Christmas and Grammy

Now I will back track a little to cover Christmas. It's too important to let it go without a long overly photographed post! It was Levi's last Christmas as an only child.
This was the start of our Christmas Eve day. We decided to drive to the nearest shopping area (45 min) and have a little outing. Levi got an early Christmas present sometime that week. It was Buzz and Woody Cowboy boots and they've changed his life. As soon as he got them it's all he's wanted to wear. Then the next time we went to wal-mart Papa got him some cowboy accessories. When we were out for our Christmas eve trip the first store we went in had this horse ride. Obviously a perfect match.


Grandma Connie has been sending Levi various holiday crafts in the mail. It's been pretty exciting for him to get them every few days. Here he's playing with a stamp set she sent

And a perfect little Lightning McQueen notepad and pen.

Papa and Levi made the Christmas paper chain together...with a little help from Charlie.

After the proud pose this was bound to happen.

What's a cowboy to do but lasso 'em right up?

Oh yes, one of the cowboy purchases was a pistol.

Christmas Eve pose in front of the tree. Doesn't it just give you the holiday feelings?

Charlie needs his pose too. Man he's grown a ton since then...

yuletide cheer is exhausting. I love this photo though.

New Christmas Pajamas; Buzz and Woody of course. "To infinity and Beyond."

Christmas Morning! Stocking time. The night before, as he was getting into bed, I had to insist that he take off his boots and hat for sleeping. I laid them out next to his bed and told him he could wear them when he woke up. Sure enough, he came into our room Christmas morning, to wake us up with his boots and hat already in place.

Levi is a great gift receiver. Very rewarding. Almost everything he opens gets a gasp and a huge smile.

Nathan got in on the excited reactions too.

Levi has been asking for a fishing pole for a few months now. He was pretty excited to get one on Christmas. He promptly got everything tangled and had to readjust just how it worked with Papa, but still...excited. I like the pants going in his cowboy boots. Nathan told him to pull his pants over his boots once and Levi with a confused look said, "Woody has his pants in his boots."

Charlie was in charge of discarded wrapping paper

It was a Buzz and Woody Christmas. He loves them. He'll be super excited when the third one is in the theatres.

See, he has great responses to presents. He opened one, gasped in delight and ran over to hug Papa in his joy.

And the biggest one yet...his first big boy bike. His face says it all.

It's the perfect age for him to have one apparently. Always before he hasn't been able to pedal well enough. But he just hopped right on there and took off. He's great at it. Just like a big boy.

And his faithful sidekick. Soon I'll post an entry of these two at the park. Charlie plays alongside him every step.

It was a dressy Christmas.

for all

A little violent too. He's like a little mobster. All dressy and dapper but with a gun,.

Grammy flew into Seattle on Christmas Day to arrive in time to watch Levi while Nathan and I were in the hospital. My Aunt Martha picked her up from the airport and they took some time getting up to our house. They arrived Christmas evening bearing more gifts.

some crazy kaleidoscope type 3d glasses. They made everything look like it was exploding into a rainbow.

He dug it.

Grammy brought crazy involved play dough sets for something special to do while they were together.

The rest are just a few hi light pictures from Grammy's trip out here. Meeting Gracie Bella for the first time freshly born.

Getting some Shalz Grandchildren time. She was here as Levi's constant playmate and helper, but she was on hand and eager any time she could hold Gracie. Even if it was to change a dirty diaper. What else are Grammys for?

On New Year's Day we had Aunt Martha, my cousin Allison and her boyfriend, Lenny, up to our house to meet Gracie. We had a good time eating Reuben Sandwiches and being entertained by both Levi's antics and Gracie's new baby face. Here Grammy is holding a captive audience with the telling of Goldie Locks.

At one point Charlie had to stay outside for a bit and he discovered that he could come to the big window in the living room and see us all sitting on the couches. It made the separation easier.

Ah, an example of Grammy being a playmate for Levi. Put a sock on my hand and play puppets Grammy? Okay.

On the way to the airport Levi sat in the back with Grammy to soak up as much attention as possible before departure.

A sad goodbye. Levi was so psyched about this visit. He's been looking forward to it for a couple months, really. He asked all morning if he could go far away with Grammy. And he did cry and resist getting back in the car as Grammy walked away.

I am very grateful that my mom came out to help us. I was able to focus on Gracie and recovering while in the hospital. I knew I didn't need to worry about Levi at home because he was so pleased to have that special time. Instead of giving him any room to be jealous or freaked out, he was just over joyed for the special treatment Grammy showered on him. So, thanks Grammy. Now Levi looks around the house from time to time and says, "where's Grammy?" I remind him you're gone and he says, "I real miss her."