!)

So for the second half of Christmas Day, we packed Alden into the Jeep Liberty and headed down to Lacey, WA, to spend the evening with Alden's Great Grandparents, Gene and Vi Mackey, as well as Alden's Grandma and Grandpa Schreiber and Auntie Bill. The white Christmas that everyone had hoped to view Christmas morning was delivered during our drive down, but luckily (given the driving ability of people around here in inclement weather) the drive was without incident. After we arrived Alden charmed everyone in his usual manner, with cooing and looking cute (particularly in his little Santa hat). We all enjoyed the roast Great Grandma and Great Grandpa had prepared, as well as a couple glasses of wine and some conversation around the fireplace - well, except Alden - he enjoyed his milk and making randomly punctuated exclamations, as well as putting his toys (and anything else he could get his hands on) into his mouth. Alden was a lucky little guy - two Christmas celebrations, and getting to spend time with lots of adoring family on his first Christmas.

Here are the pics and video clips - hope you enjoy them.

- Chris

Alden's First Christmas, Part I

We had Christmas morning at our house in Bellevue. Alden let Mr. & Mrs. Claus sleep in until 7:00 AM or so, and then we went down and discovered what Santa had left in the stockings that were hung by the chimney with care. After stockings, we had a wonderful Swedish pancake breakfast, which is a Schreiber-family tradition. Then Alden napped and Mommy and Daddy listened to some Christmas music and cleaned up a little. After the little boy awoke, we did the rest of the presents - Alden was very much interested in the wrapping paper, and made out like a bandit: toys, clothes and all sorts of wrapping paper... We managed to keep him from eating any, but some of it inevitably made it into his mouth.

Here are some pictures and videos from the morning. After that, we headed to Alden's great grandparents' house in Olympia, but that's part II.

- Chris

Our Trip Back East

The snow fell fast (about an inch an hour) when we were visiting my parents in Worcester, MA. I couldn't resist putting Alden in his one-piece snow suit and taking a picture of Alden in the snow in my parent's yard.



The Kingman family - Ginny, Alden, Aunt Liz, Dad, and Uncle Dan in front of my parent's Christmas tree.



Uncle Dan holding his great nephew.



Aunt Liz holding her great nephew.



Grandmother and Grandson.



The Schreiber Family in D.C. in front of the White House decorated for Christmas.



Chris and Alden standing in front of the Washington State tree.




Ginny's teacher friends got together for a dinner on Friday evening.



Alden often traveled in style inside Daddy's coat. People would see Alden's head sticking out and exclaim, "How cute!"



We had brunch with our friends the Laceys. Andie is currently 6+ months pregnant and is having a boy as well. Their baby is due around my birthday! I am hoping he comes on March 5th!



Alden's first plane trip.


I was excited when Chris told me that he may get approved to attend a conference in D.C.....and he offered for Alden and I to go too. Once Amazon was on board we decided that since we were "so close" to Boston at this point, Alden and I should drop in to see family.........ALONE! That would mean flying a short plane trip alone to Boston, but a LONG SIX hour flight to Seattle again.

The flight to D.C. went well. We were lucky to have an empty seat in the middle so Alden could sleep there when he wanted to nap. He did great and neither Chris nor myself had any regrets so far about flying with a baby. The short leg to Boston went well also. And Alden slept practically the ENTIRE time when he and I traveled back to Seattle. That made me so happy because I was so nervous.

When we were in Virginia, Chris and I saw many of our friends for meals and visits. It was fun to reconnect and for our friends to meet Alden. I brought Alden to Cooper Middle School on Monday to meet my teacher friends and my kids who are now 8th graders. My friend Lynette brought a special lunch that we ate in the Teacher's lounge. Teachers would come in the eat and say, "Ginny!". It was quite fun seeing everyone. Alden was a big hit with all of the ladies. Many of kids wanted to know why I didn't name Alden after them instead..... Meg, my co-director and friend was in tech week for the show "Arsenic and Old Lace" so Alden and I stayed after-school and watched the rehearsal. Gosh I miss those kids and my friends so much. What a treat to get to visit. Chris and I also ventured out into D.C. to see the National Tree and the festive decorations of the season. I love D.C. at Christmas time.

Seeing the family in MA was very special. Grandma and Grandpa hadn't seen Alden since he was three weeks old. Alden has changed so much! He had almost tripled his weight since then. I was glad that he got to meet his Great Aunt and Great Uncles too. His Auntie Beth came and got to see him too.

- Ginny

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We need to put more pics and videos of Alden and our East Coast trip up. For now though, here are the holiday greetings:

To All My Liberal Friends:
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wish.

To My Libertarian Friends:
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

- Chris

Alden's First Trip to the Zoo

Alden and I went to Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle with my friend Amy and her baby Addison. (Whom I consider Alden's girlfriend. :) ) For a city zoo it is actually quite nice with penguins, tigers, lions, giraffes, elephants, and other animals. Here is a picture of Alden at the zoo's entrance.

-Ginny

Snow!

We've been told we don't get too much snow here in Bellevue, but we had quite a little deluge on Saturday. It was Alden's 4-month birthday, and he got to see his very first snowfall - he seemed fairly interested in all of that cold white stuff falling from the sky. We'd like to think that he was trying to catch snowflakes on his tongue, even though he sticks it out about 90% of the time (he thinks he's the baby Michael Jordan apparently).

Here are some pictures - hope you like them.

Chris