Happy Halloween

Trick or treating has been postponed until Thursday due to weather and power situations in our town, but Nicholas still had Halloween at school today:

From 2011 October

"We Have Power! Yay!"

Always nice to get a phone call with that as the opening sentence.

Sometime this afternoon, the power came back on. That is, when I checked our online account at 3pm, our neighborhood was still out, but by 5pm when Sarah and Nicholas got home, the lights were back on in the complex.

Sarah's been busy all evening catching up on household errands (laundry, etc.) and prepping for classes, so she couldn't post this herself, but I thought you all would want the update.

It's For You

Sarah and Nicholas have been without power since sometime yesterday evening (after Sarah went to sleep), so they've had a bit of a rough day. Here in Philadelphia we had about two hours of slush at lunchtime and otherwise just rain, so my conference went off without a hitch (though with a slightly smaller audience). And it means I can write a brief update on Nicholas's Developmental Breakthrough of the Week™:

Carrying a conversation on the phone.

He's been able to respond on the phone for a while, and has progressively gotten better. But for some reason this week he's figured out how to sustain a conversation on the phone for several minutes, which is very enjoyable on my end. It started early this week when Sarah called and reported that during his bath, Nicholas had plaintively announced, "I want Daddy." (Getting shampoo suds in his eyes may have been involved at the time.) Anyway, they called me and we were actually able to talk in sentences, like we do in person! Fun!

Then I got another call on Tuesday night, and a chat just this morning, when we talked about the snow: how much there was, what they'd done with it, and so on.

It's always fun to see him figure something out, and I'm sometimes a little disappointed that I miss things here in Philadelphia. But this one is especially pleasing because it's depends on my being at a distance. Or, rather, I am the beneficiary of being at a distance, because he learned how this particular skill with me.

Playing Catch-up

The problem with this blog is that when we actually have something worth blogging about, I am too busy to blog. I couldn't blog last weekend because I didn't have a free moment and then I spent all week this week just trying to get caught up after losing most of my Friday prep time and all of my weekend errand/housework time. And now I have the time, but the moment has passed.

I will post a couple more pictures from the wedding that arrived in my inbox. These were taken by Grandpa Richard's friend Rob, who is an amazing photographer and has captured great shots at each of our weddings. He also has some stunning shots of other family members, but this is a Nicholas blog, so Nicholas is what you get.

From 2011 October

From 2011 October

From 2011 October

Nicholas and I ran an insane number of errands this morning. Insane. Walmart, gas, grocery store, home to put away groceries, Target, hair cut for Nicholas, post office, library. All before lunch. We then stopped for pizza on our way home because Nicholas was making it very clear that I had pushed him too far. But all of those errands absolutely needed to happen this weekend and we were rushing to beat the snow. And I have now gotten all the trash out, the fridge cleaned out, way more loads of dishes done than I care to admit, and everything put away. If I had laundry going I would feel completely on top of things (domestically at least). But given the wet snow that is falling and the fact that most of the trees still have their leaves, I'm anticipating potential power outages and so am fearful of starting the washer. Particularly with a pay communal machine.

The snow is actually gorgeous. I was so annoyed with the early snowfall until it started falling. And then I was swept up in the enchantment of watching it. And Nicholas is so excited about it! And since it is a Saturday and so I don't have the anxiety about whether or not classes will be cancelled and all that goes along with that, I am free to relax. Tomorrow when I have to shovel out two cars while entertaining a 2-year-old I have the feeling I will change my mind again, but for tonight I am enjoying it.

Nicholas wanted to go out and play in the snow this evening, but it was already getting dark at that point and there was only an inch (I'm estimating that we're at about 3 inches now), so it really didn't make sense. Also, I'm lazy and didn't feel like bundling him all up. So I opened the sliding door to the patio and let him stick his arm out a couple times. Then I put a tupperware out on the balcony for 20 minutes to collect some snow and brought it inside for him to play with. That actually kept him entertained for quite awhile.

From 2011 October

Always the little scientist, he was really interested in the chance to experiment with it.

From 2011 October

His conclusion was that snow "is like sand." I'm not sure what traits this conclusion was based on, but he came up with it entirely on his own, not even in response to any questions from me, so I'll take it. My response was to ask if that meant he could build a snowcastle, and he promptly started making a snow pile.

From 2011 October

He tasted it after I encouraged him to try and while he made a face at the first couple bites, he quickly declared it "yummy."

From 2011 October

I think I am going to go grab a novel and a mug of hot chocolate and enjoy the snow. I am declaring a "snow night" and refusing to do any schoolwork tonight.

Ring Bearer

I don't have any pictures of Nicholas actually doing his job as ring bearer, but here are a couple of him and Nate (Shayna's nephew and his co-ring bearer). And, yes, two ring bearers is certainly more than double the cuteness.

Trying to blow out the fire in the fireplace (for like 5 minutes):

From 2011 October

Fist bump:

From 2011 October

Nicholas at the Wedding

Sarah and I realized that at least half of the people who read the Chronicle were present when these photos were taken. So this one's for the non-Uncle Brian and Aunt Shayna family and friends. Sarah may post a more complete account of the weekend (or I might, who knows), but for now, we wanted to give you a glimpse of Nicholas in his tuxedo:

Here's the whole family outside the wedding venue just before the ceremony, all of us looking dapper:

From 2011 October

And here's one of Nicholas surveying the dance floor at the reception:

From 2011 October

Think he was tired?

A great time was had by all, especially Uncle Brian and Aunt Shayna. Nicholas was exhausted by the end of the weekend, but how could you trade a few hours' sleep for the adoring attention of aunts, uncles, and cousins?

EDIT: Photo credits go to Grandpa Richard (below) and his friend Rob (above photo).

Home

Nicholas and I are home safe and sound. Joe is still working on getting back to Philly, but should be back by 1am. Nicholas was a rockstar, especially on the flights. And even more so when you consider that when he went to bed at 10:20 tonight that was earlier than the previous two nights. Sometimes he is so aggravatingly 2 years old and other times he just blows me away with his patience.

Nicholas' feelings about the weekend can be pretty well summed up with his prayer tonight: "Dear God, thank you for the planes and for my aunts and uncles."

Goodnight.