Christmases Past and Present

At our town's annual Festival of Lights we take a similar photo: from itty bitty to little boy!

cousin Emma

(Isn't she a doll?)

Sweaty boy

'Oh, Charles has just had a shower' you say? No, my friends, this is typical sweaty-head after 20 minutes of play (inside!). SW Florida's still pretty hot even in November!

Fall Trip

Recently we had a week in north Georgia with family.

Highlight: a "scenic" train ride.

We also visited Babyland General Hospital, where Cabbage Patch Kids are born. Unlike his girl cousins, Charles didn't give a hoot about the babies. But he had fun on the steps.

And another must in north GA in the fall—a visit to an apple orchard!

Our fun days

Charles loves "helping" Mommy in the kitchen. He insists on wearing an apron (unfortunately we don't have any masculine ones).

Home again, home again

We had a lovely time in Vancouver this summer. Unfortunately we forgot our camera, and this is our lone family shot to share!

That same night, dinner with friends:

Back in Florida:

Charles tries out the new stool

Grandpa made for him.

A birthday present, an Ikea table

and stools for the kitchen!

Charles on the XBox—he wasn't

actually plugged in to the machine,

but he didn't seem to mind.

Leaving for the Summer

Mommy's boys.

Charles has been a big help getting the house clean as we prepare to leave for the summer.

Sports Day

We have a park across the street from our neighborhood. After just one afternoon of this you see below, we can't walk past without Charles pleading, "Ball! Dada. Ball!" It was that fun.

Easter

It was a joyful celebration for the Raiths!

Charles caught on to the egg hunt right away.

Pit Stop Petting Zoo

Our favorite exit on the way from Mimi & Grandpa's to SW Florida has what equates to a petting zoo. We bought food from the gas station store—Charles was not afraid!

But the cow couldn't get at the food in Charles' closed hand.

Daddy helped.

Two Recent Beach Trips

Florida's winter has been too beautiful...

...to be inside posting pictures.

The humidity and heat have returned. And so have the updates.

A quick catch-you-up on favorite photos so far of 2009:

Charles has recently become very interested in trains. Train toys and pictures of trains. We thought he'd like riding on this train at a Family Fun Festival in town. You can see we were wrong. Even with Mommy he was only just putting up with it.

Typical Charles: hot and sweaty from playing ball!

If you look closely you can see the balled up socks by the wall under the crib. Charles let on to his stash after a nap one day, just after Mommy couldn't figure out why there were no clean socks in his drawer.

The innocent Charles pose. When he's into something he knows he shouldn't be, this is the sweet face he wears. (Daddy adds: But how mad can ya get when this is his reading material...my little theologian)

Here's a current favorite. He's getting to be a much neater eater these days (this was taken in January). Rarely do we catch on camera a genuine, happy countenance.