Christmas 2011 - A Big, Long Post!

Christmas was fun this year since AJ grasped the concept a little more.  He at least partially understands the concept of Santa Claus.  AJ got to meet St. Nick at a party earlier in December. He was a little nervous at first, but he warmed up as he saw how the other kids were happy to see him.  Santa officially won him over when he delivered a gift that turned out to be a monster truck!  At the ward Christmas party, AJ saw Santa again and received a candy cane.  After that, AJ often told anyone who asked, "Santa Claus brings candy canes!"

We also tried to focus on the message of Jesus this year, in a toddler-esque way: Christmas is Jesus's birthday! Since AJ love singing Happy Birthday and birthday parties, he seemed to get it. At least, if asked, "Who's birthday is it on Christmas?" He could give the right answer. 

Here is AJ on Christmas morning.  This may have been the last year we will ever get to sleep in on Christmas morning.  We didn't get downstairs until 8am.

 We didn't put any presents under the tree at all until Christmas morning, but AJ didn't seem impressed by the stack of them.  He did go straight for a new stuffed dinosaur from Aunt Betsy.

See?

We could have stopped right there and he would have been perfectly content. Next, AJ got to unwrap (or watch mom unwrap) his new sleeping bag! He wasn't that impressed with just the box.

But once we had it open so he could try it out, he became a happy little camper.

Next, snow boots!

An alligator dentist game from Santa. You push down the teeth and eventually the mouth snaps shut.

The alligator and the dinosaur were promptly introduced.

Looks like the alligator won, and it was funny! It is one mean alligator. For most of the rest of the day it chewed on Lightning McQueen. Sorry, no photo of that.

Next up: a big box of presents from Aunt Jessica.

Lots of great stuff! AJ was excited about the Potty Time with Elmo DVD. I know he paid attention the one time he watched it because he quotes it: "Pee pee! Poo poo! Doodee!" and "Hey Bear, whatcha doing? I'm using the potty!"

AJ also thought the packing peanuts were a part of the present. It was really funny to pretend to eat them and watch Mom freak out.

Batman!

We had to stop there for a while, because we had a busy day, but AJ got to eat a popcorn ball. Yummy.  Also in this photo is his favorite present from Aunt J: Jingle the puppy who interacts when you read a story about him.  AJ thinks it is delightful and we read it a lot.

We spend the rest of Christmas day with friends coming to our house for cinnamon rolls, church, and then a brunch with our neighbors, Bob and Mary.  They give AJ a big bag full of great presents (monster truck! garbage truck!) Then after a nap we went to another family's house for dessert.  By bedtime, AJ still had half his presents under the tree, and hadn't even touched his stocking yet!

So the next morning, we had Christmas, Part 2.  Here are some highlights.

A motorcycle from Santa. The other night I was eavesdropping on AJ while he chatted to himself before going to sleep. Amongst other funny things I heard was, "Santa Claus brought you motorcycle. That so nice! 

Ho ho ho!"

A big box from the Brown grandparents. AJ was more into the unwrapping on the second morning.

An electric drill that really works! So cool! Everything in my house is getting fixed these days. The toolbox has fun things to work on too. This has been a very popular toy with all the kids who have been to the house since Christmas, including girls.

And, finally, the stocking.

Thanks for all the great gifts AJ got from family all over.  There were too many to show off in this post, but he loves them all!  BTW, Jordan and I got some stuff too, but we all know who the true star of the show is, don't we?  We hope you all had a very merry Christmas like we did!

Gravelley Point Park

A few weeks ago we took AJ to Gravelly Point Park.  It is just across the river from Reagan National Airport, so it's one of the best places in the country to watch airplanes take off.  Since AJ has been obsessed with airplanes for a while, we thought it would be fun for him.

He did great while we watched a few airplanes land from the opposite end of the runway, but then when the airplanes started taking off over our heads, he got scared.

But once he got over the noise and figured out what was happening, he couldn't get enough. 

"AIRPLANE!"

"AIRPLANE!"

We can't get over how much we love this little boy!  It's so fun and exciting to see him develop interests and experience new things.

