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.

at Canada

I have just returned from my trip to Canada. Here is a photo my dad took of me on the ferry on our way there.

As soon as we arrived, we went to the beach to throw rocks in the ocean. We hadn't been in Canada for fifteen minutes when my mom and I got soaked by a huge wave. So my mom had to buy new shoes. Smart me: I brought an extra pair. Even my fireman boots were flooded! If you could believe it, my silly sister used to shed her shoes (and sometimes her clothes) to purposefully wade in the water during the winter at that very same beach when she lived only a block away from it. I wish I lived that close to the ocean. The air is so fresh and clean and it just makes you want to walk around for hours and hours and hours (which we did).

Since we were cold after the wave incident, it seemed like a wise idea to give Pags a try. I normally do not tolerate restaurants but . . . well, I won't tell you what we had to do to get me to sit somewhat still for most of the meal. (We made a deal with the devil but it was so worth it.) I am reminded again why my mom and sister never ever stop talking about Pags. Not only do they have the best food in the world, but they were so kind to me. They made me a delicious drink and a bowl of pasta . . . and didn't charge me for it. I ate most of my mom's bottomless bowl of potato vegetable soup. and the bread . . . WOW. I don't even know what to say about that bread.

I ate a lot in Canada. My mom ate even more. Everything tastes so good. On Saturday morning, my mom and I woke up early and walked to three different pastry shops and then returned to our hotel for a feast.

Eating isn't all I did, though. It was an action-packed visit.

More to follow when I get my photos organized.

Santa

Yesterday, my two grandmothers, my mom, and I visited with Santa. I met him when I first arrived and we had a nice conversation. I learned that Santa's brother used to live in Austin and worked for Dell (until he got laid off) and that his parents lived, died, and are buried in Round Rock.

It took me a few tries before I had enough courage to get cozy with Santa. Once I did, we were the best of friends. I hope he remembers me on Christmas.

my first lie

I am not especially proud of this but, today, I told my first real lie. This was different than when I spin elaborate tales of going to the beach and meeting a green shark with really sharp teeth and, oh, its name happens to be Brad. I swim with sharks. I cuddle with them too.

This was a real lie.

I have a cold right now. On our way to the store to buy California Baby Cold and Flu bubble bath, we talked about whether I would ride in the shopping cart or the stroller. I was holding out for the cart but my mom refused because she didn't want me to spread my germs around to the kids who would ride in the cart after me. I told my mom "I am not sick. I feel good." Plus, shopping carts are generally disgusting.

In the end, I did reluctantly agree to the stroller. If only other mothers would keep their contagious kids out of the shopping carts too.

Don't forget to wash your hands!

happy November

What better way to celebrate the first day of November than by running through the sprinkler.

It is on days like this, when I can (and usually do) stay outside playing from sun up to sun down, that I almost forget that we just suffered through almost six months of 100+ degree days. I even ate my lunch outside today.

best day ever.