81 degrees

It seems as though winter is over (if one could say it ever really started). Today we enjoyed a lovely day of 81 degrees. These are the kind of days I love when I can be outside from sun up to sun down (and beyond).

I had my first ever sleepover last night and it went better than anyone expected. Trinity says she will even try it again. I was on my absolute best behavior and I slept for a full 12 hours during the night.

And then I celebrated the last day of 2011 by going ice skating at Whole Foods. I was doing quite well until I saw a little girl fall down and cry and then I got worried and sad.

life after Christmas

Today was the first time in my life that I made it through the entire day without taking a nap. My mom hopes that this is not the beginning of a trend. I still have not adjusted back to my own time zone and the days leading up to the holidays got me even more mixed up.

I slept until 9:00am today. again. We had oatmeal for breakfast then it took us several hours to get ready to go to the train store. I don't really know what we did during that time but one thing leads to another and there goes the morning. I start to build a puzzle then I realize it makes a nice road for this car and maybe I should find my transporter and load it up with blocks. And what guy should drive my dumptruck?

The train store was uneventful but fun. I played with Ty and Brooklyn again. I have met them before with their nanny but today their parents were there. I like their nanny better.

When we got home, I tried in vain to nap. My mom finally gave up.

The first photo is me enjoying hours and hours of a beautiful sunny day. We played soccer. I watered the plants. I drove my firetruck. I chased my dog. I stayed outside until the sun went down. all the way down.

The second photo is me using the easel that Santa brought me.

Let's hope for a normal nap day tomorrow.

Santa

My third Christmas was lovely. Even though I had been so excited about Santa the night before, I slept until 9:00am. My dad, who normally sleeps later than everyone in the entire world, had to wake me up. And then I had to be coaxed out of bed. It was well worth getting up for, though.

Santa was kind enough to set up all of my big gifts for me so they were ready to play with immediately. I get impatient waiting for things to get out of the box and put together and it is even worse if batteries are involved (no batteries this year, I don't think). I had an easel with all of the accessories, a racetrack, and a Bruder "cement Fixer" waiting for me. Santa also left quite a lot of wrapped gifts for me. I like to take my time with unwrapping so I can enjoy each gift as I go along. I didn't unwrap the last of my gifts until about 10:00pm. (Yes, I know, long after I should have been in bed.)

The first photo is me in the morning, eating my Sesame Snaps from my stocking and enjoying a refreshing cup of coconut milk. I even got a great deal of enjoyment out of the boxes from my gifts; some are just the right size for using as boats or tables or houses.

In the afternoon, I had a long long long nap while my mom started making dinner. I woke up when Trinity and Hector arrived. The second photo is me sharing appetizers with Trinity. Dinner was said to be delicious but I wasn't hungry by then. Somehow I managed to eat some chocolate mousse for dessert.

Trinity and Hector spoiled me. We have already been invited to spend next Christmas with them at their new home in Seattle.

waiting for Santa

I am anxiously awaiting Santa. I have prepared his plate of snacks. This year, he will have trail mix, two cookies that Terese made (they are so yummy that I figured they might improve my luck with Santa), five crackers, an orange, and some chai.

Now all I need to do is fall asleep so Santa can sneak in. I told my mom that Santa is going to bring me a toy.

another day, another train ride

Yesterday, we rode MetroRail. We joined some of my dad's colleagues and a fellow who was treated to a morning out as part of Season for Caring. He is a train buff so he was showered with lovely gifts from the contractors including a jacket, a hat, shirts, a mug, transit passes etc and we got to peek in the control room (cockpit??).

Even though you would never know it from this photo, I was mostly cranky. I hope I didn't ruin the train ride. It was just a long day for a boy like me. First, I did not want to wake up. Then we got to the train station way too early so the anticipation was aggravating but I did have fun throwing leaves into the fountain and stomping in puddles even though I was wearing my good shoes. The train itself was fancy and the ride was fun. But still I had to stay grouched up out of principle.

As I tell everyone now, I am 2 1/2.

It is my duty to be an indecisive tyrant.

2 1/2 years old

I celebrated turning 2.5 years old (or 30 months) by taking a train ride. It was the North Pole Flyer and we rode deep into the Hill Country.

We had to wake up very early for my train trip. Normally this would not be a problem for me since I am generally an early bird but I am still living on Seattle time and cannot seem to get settled back into our time zone. It is great in the morning (we sleep until 9:00am sometimes) but it doesn't work out so well with naps and bedtime.

We arrived at the train early enough to board and get settled. I was so very excited. In the first photo, you will see my train car attendant (dressed in red). Because I was the most interested, and most interesting, passenger, I got some extra benefits. We heard the entire history of the train and the line it now travels on. We were allowed to sit in what were once used as the sleeping cabins and he showed us the little compartments where one would put shoes at night and the porter would come around and shine them before morning. We also saw the galley with the seltzer dispensers (now inoperable) but they used to make rootbeer and pineapple and orange soda on the train. The train attendant did serve some lovely treats and cocoa. He might just make the best cocoa in the world. He gave me and my mom seconds . . . and thirds . . . and whatever we wanted.

In the second photo, I am getting my tickets stamped by the conductor. Though we had visits from Santa (he was a bit aggressive and hurried for my taste) and Mrs Claus, the railway staff was the best part of the trip.

Seats on this train are in such high demand that it is almost time to buy my tickets for next year.

This might have been my best birthday yet aside from barfing at bedtime. I was mad because my mom was working on Christmas cards and that meant my dad had to put me to bed from start to finish. so I barfed. That will show my dad.