Month / December 2012

by shannonchance

Setting the Pace for Tommy

Tommy with big brother David.

Tommy with big brother David.

David and Christopher and I have been viewing the Chance Christmas blogs.  They’ve decided they want to post one about their baby brother, Tommy.

David says to let you know that Tommy wants to go to school.  Tommy will go when he’s four, in three years, David explains, just like David does now.  When Tommy gets there, he will play.  David is sure he’ll be helpful, too.

Sometimes David’s teacher needs David to do things, like make things for his mom and dad. Sometimes the teacher sends homework. Other days, she sends a project home for him to do, like the Easter gift they made for his mom.

Most of the homework, David says, has been fun!

Big brother David with Tommy and Chris.
Such a big, happy boy…
…as long as he’s on Mommy or Daddy’s arm.
Tommy’s nearly walking.
Tommy and Uncle Dave.
Helping Uncle Dave yawn.
Big brother David sets a good example.
by shannonchance

Fabulous Four

I’ve adored baby David since the moment I heard he was on the way.

Now that he’s four years old, young David is one of the kindest people I know.  He’s a genuinely sweet kid who loves being a big brother.  He tries to help out around the house and be a good example to the two younger kids in the family.

He enjoys learning new things and receiving interesting gifts from afar, like foreign currency and the skeleton keys Uncle Dave and I brought him from France last summer.

David likes to read the books designed for older kids, and he’s pretty good at it!
Playing Robinhood with David.
Snuggling with David.
David and I play hide and seek using his stuffed animals.
It keeps him entertained…
…for hours and hours.
Who could resist playing another round?
Washing dishes with Chris and David is a full-contact sport.
David’s French skeleton key.
David is the “most awesome big brother!”
David and Uncle Dave.
by shannonchance

Terrific Twos

My nephew Christopher became tons of fun while I was away.  He’s snuggly and chipper and he has developed an impressive vocabulary in his 28 months.

I expected to find someone in his “terrible twos” but am delighted that his twos are down right terrific.  I feel so blessed to have a few days here in Maryland to get to know this little guy better.

Christopher was sleeping like an angle when we got here.
He’s a cute and curious kid.
And quite snuggly.
He loves his Uncle Dave.
His hair is sooo long (according to his mom).
Bu tlook at the styles he can work up with it!
Chris and his Uncle Dave.
Organic blue corn chips…
yummmmm!
Our little Ewok.
Playing with Uncle Dave.
He’s a bit of a monkey…
…and fun to tickle.

by shannonchance

A Great Daddy

Lucy worked at the hospital all day yesterday.  Matt, Dave, and I spent the day with the kids.  I’ve developed a world of respect for Matt, who has shaped up to be a fantastic dad.  He’s also a great cook and serves up meal after tasty meal.

Matt with Tommy and Chris
Dave in a pile of kids.
Tickle fest with Uncle Dave.
We like it better when Lucy’s home with us!
by shannonchance

Hanging Out at Mom Mom’s

Tommy headed for Mom Mom's house.

Tommy headed for Mom Mom’s house.

We all look forward to visiting Dave’s Mom, Christina, who the family calls Mom Mom.  We headed to Mom Mom’s for dinner last night, and baby Tommy was clearly excited about the trip.

In these photos, you see much of last night’s merry crew:

Dave, his Mom, and his brothers Matthew, Michael, Andrew, and Adam. You’ll also see Matt’s wife Lucy and their three boys (David, Christopher, and Tommy), Michael’s wife Julia and their two boys (Connor and Evan).

Christina (Mom Mom) sweeping up at cards.
Matthew strategizing.
Tommy Toot-Toot…
…loves his trains.
Tommy spent a good bit of the day sounding like this… he wants his daddy!
Julia and Michael (Dave’s brother).
Evan and Julia…
…playing tissue-paper snowballs.
Lucy finally came home from her shift at the hospital!
by shannonchance

Dinner with my Dear in Chesapeake City

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chesapeake_City_Maryland_Bridge_At_Night.jpg

Dramatic bridge that spans the C&D Canal at Chesapeake City, Maryland.  This image is from Wikipedia.

Headed to the eastern shore of Maryland by auto last night, Dave and I enjoyed spectacular evening sky.  The vibrant pink and purple Pennsylvania sunset melted into a jacquard pattern of clouds illuminated by a bright, shiny, and very-full moon.  Unfortunately, my iPhone didn’t do the sky justice from the window of Dave’s truck.

Along the way we stopped for dinner at the Bayard House along the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal in Chesapeake City, Maryland.

The picturesque town is fully decked in Christmas cheer.

While we ate, we had the thrill of seeing a large cargo ship — the type that delivers new cars to the Philadelphia area — pass under the bridge spanning high above the historic city and the wide canal.  This canal “is one of the few fully sea-level shipping canals in the world. The original C & D Canal was built privately in the 1820s, and it opened for business in 1829” according to the PennWays website.

A full moon brightened our drive along the highways of Pennsylvania and Maryland last night.
Winterfest of Lights in Chesapeake City.
General store in Chesapeake City.
Entry of the Bayard House restaurant.
Some of the gorgeous Christmas decorations in the Bayard House restaurant.
Dave found us on the map.
by shannonchance

Sparkling Star

The Star Barn in panorama.

The Star Barn in panorama.

Waving goodbye to Mom, Leslie, and Heather yesterday, we made a quick last visit to our favorite barn near Highspire, PA.  The sun shown gloriously in the sky; it brought this stately barn to life for us once again.

Dave and I are thrilled an organization stepped forward a few years back to save this barn and to get it recognized as a National Historic Landmark.  Other beautiful old buildings we love in this area are not faring nearly as well.  It’s likely a number of them will be demolished for strip-mall “development” before we return.

Outbuildings beside the Star Barn.

Outbuildings beside the Star Barn.

by shannonchance

Canadian Christmas

In 2008, Mom was a Fulbright scholar to Canada, hosted by McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.  Heather, Leslie, Dave, and I went there to spend Christmas with her.  Here are a couple of photos Mom took during our holiday outings.

Heather and Shannon in Toronto art museum.
Dave, Shannon, and Heather outside castle in Canada.
by shannonchance

News from Kevin Donleavy

C-Ville Weekly published a fascinating article about the Blue Ridge Tunnel project.  Also, please don’t forget Kevin Donleavy’s radio show this Saturday:

A chairde and pals,

Time for another program of Irish traditional music on-line.  The date is this Saturday, Dec. 29, and the show is ATLANTIC WEEKLY PART TWO.  It will air, as usual, from 10 am till 12 noon in the States, and 3 to 5 pm in Ireland.
 
What can you expect to hear on this show? Great instrumental music from Andrew MacNamara and The Lahawns will open the show. Other groups you will hear are Skylark, Flashpoint, the Chieftains, and Flash Company. Singers include Brian Moore, Terry O’Neill, Grainne Holland, and Ron Kavana. There will be “Spancill Hill” especially for the memory of Robbie McMahon of Co. Clare, and “The Mad Goat” (Poc ar Buile) for Paidi O’ Se of Kerry. And a lot more….
 
Here are the easy steps for listening on-line :
On your computer, go to WTJU.net.  Next, select Listen Live on the right side bar.  Then, choose between Ogg and MP3.
 
I hope you will have a wee listen this Saturday, and also the following Saturday (Jan. 5) when I’ll bring you another ATLANTIC WEEKLY program at the same time.  What more could you ask to begin a new year ?
Kevin

 

by shannonchance

Awesome Gift

I neglected to mention that one of the best gifts I received came by email on December 24.  Our editors extended our deadline from January 7 to January 21!  Yippie!