Merry Christmas to All and to All a Goodnight!

Grayson had such a great Christmas. Him and daddy began by putting out donuts and cookies out for Santa. Grayson also wrote him a letter and left food for his reindeer (puppy chow desert mix). He also left Santa a juice box to wash down the cookies and donuts. While writing the letter, Grayson kept saying, "Ho! Ho! Ho!" Marc and I were so excited to watch Grayson this year opening presents! He couldn't wait to tear into them! He even opened our presents. Santa left Grayson a tool bench. Now him and daddy can drill things and hammer them! Yea! Santa was sure to fill his stocking with lots of goodies, more 'BackYardigan's videos and 'Potty Time With Elmo.' He also got a track to play cars on.

After nap, we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's for dinner and gift exchanging. Grayson even had a stocking from Santa at their house. It was full of fun stuff too! He got a train whistle, some movies, 'Scooby -Doo' and another train set. Grandpa and Grandma also got Grayson a train table!!! Let me put it bluntly... play train is about the only thing he wants to do at the moment. He makes his rounds everyday playing with all his new gifts.

I hope everyone had a very special Christmas too! Marc and I had another big surprise, Grayson decided he was done with his baby bed. When Grandpa was over watching him the other day, he decided he was going to climb out. We spent the rest of the evening moving stuff and turning his bed into a toddler bed. I am happy to say that the transition has been great. We are so proud of him! He stays in his bed during the evening and nap time and still goes to sleep with no problem. He continues to amaze us. He woke up from his nap today singing Jingle Bells!:)

Today was not a great one, Grayson has gotten another ear infection. Every time he catches a cold from someone and has drainage, he ends up with an ear infection. So I guess we will have to steer clear of any one who knowingly has a cold b/c if he gets another infection he has to go to a specialist:(! We will just have to watch where we go and what we do for a while!

Happy New Year to everyone! Hope this year brings many wonderful surprises!:)

Christmas with The Lyons Family

On Sunday, we headed up to Monticello to celebrate Christmas with my dad's side of the family! Grayson did pretty good for 2.5 hour trip there and 2.5 hours back! He watched some BackYardigans on the way and Scooby! We had so much fun once we got there! It was a wonderful time! I always looked forward as a child going up to see Wendy and Noreen. They are my cousins that are my age. We had so much fun growing up together! We all have children now so it is really special to see all of our kids together and how much they just love one another. All the kids were so good with Grayson. Grayson wanted to rough house and wrestle with his older boy cousins (Broderick, Braedon and Dane)! He just loved it! He has a soft spot for his cousin Kennedi! His cousin Ashley was there also! Grayson didn't want to leave when it was time to go! And to top off the day, Santa came by for a visit and passed out toys to all the kids! everyone sat on his lap and told him what they wanted. Grayson even sat by him. As you can see, he didn't want his picture taken. He wanted to go back and play with Dane and his trucks! The day couldn't have gotten any better! Everything was so nice! Family, that is what the holidays are all about and remembering who made it all possible!

Decorating Cookies with 'The Gang'

Grayson did a little cookie decorating this year at Holly's house. He was so excited to see everyone! They all ran around acting silly chasing one another like they always do! Grayson wanted to eat the cookies more than he wanted to decorate. That's OK! As long as he is having fun, that's what matters the most!Grayson enjoys Holly's toys b/c they are new to him! He has found a new love for Scooby Doo and Holly has the Christmas video so that was even more special. Grayson is so lucky to have such great friends to play with. Kameron came over too along with Palmer and Lily! They are all 'The Gang' as we like to call them!

Christmas at The Zoo with Grandma

Last week we took Grayson to Christmas at The Zoo and Grandma came to celebrate with us! We went around the circle to see the tree of lights! It was neat to share that with our son. I remember going there as a child with my parents. Mom always made that a big to do! Afterwards, we headed over to the zoo. The lights were so pretty! Grayson pet the sharks. He thinks that is so cool! We strolled through the zoo looking at lights and then headed over to visit Santa. Grayson and Grandma decorated cookies. Grayson didn't want to give up the sprinkles for the cookies, not even to Mrs. Claus! Grayson liked the reindeer also. I think his favorite part was looking at the trains. Our boy loves his trains! We all had a great time. It was a fun way to celebrate the season!

The Secret of Snow

This years first snow was an all new adventure for Grayson. He wasn't too sure about it at first. He didn't like that it stuck to his shoes and clothes but then I started running all around in it. Once he saw I thought it was fun, he decided the same. We had fun chasing Macie our snow dog. Macie just loves the snow and always has since she was a puppy. Grayson played until the snow got so tall he fell down and that was the last of it, he said to me, "Mommy ought oh!" He got some new snow boots the other day and has been running around the house in them.

Grayson spent some time withe Jack this week. They always have fun playing. I actually got them to sit in front of the tree together. I had to be fast though! Grayson also went down to Palmer and Lily's this week. When Marc went to pick him up, he insisted on staying longer. He decided he was staying for lunch. I could tell when I dropped him off that he missed them. He didn't even cry, he just ran in the door straight over to the toys. He can also says Palmer now. Sherry was amazed at all the words he can say now. Just a few weeks makes a big difference.

Grayson has become our little repeater. He tries to say everything we say these days. We all stayed in this weekend with a bit of a cold. I think we are all on the up swing of the bug but we shall see.

