This is the smile I live for....
She looks so innocent
She loved playing in the snow without her coat on!
This is my favorite picture. Charlotte Big Eyes!
A smile to melt your heart! 
12 years ago
Friday, January 22, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Time marches ON...
OK so it has been since July since I have updated this blog. In that time we have been to London and back. Charlotte has turned two. Jim got his dream job and then didn't get his dream job, all in 48 hours. It seems we have done so much that it is going to be hard to shorten it up for this blog. I think you get the picture that a lot has happened. So I guess we should start with where we left off.......
This makes me long for summer
Charlotte and I had our first adventure in international travel together in August. We went to London for my niece Kerie's wedding. Most people would think I was absolutely insane to travel with a 18 month old baby, alone, 3,000 miles away from every routine that we had set up. I would tell that person that they were right. The plane ride there was a breeze. We left late at night so she was tired and she fell asleep in the U.S.A. and woke up somewhere over Ireland . So it was perfect. Once we got there though she ended up doing the same "don't even look @ me unless your name is momma thing she did in Indiana." It took Cherie taking a leap of faith that I wouldn't kill her if she stepped in and tried to get Charlotte to go with her alone. The funny thing is she thought I would get upset with her if she stepped in and I was worried the crying and whining was upsetting her, so we spent most of the vacation walking on eggshells until she realized that I hold her opinion to a very high standard and there is nothing she could say or do that would upset me. I crave her advice when it comes to Charlotte. So we took Charlotte to her first West Ham Match and Cherie took Charlotte for a little walk and Charlotte cried her eyes out, but Cherie was able to break her and after that all was calm in the kingdom. We both agreed we were stupid for not doing it sooner, because after that Charlotte was a different baby.. So Charlotte got comfortable just in time for us to leave. Now we are on Skype and Charlotte see them all the time, so the next time we go over it will be a lot easier because Charlotte will know them and remember them, and Cherie and I will not be afraid of hurting the others feelings or stepping on each others toes....All I can say about the plane ride back home is Thank you Benadryl!!!........ The wedding was really nice and I really like Kerie's husband Brian. I wish we would have had more time with them. We went over to Kerie's for her famous roast dinner, which was amazing as usual! I was really on edge though. Charlotte was still being a nightmare and Kerie has dogs and cats and tons of things for little hands to get into. It was weird because normally I feel very comfortable with everyone but with Charlotte it made me realize that we do in fact live three thousand miles apart and I felt like a visitor for the first time ever. It didn't help that Charlotte was tired and I was just trying to keep the crabbies at bay and also trying to keep her from destroying anything. It made me really sad that we live so far apart. I really can't wait to go back once Charlotte is a little older. We didn't even go to the west end, so we have to go back and get Charlotte's picture taken if front of big Ben. I promised Cherie I would be back and I plan on keeping that promise sooner rather then later.We took Charlotte to her first West Ham match and she couldn't understand how everyone knew the words to bubbles. This is when Cherie took Charlotte and finally got her to stop crying. I spent a ton of money in the fan shop but I am glad I did. We are now on Skype so Charlotte gets to see and talk to them all the time now so I think it will make it easier when we go back.
Cherie and Charlotte
MR. & Mrs. Brian Kerr
A kiss from the mother-in-law.
West Ham Stadium
Cherie and Charlotte. This was her attitude most of the time we were there! 
Cemetery in London
I love the old cemeteries in London. I know it is weird but it is beautiful and creepy @ the same time.
We had a family reunion before we went to London. It was really nice to see everyone and I was able to hand out copies of the family pictures and the old 8mm movies that I have been working on. I am still slowing working on the rest of the pictures and the 8mm movies. I have a few more movies that I need to take to walmart and have them transferred to DVD, but that has been on hold until I get the funds to do it. I haven't been to Poynette to copy anymore of the Allen book, but I do plan on going back this spring. I have started to add some of my family history to it, and I have been trying to collect documents from the family. I have gotten several birth, and census records from Scotland. I posted them on the Kluge/Allen family website if you would like copies you can go there and find them. I really think everyone needs to keep visiting this website so we can keep it up and going. I know there was talk about creating a facebook page for the family and I think that would be a great idea too, but I like being able to see what everyone is up to so please keep visiting the site as often as possible. Just drop in and post a update about what is happening with your family.
OK that takes us to September and October. I can't really remember anything that happened in those two months that has to do with the family as a whole. Charlotte's adopted Grandma Monya and Grandpa Dave became grandparents to their first grandchild. I was so happy for them. Josephine was born in October, and to my utter surprise Charlotte was not the least bit jealous of her. If fact she really enjoys helping and playing with Josephine. Josephine is an absolutely beautiful baby and she has such a laid back personality. I think her and Charlotte will be best buddies...OK what else??? Halloween.... I went and bought a really cute doctor costume for Charlotte, and then it ended up being really cold and generally miserable for Halloween, so being the horrible parents we are, we skipped the trick or treating all together. She still has the costume and she loves to dress up in it. In fact she likes to dress up all the time. It is her favorite thing to do. She loves hats. She is always wearing a hat. I think it is so funny. I have a girly girl and it is kind of nice because I was a tom boy growing up and now I get to do all the girly things with her. She has a whole crate of dress up clothes and she loves to pick out stuff and put it on. I absolutely love it.
