William's letter to Santa

This letter is approved for release by William Noel LaCombe - it is placed with care on Christmas Eve next to a plate of homemade cookies made especially for the Jolly Ol' Man (no...not Daddy...Santa).

Fine holiday paper provided by the purveyor of all things good - Mommy!

William placed the cookies at the base of the tree before going to bed.

KC and David "helped" Santa place his gifts around our tree. David personally supervised the assembly of the train table and carefully placed the buildings throughout the Village of William.

Holiday Fun with Friends

Our playgroup got together for our holiday get-together! The children played and played, ate lunch, colored cookie ornaments, and exchanged secret Santa gifts! Everyone missed naps today, but it was worth it!

Lots of play going on... William and Madison were concentrating on the shopping cart!

The ornament cookies were quite a hit... for everyone except William. He actually did very little coloring. In fact, Gianna finished his ornament for him!

William got a Thomas train set from his secret Santa, Emily!

He admired the train and asked "open door"! Finally, Mom gave in and took the train out!

The kids gather around to look at Angela's gift...William had to check things out!

What a great start to the gift-giving season!!

Lost lobsters recovered

Imagine this frightening scenario - our good friend and neighbor has a birthday. We decide to surprise him with a lobster dinner party. How hard could this be?

We order the Lobster from our favorite joint in Maine with overnight delivery (I mean...why not...each of our past orders were perfect). A wave of panic sweeps over David in the afternoon - still no lobster delivery.

Our guests arrive at 6:00 PM - still no lobster! Multiple phone calls are exchanged with the Lobster joint and shipping carrier - "we can't find your lobster" the voice on phone tells David.

OK...KC and David are freaking out. Will decides to order Pizza.

Party goers make the best of the situation - wine helps!

Lobster arrives at 11:20 PM. What are the neighbors thinking?

So, after the drama passes - we reconvene at lunch for a Lobster and Corn Bisque extravaganza!

Lobster party pic. The ladies like the steam facial.

Ah...welcome to Chez LaCombe. Do you have a reservation?

Yum...enough said.

Hey...this one is still alive...ouch!

Um...can I get a hamburger? Actually, Bridget really enjoyed the bug.

OK Will, let Mommy show you one more time how this is done

Lobster debris everywhere!

Will and Uncle Ron blow out the candle.

Happy Birthday Ron - we appreciate you! You are an amazing friend and neighbor!

Happy Birthday Gianna!

Will joined his friends to wish Gianna a very happy second birthday on Saturday.

The Little Gym hosted about twenty toddlers and parents. We warmed up with some light exercise and progressed to acrobatics. Will likes the parallel bars the most.

After some calisthenics, we sang happy birthday and move on to pizza and cake - yum!

Will recruited some of his friends in a makeshift game of "get your arm soaking wet" in the water fountain.

We all had a great time - Happy B-Day Giana!

Will shows Giana and Brielle some of his latest moves.

A candid moment...somebody has a crush!

Snow Grounds Santa

The LaCombe Family had to make alternate plans after learning that Santa's flight into the Lower Hudson Valley was cancelled due to snow showers. Santa was expected to greet children at a holiday party at Daddy's work.

"Of course I'm disappointed that Santa cancelled," said William LaCombe. "My parents are really taking this hard though. The holidays are a special time for them - I try to be supportive of them reliving their childhood. I'll try to make it up to them."

The Santa Express is canceled due to snow. The party is cancelled just as we are leaving.

Making cupcakes for the Christmas party. Note the plentiful sprinkles...a LaCombe signature style

All dressed to meet Santa. Hmm..no sense in staying home when I look this good.

My family cleans up pretty well...I'm the handsome one in the middle!

I brought the old folks to the bookstore...it usually cheers them up to watch me play with trains.

Hmmm...Mom's still pretty down...I better eat a cupcake to make her feel better!

Whew...it looks like my efforts are paying off...Mom's got a big smile!

What a difference...

Eleven days ago, William's play yard was filled with leaves, leaves, and more leaves. Now, his outdoor playthings are covered in snow, snow, snow. What a difference a few days can make!!

First Snowfall of the Winter!

Nothing is more exciting than waking up to falling snow! One little boy could not wait to don his new ski bib and snow boots and play outside! Note that gloves were not mentioned... he refuses!

What a cute little snow bunny!

"Help Da-da," William said as he shoveled around his house!

"Anyone else need some help?"

We got quite a bit of snow! Covered all the toys and the slide!

All William knew was that he had to try and clean all the snow off his toys!

And then he had to practice his baseball/golf game... don't ask...the rules are quite confusing!

Holiday preparations begin!!

We were so excited to begin decorating the house and to begin making treats for our friends!

Our tree is artificial and pre-lit (the only way to go!). David and William start the process!

We bought a train to run underneath the tree... as you can plainly see, it appears we now have a little boy playing under the tree as well!

We are making "cookies in a jar" treats for our friends! William is helping Mommy measure the flour and sugar!

William is helping Daddy "pack" the flour mixture into the jars and well as making the funnel into a "bom-bone" (aka trombone).

Oh the candy... quite a temptation for young William!

Dessert!

Well, then we had dessert... banana pudding, pumpkin pie, pecan tassies, and pumpkin bread! How did we do it??

Helicopter!!

After dinner, the coffee started flowing! Then, Ron and Bridget surprised William with an amazing gift... a helicopter! He LOVES helicopters!!!

Figuring out how to open it!

Help me, Uncle Ron!

"Bridget, Ron... look what this thing can do!!"

We're not sure what this means...

And then they both do it... things that make you go ... hmmmmmmm.

Thanksgiving 2007

We spent Thanksgiving 2007 at home and shared it with our wonderful neighbors, Ron and Bridget. We divided the cooking duties and sat down for an amazing feast (or as Ron would say, "ridiculous") late in the afternoon!

LaCombe preparations began on Wednesday, Thanksgiving eve! David is organizing the work flow or doing some sort of project managment thingy to keep us on task! Nerd.

Mommy's little helper -- he heard Mom in the kitchen, stopped what he was doing, ran in, and announced "1 cup brown sugar!". In reality, he was right! Go figure!

Thanksgiving morning began with cinnamon rolls, coffee, and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Look at all those leaves!!

The boys spent hours, literally, playing in the leaves!

"Gonna get you," he seems to be thinking!!

Uncle Ron frying one of the turkeys!!

What a crew... Bridget, Ron, KC, William, David! Ready for the feast!

Table is set!

Turkey, two dressings, corn pudding, seven-layer salad, deviled eggs, mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade cranberry sauce...

A future turkey carver is watching carefully...

...not really, he wanted one of Uncle Ron's homemade rolls! (He at the top off of at least half a dozen. When he was done, he returned it to the tray... bottom side up!)