our big boy turns 4!

how is this possible?! part of it has to be that jeanne looks so much like james, and thus i am constantly reminded of james as a baby. but he's all grows up now! mimi and papa got him a hotwheels game that he plays by riding a stationary bike in front of the tv. corey and i sat and watched him from behind the other night in shock of how big our boy looked... shock and awe. he's such a pleasant dude. we often laugh that if there is something we complain about regarding james, it usually involves his high happy energy levels. that kid can just get too happy and excited sometimes... !?

all he had asked for his birthday was a hotwheels themed party. we went to meijer (why pay more!) and he got to pick out his monster truck cake, and while he slept during his nap i decorated for his car par-tay. we (and luckily especially he... and max...) had a blast complete with beer and barnaby's. happy birthday, big boy, james. we love you.

back to boston

there and back. james, jeanne and i headed back to boston for a long weekend. we got to meet little kevin and bridie. what cuties!!! it was SO nice to get in some family time before the holidays. mom and dad had gotten the christmas tree up, and i was more than happy to put up lights and my favorite ornaments (some major weeding was necessary!) cookies were baked, santa was seen at the local movie store, nest was raided (my mom's store), and rocks were thrown in the frozen duck pond. good times were certainly had by all. it was SO wonderful to catch up with my boston sibs. kev is hard at work at the law firm, shan is a mamaste whirlwind, mike is busy studying law, and katie certainly has her hands full (doing what it is she and i should be lauded for- mommying while managing to stay sane... only she looks better while doing it.) john and james were the goofiest peas in a pod, and when lupe was over the 3 of them were the best of pals. the day we were leaving, the monitor in my room let us all listen in on their sad conversation-

lupe: james, i sure am going to miss you when you leave.

james: yeah.

lupe: and you're going to miss john, too.

james: yeah.

amazing the way our little 4 year olds can voice their sweet emotions. another funny conversation (here's some background- james and john were playing in the kitchen and i forget the details, but something got spilled or broken... at least there was a loud noise or something that made katie head in to see what was going on...)-

katie: john, did you spill those?

john: no.

katie: james... did you?

james: no.

(katie walks out of the kitchen but hears this whisper...)

james: (to john) whew! that was close!

jack was also very excited to have such a friend in cars and trucks and construction. he and james naturally had a LOT in common! bridie was just an angel. those eyes! they are so dark and warm, and just make you want to smile. kev is just a little wiggly puppy dog. he reminded me a lot of jackson cressy in the amount that this kid smiled and kicked. he is one happy boy! and they had all been thinking HE was big! well, jeanne put them all to shame with her cheeks and thighs, and ankles,... she and john also tried rice cereal for the first time while we were out there. who knows how it went... that stuff is so messy, and they seem to have more fun spitting it out than swallowing any of it... and maeve is truly cindy loo who. what a sweet cherub face and voice. i think she liked the thought of being jeanne's big girl cousin. they looked pretty cute in their matching plaid dresses (pleasant coincidence!)

and now we're back! the trip was a blast, and james was such a happy and helpful travel companion (put him on a toll road or in an airport and he's in heaven!) jeanne can cross her first flight off her to-do list. she was pretty good, too... and i think i did pretty good, as well!

A Thankful Thanksgiving

wow, wow, wowza. what a weekend! this was an extra special thanksgiving weekend because mom and dad cressy were also celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary!!! thanks for being such fabulous role models, guys. SO, the weekend began on wednesday, picking aunt kimmy up from the airport (always a favorite trip for our transportation-loving boys) and then getting family portaits taken that evening. no need for the photographer to work on getting us to laugh. sean crawling away from the group as fast as he could as soon as everyone was in place had us all in stitches (except sean, of course...) hopefully we managed at least ONE good group shot! thursday was thanksgiving, and we were especially thankful to be a part of lizz and brett's baby son, hugh's, big baptism! he was VERY well behaved. james also was able to take part in the mass by borrowing the microphone during the homily to say that he was thankful for cars and trucks and candy... Dinner was a lovely affair up at the lake with all the Bogumills and Katie, Michael and Claudia. We are so blessed to have some of my family nearby to make me not feel SO outnumbered as a Garvey! Don't misunderstand me, you won't find a prouder Cressy, but this time of year makes one homesick for their own family, too. James, Jeanne and I, in fact, leave tomorrow morning to fly home to Boston for a Garvey fix. Friday morning found us en route to Chicago for an overnight with our immediate Cressy family. First we hit up the planetarium (WHAT a view!) and then headed to the hotel for some fun down time. The adults got to indulge in a fancy dinner while the kids (unbeknownst to us at the time) took full advantage of the new sitters! We came home at midnight to a room full of awake kids and baby! Oh well. After 6 hours of Corey and I failing miserably to get the kids back down, we decided to head back home to the comfort of our Mishawaka house and some well-needed rest. Kiernan and Bill were martyrs that night by offering to watch our kids (as well as their own) while Corey and I got to attend another fancy anniversary dinner celebration for mom and dad AND uncle John and aunt Clare. Sunday Sunday Sunday finally found us back in our groove, with mass, naps, and football. AND now it's advent!!! The decorations are slowly creeping upstairs...