Merry Christmas!

The anticipation for Christmas has been building...visiting with Santa, reading a lot of Christmas books, watching the classics (Rudolph, Frosty, Charlie Brown, etc.), singing Christmas carols, and finally, putting out the milk and cookies for Santa (and a carrot for Rudolph). We've been getting ready for this moment, and now it's here. Merry Christmas!

Stanley couldn't wait for Santa to come down the chimney, but honestly he was getting a little weirded out by it last night. Matt made a thump from the other room, and Stanley said, "Mommy, what's that noise?" I said, "I think it's daddy." And Stanley said, "No! It's Santa Claus!" So I suggested we should go peek in the chimney to check if it's him. He ran to me and hugged my legs and said, "No! No!" I guess the idea of a stranger breaking into our house is a little scary, but the fact that he brings presents makes it all better.

When Stanley woke up this morning, he was very excited to see his presents. We had to wait a few minutes for him to get out of bed, so his daddy could set up the video camera. When he finally came out of his room dragging his fuzzy truck blanket, he started pointing at all the presents. Then he noticed that the carrot and cookies had been eaten. "Mommy! Rudolph ate my carrot!"

After opening almost every present he yelled, "Just what I wanted!" He got two helicopters, a truck matching game, Thomas tracks and trains, books, a fire truck puzzle, flashlight, harmonica, new Eric Carle bike helmet and matching horn, Thomas slippers and shirt, Magna Doodle, and Hot Wheels and case. He also got the specific toy he requested from Santa in person and letter: a blue police car with a button that you push to say "Weee Oooo! Weee Oooo!"

We ate homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast, he played and played with all his toys, and then he went outside to ride his bike with his new helmet. Unfortunately the horn broke with the first crash. He came inside for lunch and quickly took a nap.

Thank you to everyone for calling, mailing presents and cards, and sending us love from so many places around the country. We love all our friends and family and feel lucky to have you as part of our lives. Unfortunately, we don't get to see each other in person as much as we'd like, but you are in our thoughts more than you know. Merry Christmas!

The night before Christmas...

Just waking up and seeing his presents for the first time

Opening the first present

Playing with his new Cranky crane

Too busy for a picture

The aftermath

Breakfast!

Sleepy Christmas kid

Santa

Stanley has seen Santa twice this season so far. He's really excited for Santa to come down the chimney and bring him presents on Christmas!

Waiting in line to see Santa!

Telling Santa: "I want a real police car with buttons that you push that says, 'Wee Oooo Wee Oooo!'"

Stanley is very serious about his meeting with Santa. :)

At another occasion, Santa read the kids a book while they ate milk and cookies.

We want Bootsy!

We were lucky enough to find out about a random, obscure event that happened today. It was an event put on by Old Navy in Boring, OR. They were "making Boring fun!" Everything was free: donuts, coffee, hot dogs, clothes, hula hoops, and the best of all...a concert by Bootsy Collins!! This was Stanley's first official concert, and he had a blast! In the car on the way home we asked Stanley what his favorite part of the day was. He said, "I like that Bootsy guy! He's funny!"

Playing with his new hula hoop 

Enjoying Bootsy with Mommy

Best seat in the house

Two funkateers

Thanksgiving

We had wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with our friends, The Houstons. Stanley was having so much fun with his buddy, Ella, that he didn't eat anything!

Stanley and Ella at the kids' table

New Bike

Stanley got a new bike with money for his birthday from Great-Grandpa. It's a Strider bike, which is a balance bike. It doesn't have any pedals. He uses his feet to move the bike, and it helps him practice his balance. He loves his orange bike!

 This is the bike store before we bought the bike. I was trying to take Stanley's picture, and he's making his "Don't take my picture, Mom" face.

 Happy kid riding his bike at the park

 Getting the hang of it

 Stanley wanted to ride down this huge grass hill. He was going really fast and giggling the whole way down.

Playing in the leaves after bike-riding

Halloween

Halloween was so fun this year! We went to the pumpkin patch, carved jack-o-lanterns, and of course, went trick-or-treating.

Stanley's first hay ride. He was a little nervous, but definitely loved it in the end.

Family hay-ride fun!

Finding a bumpy pumkin

"This one is my favorite!"

Pony ride!

Helping daddy scoop out the pumpkin

Scooping out the pumpkin

Stanley loved trick-or-treating! He said trick-or-treat at every door, and he couldn't wait to go to the next house.

Stanley as a tiger and mommy as Strawberry Shortcake

Look at all the candy!

Happy Halloween! The best one yet!

Apple Tasting

A fun fall tradition for us is going to the Apple Tasting at the Portland Nursery. It is such a fun event with games, cider, pumpkins, and of course, apples!

 Painting a pumpkin

 Throwing bean bags

 Drinking apple cider

 Hanging with his buddy, Jace

Looking at gourds

First Trip to the Dentist

Stanley went to the dentist for the first time! He had a great time in the waiting room, but when it came to having someone clean his teeth, he made it clear that wasn't going to happen. Oh well! Better luck next time!

Here he is at Lincoln Dental!

Stanley loved playing with the toys in the waiting room.

The dentist is great, Mommy!

Wait! What is going on here?

The ride in the chair is ok, but that's all for me. Get me outta here!

Stanley's Second Birthday Party

On September 5, Stanley turned 2! He had a fun birthday party at our house with all his friends. Here are some highlights:

Everything set up for the party to begin!

Stanley loved his bulldozer and dump truck cakes!

Bulldozer cake!!

All the kids got to take home construction hats and buckets and shovels.

Looking for more friends to arrive

Playing in the sandbox with his friends

Eating sloppy joes with Jace

Everyone hanging out and eating lunch in the yard

Relaxin' at the party

Sitting with daddy

Ella driving by as Stanley opens his presents

Opening his new Thomas trains

Opening presents: A new Mercer Mayer book!

Eating cake

Blowing out his "2" candle