Jolly Days at The Museum

Well, we all went to Jolly Days at The Children's Museum. It was so much fun. Matt, Kriste and Jack met us there too. Grayson went down the slide 3 times, thanks to daddy. Afterward, we headed over to visit Santa and play in the Wonderland area. The boys had a blast! Grayson went ice fishing and played on the ice castle. Kriste and I waited in line to see Santa while the boys played. The line wasn't that bad. It went pretty fast. Grayson gave Santa 5 and knuckles. Marc and I went and sat with him in hopes he wouldn't be afraid like last year and that seemed to work. We got a really nice picture of the 3 of us. I told Marc, "I bet the last time you or I sat with Santa was when we were kids." Like they say, "You get to be a kid all over again when you have a little one of your own." It makes the holidays so magical!

Trim a Tree

Grayson was a wonderful decorator as you can see and only imagine. He thought the downstairs was Gymboree. He was climbing on top of boxes, sitting on them, crawling in them and rocking them. Have I left any thing out. and o- the lights, he just could not resist! He pulled them all over the house rapping them around the ottoman while the cat chased after him. As we hung ornaments, he took ornaments. He walked into the tree pushing his way through the branches until there was no were else to go. I am glad he go that out of his system. Putting up the tree was lots of fun with Grayson entertaining us. We were all exhausted when we were finished! Lexie, one of our cats decided to help too by trying to eat the garland. Grayson was thirsty so he drank out of the angles plastic container. How tasty!:)

Merry Christmas!! Only 25 days!!!

Thursday with Grandma

Grayson gave Grandma the best gift ever, he can actually say,'Grandma' now instead of Gram! She was so excited! He called her on the phone the other evening and told her about 'Cooby' (Scooby-Doo) one of his Christmas ornaments. Grandma came over the other day and we all went to Conner Prairie (her treat) to check out their new Discovery Center. Grayson had the entire place to himself! How nice was that! It is a new play area that just opened this summer for the little ones. There was a huge train table, play kitchen with a wooded stove and table and chairs just his size. There were farm animals and a cow that he could actually milk! Wow! I thought that was pretty neat. He liked riding the tractor too! He planted some carrots and potatoes in the garden. Afterward, we picked up some lunch and headed home for nap time. I left shortly to have my hair done. (a little mommy time)

Grandma and Grayson had some one on one time, so that was nice. Grandma and Grandpa are off to Florida now. We told Grayson they were going to see Mickey and he kept saying 'Meekey?' He is excited about Mickey! I am sure he will get a special surprise when they return. Tomorrow we are headed over to the Children's Museum to see Santa and celebrate Jolly Days!

Cousins Rule!

Grayson had fun on Thanksgiving! He liked playing with his cousins from Monticello, IN. Grayson especially liked Kinnedy. He thought she was funny and cute. Grayson was looking forward to spending time with Gram and Paw-Paw. They have so many fun things to do over at their house and they give him lots of love and attention. Which everyone one knows he is NOT lacking in that area!

On Friday we stayed around the house after we went to lunch since Marc had to work that evening. He had a booth for his store set up with cookies, coffee and hot chocolate since the lighting of the Christmas Tree was on the circle and as you all know, that is where his store is (the Chase Towers). We use to go for the festivities but it is not very toddler friendly with all the crowds and it is way past his bed time.

Saturday, I went to my Grandmother's 85th birthday party for a bit while Grayson was napping. It was kind of nice not worrying about chasing him all over but to just sit and visit. I did miss them though. It was nice to see my cousins that are my age on the Callaway side of the family I had not seen in awhile. That evening, we went to church. Grayson got to visit with Jack! Once he saw Jack in the giraffe room, everything was better. We were OK to leave him.

When Grayson wakes up from his nap, we are putting up the Christmas Tree:) We enjoyed our long weekend! It was nice and relaxing!

One Little Indian Boy!

Grayson is getting ready to visit Gram and Papa's for a turkey feast! HE has been cooking all morning. Play dough cake and cookies! What a treat! He made some cupcakes also! Grayson has had fun playing with Jack several times this week! Jack came over Monday and Grayson went to his house on Wednesday! Kriste made him lunch.. how nice! Grayson has been wearing his hat he made at school around the house and at breakfast. He is so pumped up that daddy is home for the next 5 days! WOW!!! When Grayson and Iwent to the store yesterday, he got all excited when he saw cupcakes!! He just had to get some. We made them when we got home and as you can see by the icing all over his face he loves them.

Happy Turkey Day!! Gobble! Gobble!

Sundays Fundays!

Grayson went to the Children's Museum today. We wanted to see the new exhibit, 'Children Making a Difference.' Grayson is always up for a visit to the museum! The exhibit is really amazing but be sure to bring along some tissue!! It is good to remember our mistakes and learn from them! Jolly days are coming up at the museum and we can't wait for that to begin!!! We plan on going at the beginning of December.The polar bear will be there to great everyone as they walk in the door. Santa is also stopping by. The stair case in the lobby is turned into a giant slide!:) WoW!! The tree is already decorated and snow flakes are hanging from the ceiling. Grayson is lucky that his mom and dad get just as excited about the museum as he does! Grayson and daddy had fun playing on the slide in the mummy's tomb. They were tomb raiders!

Grayson got a sand and water table recently that we filled with rice. He had the best time playing with daddy in it. It made a bit of a mess but that's what being a kid is all about! They have one at his school too so we knew he would enjoy it! Grayson's vocab just keeps expanding. He likes to tell me we are going to have a "GOOD DAY." He also like saying, "Good Luck." His latest is, "I don't know!" When he destroys his train set, I'll ask him if he did that and his reply is, "Macie," our dog. What a character!