Dr. Charlotte Ferguson.....It has a nice ring to it:)
Vogue!
Pictures of Josephine I took for Monya and Rachael
Josephine
Monya holding Josephine.
Grandma Monya, Charlotte, and Josephine
Charlotte baking cookies
I will use my fingers instead ofblowing!
This makes me long for summerCharlotte and I had our first adventure in international travel together in August. We went to London for my niece Kerie's wedding. Most people would think I was absolutely insane to travel with a 18 month old baby, alone, 3,000 miles away from every routine that we had set up. I would tell that person that they were right. The plane ride there was a breeze. We left late at night so she was tired and she fell asleep in the U.S.A. and woke up somewhere over Ireland . So it was perfect. Once we got there though she ended up doing the same "don't even look @ me unless your name is momma thing she did in Indiana." It took Cherie taking a leap of faith that I wouldn't kill her if she stepped in and tried to get Charlotte to go with her alone. The funny thing is she thought I would get upset with her if she stepped in and I was worried the crying and whining was upsetting her, so we spent most of the vacation walking on eggshells until she realized that I hold her opinion to a very high standard and there is nothing she could say or do that would upset me. I crave her advice when it comes to Charlotte. So we took Charlotte to her first West Ham Match and Cherie took Charlotte for a little walk and Charlotte cried her eyes out, but Cherie was able to break her and after that all was calm in the kingdom. We both agreed we were stupid for not doing it sooner, because after that Charlotte was a different baby.. So Charlotte got comfortable just in time for us to leave. Now we are on Skype and Charlotte see them all the time, so the next time we go over it will be a lot easier because Charlotte will know them and remember them, and Cherie and I will not be afraid of hurting the others feelings or stepping on each others toes....All I can say about the plane ride back home is Thank you Benadryl!!!........ The wedding was really nice and I really like Kerie's husband Brian. I wish we would have had more time with them. We went over to Kerie's for her famous roast dinner, which was amazing as usual! I was really on edge though. Charlotte was still being a nightmare and Kerie has dogs and cats and tons of things for little hands to get into. It was weird because normally I feel very comfortable with everyone but with Charlotte it made me realize that we do in fact live three thousand miles apart and I felt like a visitor for the first time ever. It didn't help that Charlotte was tired and I was just trying to keep the crabbies at bay and also trying to keep her from destroying anything. It made me really sad that we live so far apart. I really can't wait to go back once Charlotte is a little older. We didn't even go to the west end, so we have to go back and get Charlotte's picture taken if front of big Ben. I promised Cherie I would be back and I plan on keeping that promise sooner rather then later.We took Charlotte to her first West Ham match and she couldn't understand how everyone knew the words to bubbles. This is when Cherie took Charlotte and finally got her to stop crying. I spent a ton of money in the fan shop but I am glad I did. We are now on Skype so Charlotte gets to see and talk to them all the time now so I think it will make it easier when we go back.
Cherie and CharlotteMR. & Mrs. Brian Kerr
A kiss from the mother-in-law.
Bobbie and her boyfriend Jonathan. Aren't they cute together!
Jack and Bob
Sisters Kerie and Bobbie
Charlotte in front of a really cool spray painted store front on Roman Road
Bob and Charlotte @ the park that is just down the road from Cherie's house
Jack and Bob
Sisters Kerie and Bobbie
Charlotte in front of a really cool spray painted store front on Roman Road
Bob and Charlotte @ the park that is just down the road from Cherie's house
West Ham Stadium
Cherie and Charlotte. This was her attitude most of the time we were there!
Cemetery in London
I love the old cemeteries in London. I know it is weird but it is beautiful and creepy @ the same time.
We had a family reunion before we went to London. It was really nice to see everyone and I was able to hand out copies of the family pictures and the old 8mm movies that I have been working on. I am still slowing working on the rest of the pictures and the 8mm movies. I have a few more movies that I need to take to walmart and have them transferred to DVD, but that has been on hold until I get the funds to do it. I haven't been to Poynette to copy anymore of the Allen book, but I do plan on going back this spring. I have started to add some of my family history to it, and I have been trying to collect documents from the family. I have gotten several birth, and census records from Scotland. I posted them on the Kluge/Allen family website if you would like copies you can go there and find them. I really think everyone needs to keep visiting this website so we can keep it up and going. I know there was talk about creating a facebook page for the family and I think that would be a great idea too, but I like being able to see what everyone is up to so please keep visiting the site as often as possible. Just drop in and post a update about what is happening with your family.OK that takes us to September and October. I can't really remember anything that happened in those two months that has to do with the family as a whole. Charlotte's adopted Grandma Monya and Grandpa Dave became grandparents to their first grandchild. I was so happy for them. Josephine was born in October, and to my utter surprise Charlotte was not the least bit jealous of her. If fact she really enjoys helping and playing with Josephine. Josephine is an absolutely beautiful baby and she has such a laid back personality. I think her and Charlotte will be best buddies...OK what else??? Halloween.... I went and bought a really cute doctor costume for Charlotte, and then it ended up being really cold and generally miserable for Halloween, so being the horrible parents we are, we skipped the trick or treating all together. She still has the costume and she loves to dress up in it. In fact she likes to dress up all the time. It is her favorite thing to do. She loves hats. She is always wearing a hat. I think it is so funny. I have a girly girl and it is kind of nice because I was a tom boy growing up and now I get to do all the girly things with her. She has a whole crate of dress up clothes and she loves to pick out stuff and put it on. I absolutely love it.
