Merry Christmas!

It wasn't about the boxes or the wrapping paper this year - it was about the toys!

Alex got a fabulous teepee that Grammy & Grampa Nice built with the (tons) of camo fabric that Mom has on hand... it's just big enough for Stan or I and Alex to be in it. Alex can stand up in it and they gave him his own flashlight too. It was LOTS of fun! His own hiding place!

They also got him a magna-doodle that he loves (so do we, less mess than markers).

Auntie Valerie got him tons of goodies. Play Dough and crayons and a new pad of drawing paper. A spinning top and some books, and, and, and... a piggy bank. He's a smart kid. When he put in the few coins that were included he made the rounds to everyone else asking for change - and he's so cute that everyone obliged! He made out like a bandit, everyone in the family emptying their pockets for him! It was too funny.

GG and Granddad got him a shape sorter with tons of different shapes. He already figured out how to get the lid off and just dumps them all in the top! He'll get the hang of it soon enough though. It was lots of fun to shake and fill and dump! They also got him a little matchbox car that makes noise and lights up when you roll it! Alex drove it up one side of Mommy and down the other making vroom-vroom noises the whole time. It drove all over the house - and then we left it at Grammy & Grampa's to continue making noise there! :)

Uncle Scott & Aunt Kathy bought him a dune buggy that lights up, makes noise and drives 4WD when you shake it then put it down! It drove over Daddy's legs in the recliner!

Auntie Liz gave him one of her favorite books. The Clown of God, an italian Christmas story I'd never heard of. Alex loved the illustrations. I'm sure it will come to be a favorite for us too.

Stan & I learned Pinochle from Grandmother & Granddad. Granddad and I paired up against Stan & Grandmother. We actually tied at 700 points after 5 rounds and called it quits. It was lots of fun. Like 42 in dominoes that we've been playing with Mom & Dad. Then Alex woke up from his nap. Poor kid has a cough and is still cutting both bottom eye teeth!

We had lots of fun. A Merry Christmas for everyone!

Alex and I had fun this weekend. Stan had a job that took him out of town, so it was just the two of us. We spent lots of time together.

I finally got to catch up on some long overdue grocery shopping. Re-stocked the pantry. Alex helped. He thought he was big stuff standing in the pantry. I'd hand him a can, he'd put it away.


Funny thing was, when we got to the small cans of diced green chilis, he thought they were pears and asked to eat them!

I was nice and actually gave him pears. (I can't say I didn't think about popping open the chilis and letting him try...)

Granddad & Me

I love my Granddad. He's also my Daddy's Granddad, so really, he's my Great Granddad. But we just call him Granddad because we all already know he's Great! He loves hugs and toy cars and has a big recliner we can sit in together.

I love to go. He does too. We are going to take lots of walks together, especially now that he lives so close to us. (Grandmother & Granddad even have a playground in their backyard and a little red wagon we can put goodies in to take with us and collect things in.)

Daddy and I are spending the day at their house to help them move in. Granddad and I are going to check the mail. He holds my hand and walks slow, and I like that (he never rushes me like Mommy & Daddy).

Granddad's like me, only bigger. I'm going to love spending time with him!

You had me at Elephant...

Alex is learning to read. He has this little book that's sort of more like flash cards on rings with a little handle so you can carry it around (like you need an excuse to carry a book around, but anyway...)

So, he brought it up to Stan the other morning. The exchange went something like this:

Stan: Apple
Alex: Appaa

Stan: Ball
Alex: Baa

Stan: Cow
Alex: Coww

Stan: Dog
Alex: Doggie

Stan: Elephant
Alex: Wow

Stan: Frog
Alex: Wow

He knows Frog, but we lost him at Elephant so everything else in the book became "Wow"!

Wow!

... captured on film!

We promised that it happened, it just had yet to be captured on film... What is it? SLEEP!


Now, I should disclaim that Alex was sick with a nasty cold. He was lounging in his favorite chair, watching his favorite show (for the 14 millionth time). Stan used the bathroom or did something equally important that sometimes has to wait for a vegitative moment with the Backyardigans and when he came back... Alex was out. Poor kid. You know you're sick when you fall asleep in middle of your favorite show!

yogurt gotee

Alex has figured out how to use a spoon! We just had to have the right motivation - his favorite soy yogurt! He can now feed himself (Mom standing by to trim his beard with an extra spoon)

Doggies

Alex read his Doggies book to himself this morning (while wearing his doggie PJ's).

In case you're not familiar with the book, it goes something like this: Dog, dog, dog. Dog, dog, dog, dog, dog, dog... Dog, dog, dog. Oooh, dog, dog, dog... I di it.