Weekend on the Shenandoah

In June we went to a "cabin" on the Shenandoah river with our friends, the Hamiltons.  The cabin actually turned out to be a really nice house with huge bedrooms and a great kitchen and living area.  It was very nicely decorated by a lover of Pottery Barn.

There was a set of kayaks and great fishing in the river, so fun was had by all. Jordan and Brett caught a fish on almost every cast they made their first time out.  Sara was so happy to be in a kayak and visiting with her friends. 

AJ had the best time of all.  He loved playing with "Abbeee," running around outdoors, throwing rocks in the river, and helping mom and dad paddle the boats.

We went on a few strolls and tried our hiking backback for AJ.  Last year he wasn't a fan, but this year he had a great time in it.

 Getting sleepy.....

 He just couldn't take it anymore.

We'd love to go back to this cabin every year.  It's only an hour and a half's drive from our house, and was so relaxing and comfortable.  We had a great time with the Hamiltons and are so glad they could join us.

Best Part of the Rockies Game

Watch AJ work the crowd with his superb dancing at the Rockies game.  You can hear people cheering.  There was nothing happening on the field, so all the cheering you hear was from the people watching AJ.

 

We'll sign him up for SYTYCD next.

Washington State

In June we took a trip way out west to see my little sister Betsy get married in Washington.  Since Jordan and I have wanted to visit WA for a long time together, we took advantage of the opportunity and spent a little extra time in Seattle, and we took the long route to Yakima through Mount Ranier National Park.

After a very long day of traveling, we checked into our Seattle hotel and walked down to Pikes Place Market.  We took a look around and bought some delicious cherries, then we went out to a little park overlooking the harbor.  AJ was really happy to finally have some outdoors freedom.  He took in the view a little, but mostly he chased pigeons and made friends with anyone who would pay any attention to his friendly advances.

 

 

That night we all went to bed at 7:30 pm Pacific time.  It was a good thing Jordan and I did, because at 4:30 am AJ was ready to rock and roll.  We ate a really expensive breakfast full of salmon and crab, then headed over to the Space Needle to see the view.  I would say we all drank the view in, but that wouldn't really be accurate.  Jordan (very patiently) chased AJ around the circle while I visited with an old high school friend.  Then we went to the nearby Children's Museum and continued to visit while the boys played.  AJ loved playing in a hands on water section of the museum. He looked adorable in the little rain jacket (too bad we found them after he was already soaked.)

After the museum Jordan and I toured expensive neighborhoods in Bellevue while AJ passed out in the car seat.  Then we picked up Betsy's friend, Felicia, at the airport and took a very scenic route to Yakima.  Just as we were teasing Jordan taking us to see the mythical Mt. Ranier, we got a great sighting of it.  The whole park was amazing and we were sad we only had time to drive through it.  
  

The big event was my little sister's wedding.  It was a great ceremony in the Columbia River Temple.  This is my favorite photo that I took.  I can't wait to see the official photos.

AJ had a great time getting to know his uncles, aunts and cousins.  We are so excited to see them all again in a week at the family reunion.  AJ misses his Uncle Sam and Uncle Steve.  He spent the whole day with them while Jordan and I went to the temple for the ceremony.

 

Congratulations, Betsy and Joe!!

Daily Walk

 
Every afternoon (almost) AJ and I go on a little walk outside.  AJ likes to run up and down the sidewalk.

We check out cars and stomp in puddles.

He meets all the neighbors.  He'll give a high five to anyone around. He supervises anyone doing housework outside.  We often go down the street to visit a water fountain in a neighbor's yard.  The people who live there always come out to say hi.  Sometimes we cross the bridge and follow the path through the woods to the fields behind the middle school.  Sometimes we just walk over to get the mail.  But whatever we do, there is one place that we must go: to visit AJ's best friend, our neighbor, Bob.

 AJ thinks if he stands around on Bob's sidewalk long enough, Bob will eventually come out.  AJ thinks this way because he is usually right. Sometimes I try to get AJ to knock on the door, but we are still working on that one.  Bob always come out and shouts, "Hey AJ!" They give each other high fives, and sit for a minute and talk.  Bob predicts a "Dennis the Menace and Mr. Wilson situation" over the next few years.  But Bob loves their friendship as much as AJ does.

We are grateful to have a little boy who loves to go outside, and for good neighbors who love to have AJ around.