Dr. Charlotte Ferguson.....It has a nice ring to it:)
Vogue!
Pictures of Josephine I took for Monya and Rachael
Josephine
Monya holding Josephine.
OK that now takes us to November and December.....The Holidays! Thanksgiving was pretty mundane for us. I cooked dinner and we had my dad over. That pretty much covers the excitement we had. Charlotte had her first experience baking cookies. It was so much fun having her help roll out the dough. She really likes to help do anything in the kitchen. I had stopped enjoying Christmas until we had Charlotte. After my mom died I just didn't enjoy Christmas because we did really have anyone that enjoyed it like I did. Jim's family really doesn't have any traditions and Christmas was my moms favorite holiday so I just longed for that enthusiasm and it just wasn't there until I had Charlotte to share it with. Sometime before Christmas I had Charlotte's pictures done by Jennifer Hagans again. I can not get myself to take her any place else to have her pictures done. I am so glad I answered the ad she posted on craigslist. I not only love the work she does, but I think of her as a friend. She always makes something for Charlotte to take home with her. The last time it was a blue and purple tutu, this time she made her a knitted hat. It is the hat she is wearing in the "big eyes" picture. I just love homemade things like that, so it was really nice. This time when we went we took Monya, and her daughter Rachael, and we had Baby Josephine's pictures done too. Both of the girls pictures turned out so beautiful. I know both Rachael and Monya were so happy with Jennifer's work. That brings us to Christmas and New Years. Christmas was really nice this year. Charlotte had so much fun. Jim and I had our first disagreement about holiday tradition. I have always been under the assumption that Santa Claus come on Christmas eve and leaves the presents so they are there Christmas morning. Well apparently in the Ferguson household Santa showed up early and left presents under the tree that were filled with coal until he later came back and magically turned them into gifts......OK so does this not sound like the stupidest thing you have ever heard. He could not tell me if his mom put the gifts under there two weeks or two days before Christmas. All he remembers is that the gifts were filled with coal until Santa came on Christmas eve and turned them into presents. First of all why the hell would Santa want to make two trips to every ones house, and second how do you know when to put them out. What exactly do you tell your kids. "Oh by the way Santa stopped today and dropped of your presents filled with coal.... Sorry but that is the dumbest thing I ever heard of. What I would really like to know is how do you keep your kids from peeking? I know if it was me the minute no one was around I would have been looking to see what was in the boxes. So needless to say this is one area that I would not compromise with Jim. Santa comes on Christmas eve and leaves the presents. End of discussion. Charlotte had a really nice Christmas and the look on her face Christmas morning was priceless. When she seen all the presents she was so excited and in that moment I think Jim understood why Santa has to come Christmas eve! New Years we stayed home and played cards with some of Jim's friends. It was a good time. I had one drink and I didn't even finish that. We were in bed by 11pm. We are a sad bunch of people, I know.
Grandma Monya, Charlotte, and Josephine
I will use my fingers instead ofblowing!Charlotte's birthday was on the 11th. She is now 2 years old. I had a doctors appointment that day so I had to take her to Grandma Monya's and Grandpa Dave's. When we get to the door they are both standing there and the have balloons and a huge Chocolate Chip cookie with two candles in it. They are singing happy birthday and then they hand her a present (savings Bond). I was so touched and completely surprised by that little act of love. Charlotte of course was just happy to have the balloons. That is why I love those two so much. They treat Charlotte like she is their own. If my mom was here she would treat Charlotte the way they do and that melts my heart. We had Charlotte's birthday party this last Saturday. We didn't have a big party, A. because we couldn't afford it, B. last year there were to many people crammed into my house, and C. I just wanted the people who were closest to her. It was perfect. We had my dad, Dave & Monya, Laurie, Herbie,B.J., and Nelly also, my nieces Kirstie and Kendra. Kirstie used my camera and took most of the pictures that day. She did a really good job. It was a complete success. I think it was just the right size. She got a few gifts,but the thing I like best is the college savings bonds. Everyone either got her one or is planning on getting her one. I would take these over gifts any day. The kid has enough toys & clothes. I tell everyone I would much rather you give her a $10 college bond then a $100 dollar toy. She already has a little over $500 in bonds. That makes me really happy. So that takes us through to this last weekend. I am sure I have forgotten a ton of things but I guess it is to late to try and remember. This catches us up to the here and now. Hopefully I will update again before six more months have passed. If not I will talk to you in June!
Kendra and Charlotte
Kendra and Charlotte
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