Christmasdiculousness

We had a tremendous Christmas!  It lasted for a week at least and the Coleman brothers made out like bandits.  Seriously, those two are spoiled and very loved.  Thank you everyone for making us feel so special!

In my haste, I didn't get to post all of the holiday photos I wanted to.  Here are more.

He insists on sitting in chairs like his big brother.  Part cute, part danger watch.

Every day Graham throws a dance party on the couch/ottoman/chair.

He is actually growling.  Check out the video.

Dance party interrupted by brother hugs.

Wrestle hugs.

Can you see his little curls at the base of his head.  Plus his hair is redder and redder every day.

Seriously handsome - right?

Haunticka - it went by fast!

Riding the bison at the carousel.

Sharing an after Santa, after carousel ice cream cone.

Bear hug.

Mr. Blue Eyes.

Mountain goat.

Christmas Eve, Adrienne, Amelia and Kim came over to celebrate with us.  She is that cute in real life too.

They are very sweet together. 

Luckily Adrienne went along with Jr.'s EXTENSIVE instructions on how to build with blocks.

NEW HATS!  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

I can't get enough of these hugs!

Coleman(men)

Jr. was working on getting his camera set up to take a family photo of his own.

Christmas morning.  Graham opened one gift and just wanted to play with it.  Jr. opened EVERY gift in the house.  Like it was his job.

Video for Uncle Ock and Aunt Patty.



After presents Jr. got to play on the deck sans shoes.  It was like we were celebrating Christmas in Florida or something.



Nanny, Papa Dan and Uncle Bean showed up to extend Christmas cheer.

So many presents!  Jr. got a scooter and Graham got a bouncy car.  See below.

Worlds worst Christmas present, he cried for 30 minutes because we couldn't get the ball out of the car.  So sad.  He kept crying "Ball"  "Ball" "Ball". Video.

Holiday 2011

Happy Merry Christmas New Years!

Love the Colemans

He asked for a Mater that drives in the woods.

Graham asked that we get him away from this crazy nut IMMEDIATELY!

Woah November!


And just like that November slipped by.  What happened, the sun went away and we became house bound.  Jr. found his new obsession - video games.  All he wants to do is play the iPod, the kindle, the Wii and the computer.  I prefer that he play the computer because he plays PBSkids.org and learns about counting, the alphabet, shapes, colors and animals.  We do our best to limit his time and keep him coloring, reading and doing puzzles.  That big brain just needs to keep busy.

Graham is now so busy Ed and I can hardly keep up with the little bugger.  He is in to everything.  When Ed gets home, we are going to install a lock on the pantry door.  He gets food out and either feeds himself or Selma.  And then there is the rash.  Shortly after Halloween, he got this rash.  We have been to 2 MDs, 1 dermatologist, 1 homeopathic doctor and now the chiropractor.  We are stumped.  Just stumped.  It doesn't seem to bother him other than when I put lotion or cream on it.  I feel so bad about it.  Everyone looks at me like - what are you doing to your poor baby.  The big news about Graham is that he is big into talking.  He can now say so many names and animal sounds.  I am working on getting a video, but like I said, he doesn't like to hold still much.  He is still such a snuggly sweet little guy though.  He gives the best hugs weather you request them or not.  What a little love.

We had a nice Thanksgiving, even the weather cooperated and we got out for a hike.  Nona put on a fantastic spread, Tommy joined us and the boys actually ate. 

We pass our time by having play dates - lots of play dates.  It gives us something to look forward to on the weekends.  You know, you have to eat or Seri can't come over tomorrow.  You have to clean up your toys so that Lochlin can come over.  I know we are so evil.

We call him the Blue Snowball.



Hey there Blue Snowball.

Photo credits - Cissie.

Jr.'s new obsession - ipod, kindle or Wii.  I feel kind of bad about letting him play vids, but he is learning - right?

He didn't know that his hair was spiky.  He would have never let me take his photo if he did.

Jr. and his girl Seri.  We had a wonderful playdate.

Oh my isn't he so handsome.  He must get about 4 million smooches a day.

I let them play with cameras.  Seri's photos are here.

Their goal was to take photos of the bunny that lives under our deck.

I was trying to photograph his curls.  He can't hold still for the life of him.  We have now entered Mr. Busy Man stage.

Playing hunting on the Wii. 

The climber.  While up here he likes to dance and yell very loud!

And the kindle. 

Playdate with Lochlin.  These two had a BLAST!  They play so nicely together.

Halloween!

It is fall.  Or almost winter - high in the 20s later this week - BRRRR! 

Halloween is officially over.  We did some trick-or-treating at my work, at Daddy's work, at Nona and Papa's and finally to three houses around us.  I have already managed to give away most of the candy Jr. collected.  Tonight was crazy.  It makes me want to invent an antidote for sugar.  Jr. was literally vibrating. 

So, the other day, I realized that I haven't posted anything about Graham's milestones.  Well, we decided that his first word was Ed - it came a long time ago.  Second was Daddy.  He is now getting very good at animal noises and can say some names, finally, Momma, Nona, Nanny, Papa and Da (Selma and Jr.?).  He also declares Uh-Oh after he throws his food or drink on the floor.  He can blow kisses and give awesome high fives.  He is walking with very little crawling and only has two teeth left to get before the dreaded 2-year molars.  He loves to give hugs and look at pictures of animals.  He loves his books and spends hours in his room looking at his books.  He initiates wrestling with his brother and rarely cries when Jr. plays rough with him.  It makes me fear for our lives this winter.  Well, I have a plan - gut the garage and turn it into cold weather play land.  Bikes, basketball hoop, slide. . .

Jr. has also achieved some pretty amazing milestones, besides his amazing vocabulary and incredible syntax, he is also starting to recognize letters and numbers.  His drawings are fantastic and always come with great stories.  He frequently sits at the table and draws and cuts out paper to make "ART!"  He figured out how to play the computer by himself.  He can get the computer started, open the Internet and connect to PBSkids.org to play games.  He can almost unplug the regular mouse and plug in his own.  We are a little scared. 

Speaking of scared - beware of the scary photos below - Happy Halloween!

Triceratops!

Dragon!

Mission Impossible, give kids candy, ask them to sit still for photos.

Plumpquins

Scary Plumpquins.

Alien scary plumpquin.  So you know, a damn deer knocked Jr. and Daddy's pumpkins off the deck and ate the faces off.  Damn big buck.

Baby pumpkin.  Check his face for the shiner.  Poor little man had a broken nose.  He recovered just fine though.

The small green ones were from our garden.

The shiner.  So sad.

Cissie and Jr. at the corn maze.

Our corn maze guide.

Taking up the rear.

It was an amazing night.

Smile.

Corn sand box.  Graham was a huge fan.

No, she doesn't get tired of hanging out with us.  Hint, we keep feeding her.

Last coatless fall day.  Helping Papa rake leaves and throw rocks in the pond.

Helping with the leaves.

Photo credit - Bill Bahr.  Nicely done dude.