Let Me Tell You Something Brother

This is Ryan's Peapooh (aka Mommy's Dad).

This is who Ryan thinks is his Peapooh.  When he sees a picture of Hulk Hogan, he insists that it is Peapooh.

Flashback Photo of the Week

Here is Ryan on New Year's Eve.  For the longest time, the remote was also a telephone.  Here he is trying to call someone on the remote.

Christmas Day Part III - Going Home

Woodbridge - Some how we managed to get out and get home.  Daddy got up and dug a hole out of the driveway.  Daddy and Grumpy somehow got all the Christmas loot loaded into the PT Cruiser and we headed home.  By the time we got to Richmond, there was hardly any snow on the ground.  There was none when we got home.  We only live 2 1/2 hours north, but the snow storm took a funny turn and totally skirted the DC area.

Once arriving home, Ryan saw the cool gifts that Santa dropped off while he had been away.  He got an awesome ball pit, more books and a Little People playset.  He crawled right in the ball pit and loved it.  Mommy and Daddy insisted that he take a nap before opening anymore presents.

After a nice nap, Ryan opened his presents from Mommy and Daddy.  He got more nice clothes, 2 pairs of shoes and a water bottle with his name on it.  After it was all said and done, 4 days later, Ryan opened his last Christmas present.  Whew...that is a lot of Christmas!

Christmas Day Part II - The Day After

Yorktown - The day after Christmas was spent with Grammy and Grumpy.  We had no idea it would snow so much.  By the time it stopped, there was nearly a foot of snow on the ground. 

In the morning, Grammy fixed everyone pancakes and Grumpy gave Ryan lots of fruit.  Ryan played, Grumpy shoveled snow and Daddy watched TV.  We opened a few presents before lunch, including a Tickle Me Elmo for Ryan.  That was welcomed with lots of hugs.  Ryan ate lunch and then took a nice nap.

After naptime, we openend the rest of our presents.  Ryan got some nice clothes, more books, another train and a cool computer that will help him learn words and letters. 

After presents, Grammy fixed a yummy lasagna.  Ryan was much more interested in the cherry tomatoes.  Mommy had to tell him if he ate noodle, he could have a tomato.  He probably ate 7 or 8 tomatoes.  Shortly after dinner and bath, Ryan was off to bed.  It had been several days of present opening, and he still wasn't finished.

Christmas Day

Gloucester/Mathews - Christmas morning started off with the excitement of what Santa brought Ryan and Belle.  Ryan awoke to find a new scooter, a Mickey Mouse blanket, a wagon of blocks and books.  Mammy let him ride his scooter in the kitchen.  Everyone got up and we opened presents together.  Ryan opened presents one piece of paper at a time.  He would rip a piece off, hand it to someone and then go for another piece.  He would not acknowledge the gift until all the paper was off the present.  He did this with the gifts he opened for himself and whomever else he was helping. 

Ryan got a lot of cool stuff:  A helmet and knee pads from Mammy and Peapooh, a train set from Aunt Cheech, lots of cool books, some clothes and even some candy.

After opening presents, Mommy, Daddy, Ryan and Peapooh went to visit Grandma Ruby, Aunt Jane and Timmy.  Ryan got some really cool tractors from Grandma Ruby.

We went back to Mammy's house for Christmas lunch and a nap.

In the afternoon it started to snow.  Who knew it would be a white Christmas.

We headed to Meemaw and Pop's house for dinner.  Ryan has several cousins that he got to play with.  He even got to sit at the big kids table to enjoy his meal.  It was then time to open more presents.  Ryan got Lincoln Logs, more books and a pop up tent.

The original plan was for Mommy, Daddy and Ryan to stay at Mammy and Peapooh's house that night and then travel to Grammy and Grumpy's the next morning, but it was snowing really hard.  Mommy and Daddy were concerned that they would not be able to get out the next morning, so they packed up and left that night.  Ryan was so sleepy that he went right to sleep as soon as we got there.

Christmas Eve

Gloucester/Yorktown - Christmas Eve brought a lot of excitement for Ryan.  He got up bright and early and headed south with Mommy and Daddy.  He spent most of the day with Mammy, playing with Belle and running around crazy.  Mommy had some last minute shopping to do, so her and Peapooh braved Walmart.  It really wasn't that bad.

As per tradition, we went to Grammy and Grumpy's for Christmas Eve dinner.  There we had good food and exchanged gifts with Uncle Justin (Daddy's brother).  Ryan also got to see the new train Grumpy bought to go around the tree.

We then headed back to Mammy and Peapooh's house to exchange more gifts and open our new Christmas Eve pajamas.  Everyone gets a new pair, including Ryan, Belle, Mommy, Daddy, Aunt Cheech, Peapooh and Mammy.

Ryan got jammied up and Mammy read Twas the Night Before Christmas to him and Belle.  Belle made sure to put out a snack for Santa Claus.  This consisted of 2 cookies, 1 brownie, an apple for the reindeer, a Dr Pepper (because maybe Santa needed some caffeine) and a box of Chicken in a Biscuit.  It was an exciting day.

Flashback Photo of the Week

Here is Ryan on his first Christmas Eve at Grammy and Grumpy's house.  He is giving Grammy the "What you tallking about Grammy" look.

How to Be Cool on the Potty

Woodbridge - There is a lot of "potty talk" in our house now.  If Ryan wants to sit on the potty, we definately encourage it.  Sometimes he wants to sit with his diaper on.  Usually he wants to take his shirt off.  This is how he wanted to sit on the potty this weekend.

First Christmas Present of the Year

Woodbridge - Ryan is a very big helper at school.  He likes to help deliver breakfast to the babies, as well as his own class.  He also cleans up and helps wherever it is needed at school.  One of his jobs every day is to help his former teacher, Miss Barbara, take off her booties when she leaves.  She works with the babies and has to pass through Ryan's room to leave.  Each day Ryan removes her shoe covers and puts them in the basket for her.

Because he is so helpful, Miss Barbara gave him a Christmas present.  Mommy and Daddy let him open it on Sunday.  As soon as Mommy gave him the gift, he ripped right into it.  Ryan knows exactly what to do with presents.  Maybe it has something to do with Mammy sending him little gift boxes throughout the year.  Ryan now has a really cool Cars book that makes sounds.

Snow

Woodbridge - On Thursday we had our first snow of the season.  It was just over an inch, but it made all the Christmas decorations look pretty.  Ryan didn't play in it.  When we got home we put him down to walk, but he fell face first into the snow and then wanted to be picked up and carried inside.  If we have another snow this year, maybe then he will want to play in it.