Christmas Day

Christmas Day was lovely.  We are thankful Grammy and Grampy shared the day with us, and we missed loved ones we could not be with.  I am thankful for the thought and care that many people have shown us this season.  I thank my Mom for braving horrific lines at Seattle post offices.  I loved every Christmas card we got especially those with pictures.  I think the ornaments that Papa Bear and Nanny T have given Ethan have such warmth and humor!   I am touched that Ethan has two Great -Aunties, Lynnette and Elena, that show so much interest in his growth.  I appreciate that my brother's family took the time to read and record Ethan a story.  It makes all of us smile!  I am thankful for Jeremy.  He gives me a gift everyday when he goes to work and I get to stay at home with our little boy.  

We will be continuing to celebrate with a Sturtevant Christmas get-together this weekend, a  holiday lunch date with Papa Dan, and our tree staying up until Valentine's Day;)

Waiting for Grammy and Grampy to arrive.

Playing on his train table with Grampy

Ethan loves pull toys.  The fact that this one magnetically picks up shapes is super fun for him.

Ethan made us laugh when he stripped off his jammies and wanted his new shirt on.  It didn't bother him he was not given pants.

Inspecting his new duplos.  It's a proper cops and robbers set.  The thief has a 5 o'clock shadow and steals cakes on a motorcycle:)

Ethan giggles at cousin Drew's silliness and listens intently to cousin Carly's superb reading.

My Kitchen Christmas Elf

Ethan and I killed it.  The yam casserole was RAD!

Creative Play

 Making Playdoh cupcakes

 Showing off animals made by Dad

 Sleeping.  Propped up against the front door, under the floor mat.

I love this!  Should be called hand paint not finger paint...

Tis the Season with our Toddler

This holiday season has been really fun with Ethan. He recognizes "Ho Ho".  He admires decorations unlike last year when he just wanted to rip everything down.  His favorite holiday show is Mickey's Christmas Carol which he calls "Mickey Snow".  He now calls anything that is a deer, Rudolph.  It's just so fun to see him learn and say new things.  We love our special little boy:)

On a cold night we went into Portland for "Zoolights".  It was really impressive.  Ethan's favorite part was a train ride.

Ethan said "cock-a-doodle-doo" to this light sculpture .

 Playing with our Rudolph snow globe.  He's wearing (just barely) a knit elf hat Dianna made him for his 1st Christmas. 

After we hung up a snowman decoration, he took off the sticky carrot nose, placed it on himself and proudly wore his new carrot nose.

 Making Gingerbread cookies with Mom.  He calls them "little men" and told me that being covered in flour is "nasty".  Haha

Placing the first ornament on our tree with a little help from Dad.  As he hung more ornaments, he only wanted to put them all side by side on this same branch.  So charming:)

 Every star is a "twinkle star" to Ethan:)

Ethan is really drawn to this heart ornament.

Our little angel wears his star halo.

A Winter Night at Grammy and Grampy's

Hard to believe this is the first time Ethan has spent the night at Grammy and Grampy's. 

So much fun!

 Exploring on Grammy and Grampy's farm in Albany, Oregon.

 Ethan puts on ear protection to ride Grampy's mower.

 Ethan was excited to ride the mower...until it got moving.  Most of the ride he had a really funny, wide eyed look.

 While cruising past the bird feeders that he helped fill up earlier, Ethan breaks into a smile.

 In Grammy's arms

 When the neighbor's pony sees Ethan and Grammy coming with apples, he whinnies and comes running.

 Puddle stomping at the tree lot.

Ethan's first candy cane.  Delicious!  His sweat shirt is decorated with sticky notes.  He had a blast stapling them together and taping them on with Grampy's help.

Sharing:)

Proudly showing off his treat while Dad holds our cute Christmas tree.

After the tree lot, we visited the Albany Carousel Museum .  It was amazing!  Ethan rides ("dipping"as he calls it) a frog that will be part of the finished carousel.

This pictures says so much. Each horse takes 3 years to carve by hand!   I love that the artist is happy to see his incomplete Pegasus being ridden by our little boy.

A bunny is decorated for the holidays in the gift shop.

Truly beautiful.  Having grown up with a carousel myself, I think they are truly so special.  I am excited for Ethan to ride and love this carousel.