Thursday, December 25, 2008

Christmas Day










Where to begin? Christmas was amazing! Our family is so blessed to have our families near by and uncles that enjoy visiting us! We opened lots of gifts from Santa, great grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and good friends. What a blast! Thank you everyone!!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Christmas Eve Snow & Fun










We just went to bed so that Santa can come! I was a bit of a cranky boy this morning and early afternoon, but I was much better this evening and went to bed without any problems. Most likely because I want Santa to come soon! I picked five cookies and three carrots to put on a plate for Santa. I also wrote him a note that says, "Dear Santa, Thank you for the presents." I wrote it all out by myself with Mommy spelling it out for me.

I've been asking my parents almost nonstop if I can open a gift today, and well, all week. When Grandma and Grandpa showed up today, the first thing I asked in the sweetest voice was, "Can I please open a present now?"

Mommy did let my brothers and I all open a gift each earlier this evening. I got a dinosaur watch from Angie that I LOVE! Gavin got lots of little animals and dinosaurs from Angie that he let us all play with, and Ben got two sets of p.j.'s from Grandma and Grandpa that he and Gavin wore to bed tonight. Yippee!

Unfortunately, due to the weather, my other Grandma and Grandpa (Daddy's folks) didn't make it up today. They're planning on driving up tomorrow and we can't wait to see them!

We did have a blast playing out in the snow this morning with Daddy, Uncle Bob, and Uncle Brad. Daddy made four snowmen! Two in back, two in front. The last one was 7 ft. tall and all three had to lift it's head on! Bob did a lot of snow shoveling and my brothers enjoyed helping him with that. Grandma read us Christmas stories tonight while Grandpa helped Daddy with a project, not Christmas related. (Yes, even on Christmas Eve my parents have him working! Geesh!)

Monday, December 22, 2008

Snow-Day 9







Hard to believe the snow's been here for over a week now and it just keeps coming! Comparison shots from earlier posts, out the front door, where we normally have a step down, and in the back, where the planter box is completely covered. Hard to see right away, but icicles have formed off the gutters in the last picture.

Inside, Ben lined up the magnetic letters last night, then tore them off this morning. We all piled on Mommy's lap this morning to watch cartoons. Her head is just behind Gavin's, but she cropped herself off.

Uncle Brad was supposed to fly in from Bend today, where he spent a couple of days with his buddy. The only flight out is to LAX, which would take him back home! So, we're hoping he will make it in tomorrow. Uncle Bob is supposed to arrive tomorrow as scheduled also. Maybe they can ride the MAX together and Daddy can pick them both up at once.

I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Winter Wonderland


It's hard to tell, but the top of our van is piled high! Daddy moved it outside this morning to put chains on his car in the garage. He couldn't get it back up the driveway ten minutes later, so the street became it's home.




Mommy took a couple of shots this afternoon, then again just now at 8 PM. It just keeps piling up! Daddy says it's 9 - 10 inches right now. A nice think layer of ice is supposed to form over it tomorrow. That should make for some slip sliding fun!

Friday, December 19, 2008

Bedtime Hugs

For the last few weeks, I've found it absolutely necessary to hug my brothers before they go to bed. However, I usually don't make the attempt until after they are already settled in their cribs.

After baths, we read stories, brush our teeth, then Mommy and Daddy always announce, "It's bedtime" or "Time for bed." Ben almost always grabs the closest toy and runs off down the hallway to his room, in full cooperation. Gavin generally is a bit more disgruntled, sometimes strolling off to his room with his baby doll or a toy, sometimes whining, "No!"

My parents have learned to ask me if I would like to give them hugs before they head to bed, but I often ignore them, then chase after the rest of the family down the hall, yelling, "I want to give Ben a hug first! I want to give Gavin a hug before he gets in the crib!"

Exhausted from the day, Mommy especially finds this irritating, but for the most part, let's me climb the outside of the crib and lean over to hug my brothers. (She is learning to enforce the "hugs before departing the family room" rule now.)

Once they are settled in, one of my parents will follow me into my room to tuck me in, whereas I tend to ask for the other parent to read me a story that night. So, the one that followed me in will go get a water for me and the other parent to read me a story. I don't grumble quite as much as I used to and allow only one story to be read to me at that time. (I used to scream for more!)

My parents count their blessings that all three of us are usually sound asleep within 15 minutes or less. Ahhhh.

Indoor fun at Munchkin Playland








We actually left the house ONCE this week and met up with Aunt Corrine and Cousin Zoey at Munchkin Playland near their house (and ours). The roads were (mostly) dry with small patches of ice on Tuesday when we went out.

And more snow . . .





Just can't get enough of it here this year. Maybe Uncle Bob and Uncle Brad will get to enjoy a White Christmas with us as well. They're used to a lot of sunshine down in Southern California, so this will be quite a change. I can't wait to play in the snow with them!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

More Snow!



I enjoyed hours of fun out in the snow this morning with all of the neighborhood kids. And it's still snowing even more! We're going on 3 days of no school, and Mommy thinks tomorrow and Friday will be canceled, too.

Daddy's been getting into work late and getting off work at 4 PM, taking the MAX into downtown and back, getting home around 5:45. Today he gets off at 2 PM! Mommy's so glad he took his chains today also!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Let it snow!







Whee! What fun we had outside this morning at the neighbor's house!