Dear Crosby,

The time has come and we are leaving on our trip. We've been telling you about it for a while now. We know the time will pass quickly but we will miss you every second we are gone. We will be thinking about you. You lucky guy, you get to be with Nan and Grandpa! We know you'll have the best time together... try not to wear them out too much, okay? Otherwise they might have to put something other than hot cocoa in these mugs (:



Make sure you eat well so you can keep on growing! We gave Nan your puffs so she'll make sure you have a supply.



Don't get too rowdy with Uncle Pat and Uncle Steve. Snoop, you can lick Crosby's face but just don't whack his tender baby cheeks with your iron-clad tail.



If you miss us too much, Nan and Grandpa will send you to us in the mail. How's that idea?



*** REMEMBER ***



"You should always know
Wherever you may go
No matter where you are
We never will be far away."



Love,

Mom & Dad

IN THE MEANTIME...

Here are Christmas pictures.

Nativity reflecting on the water



Crosby's first Christmas!



We gave Steve his... what... 43rd pair of collectible drumsticks?! From the Cleveland Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame Museum.



Thanks Pat! Hopefully we can play this with ya soon



Pat in a hat



Mom and Dad got a TV! They were so surprised!



All you need is love



Crosby had so many presents he had to open some during lunchtime. Guy, we only read one Curious George book. Oh well, we'll read more soon.



D has an uncle (his deceased dad's brother) who lives in Salt Lake. This is Pratap:



And his wife Anita (when they visited us in the fall):



D's brother and his family are here for the holidays and so we all went out to D and Suman's uncle and aunt's place on Christmas... Lis, Eden, Lindsay, and Crosby



This is D's cousin's wife Orysa. She's awesome and she walked everywhere with Croz! She and Ripan are visiting from San Diego. They announced they're due to have their first baby in June!



This is Orysa's mom Miro visiting from the Ukraine and she spoke only a spot or two of English. She fell in love with Crosby from the second she saw him; it was really sweet. No language needed. She watched the grandfather clock tick-tock with him and just snuggled him like no other like he was her own grandchild (: Such a cute lady.



D's aunt Anita attempted a shot of us all on the stairs, but D's cousin at the top has no head in this picture. Inevitable, right?!



Then it was off to Beth's where Crosby dilly-dallied in her sea of Christmas bears



And then home to bed after an event-packed day.