Friday we spent a glorious evening at Chuck E Cheese. It’s the first time I’ve been there since I worked there at the tender age of 16. Come to find out, they “improved” the shows fom the old animatronic days. Bummer. I have fond memories of these characters. At least the guy in the Chuck E suit didn’t have his head fall off and freak out my kids. I’ve got a whole new perspective on that fateful incident that ended my Chuck E career.

I had fun finding a clue about what we did when the clock struck 12.

This year we had a relaxing Christmas at home in Chicago. Christmas Eve we spent with friends drinking, and whooping it up. At one point we were playing ‘Fact or Crap’ followed by Trivial Pursuit DVD Edition. Christmas morning we spent at home just the four of us. It was so exciting to see Mason come down the stairs in his own house to see that Santa left him a tricycle and helmet. He loved it. This is also the year of the Little People. Our entire playroom is overrun with the cute little plastic figures and associated playsets. After Christmas we managed to get the house back in order in anticipation of Anna’s baptism that’s only a week away. Now we’re looking forward to some New Year’s frivolity. Bring on 2004!

Two little elves.

It’s the big 2-9. We went to the Melting Pot on Saturday for an awesome fondue-fest. I had no idea that I could actually spend 3 hours eating dinner. Every bite was yummy, the atmosphere – romantic, and all without the kids for the first time since Anna was born. Tonight we’re doing presents and ice cream cake to top off the birthday extravaganza festival weekend as Tricia reminds me it should be. Happy Birthday!

Dear Tricia,
You are the goddess of the childrearing world. Your tireless energy and devotion to the needs of me and my two never-resting children is the stuff of Oprah Winfrey couch talks. You are the smartest, funniest, hottest, bestest wife a boy could ever have.

Humbly yours,
Kris

This after I spent 15 hours on Saturday with the 2 kids learning what it’s like to football-hold the little one while making lunch for the other. My muscles hurt, my head hurts, and my patience is shot. Guess what? Tricia has been doing this gig for the last 2 months. She must be so ready to go back to work.

A few images from my sister’s wedding.

This is as close as we get to a family picture.

Patience in the form of a yellow sucker.

These Pollacks like to pawtay!!

This past weekend we packed up the 2 chillin’s and headed to Rochester for my sister’s wedding. We set a new trip record with a 12.5 hour drive with all the stops involved in feeding, changing, and entertaining our babies.

I was an usher, and Mason was the ring bearer. We got a preview of the Mason experience at the rehearsal where he did his best to distract the priest from his duties. At the rehearsal dinner, we ordered Mason his first drink from the bar, “Special Juice”- a Shirley Temple poured directly into his sippy cup. Baby Anna got her first exposure to all of my extended family. They all gushed. Lindsey and Mike nervously awaited their big day.

Saturday was a gorgeous fall day. 70 degrees and sunny in Rochester, NY in October is nearly unheard of. Tricia and I got us all ready at her parents house, and then we headed to the church around 1pm. When we got there it was right around nap time, so ring-bearer Mason fell asleep in his stroller in the vestibule. I carefully awoke the boy, and as Ave Maria began to play, there Mason went up the aisle…and then into a pew..and then back into the aisle, and then another pew..and then I gave up on him doing this whole thing alone, and I guided him to the front of the church before the congregation could make him cry. Very cute. I was a busy usher taking my widowed Grandmother up the aisle, as well as my crying Mom, and then Mike’s sister Monica – a bridesmaid. Tricia brought up the gifts, and was a eucharistic minister.

The ceremony was beautiful. Rev. Michael J. Parker, my uncle’s brother, performed a thoughtful Catholic wedding service. Lindsey and Mike made it through their vows without crying (which is something that I couldn’t even do). We took a stretch Lincoln Navigator limo to Linear Park for pictures. It took a LONG time to take the pics, and Mason was going crazy.

The reception was so much fun – of course I’d expect nothing less from my family. There was tons of dancing, drinking and frivolity. At the end of the night I ended up going home naked (I had to return my tux to the Mike’s parents to bring to Long Island), and Mason passed out in bed in only his tux shirt. Now Lindsey and Mike are off to Italy for their honeymoon. Congratulations guys!

The entire weekend was a lot of fun and really makes me want to be closer to my family. Maybe TMP will make a Rochester satellite office 😉

Tricia is so addicted to all these old episodes of the Cosby Show that it reminded me of my new role as Dad – to embarrass the heck out of my kids all through their lives. Here’s my first attempt at Anna. Daddy loves you honey 😉

I’m slowly rousing from my baby induced coma. I forgot that you actually have to feed that little bugger in the middle of the night. I’m glad I don’t have the boobs in the family though. Tricia is taking the brunt of it. Wait I think my nipples hurt.

It’s 2:10pm and Tricia just called to say that they are letting Anna out of the hospital tomorrow. Yippeeeeeeee! The rest of my life starts tomorrow. Now I can dream about my “Your not dating ’til 25” speech instead of whether she will be breathing tomorrow. Thank you God. Zippy loves you.