This has been a good year for me.  GGM says I have changed a great deal during the nine months since they moved here from Arkansas.  We looked back in my blog to a year ago, and she is right I am a real boy now, not a toddler.  I move better, talk better, and definately want to be more independent.  I wonder how much I will change during 2014.

Mommy brought me to Barbara before she headed off to work.  I brought my new light laser/sword, that I got at the zoo last night with me.  Barbara hid it as soon as she could because I have a tendency to play to rough for her and my great grandparents.  She wants me to not bring any weapons to her house.  She told Mommy.  She has decided to delete Power Rangers off the TV also.  She and GGM both think the show is too violent for a four-year-old.  I can watch it at my own home. 

I went with GGM and Barbara to get them both haircuts.  We stopped at Wal-Mart because they wanted to make some dip and get some chips to snack on while they watch football games the next few days.   They also bought something they have not bought in years and years: shoestring potatoes.  I liked them.

I will say I have washed my hands when I haven't or I do a very poor job of washing, so I have lost the privilege of doing it on my own until I show that I will do it right.

 We did some cooking and I sat the table. 

I helped load the dishwasher.

 When we finished we played for the next several hours.  We played both "action" and "quiet" games.  We played with my letters. 

 I like numbers better than letters, but we will keep spending some time learning letters.
 We read two books: The Tortoise and the Hare and The Gingerbread Man.   We played card games and a Memory game.  We don't always play the "correct" way but we play a way that will keep me interested.  We played Dodge Ball.  We added a grocery store and a donut shop to our car town and spent hours playing with my cars and that town.

I helped GGF rake, blow, and sweep up leaves from the yard and street.  I really was a big help to him.

To celebrate the new year, Mommy, Daddy, and I had the neighbors and big Mason's family's over to watch football.  Big Mason is a year older than me. His daddy and my daddy are friends.   And we also had fireworks to shoot.  I was up until after midnight.  Woo Hoo.  Happy New Year!

 Bridget and Chris celebrated the new year too.

  

Barbara and I took GGM to a lab in Tomball to get some blood work done.  I played with the iPad very quietly for the few minutes that we waited.  We went to Wal-Mart and Korger for a few groceries and as soon as I helped put away groceries we started our day of play.

 We added a park, and movie theater to our Cars town.  We still have a drive-in theater.

 We added a train track with gates. 

 Wal-Mart had a lot of cars in the parking lot.

 This was a swimming pool, but it ended up being a lake since we had an alligator and a boat in it. 

 

 GGM and I practiced for my being a ring bearer in a couple of days.  My ring kept falling off, but I was told the ring would be tied on and would not fall at the wedding.  Boy, that is a relief!

I got an apron for Christmas.

 I wore it today while I helped cook.

 

GGM and I tossed a bunch of balls with a goal of getting them to land and stay on the sofa.

It takes awhile but eventually we get all 80 balls on the sofa.

 

I get tickled and sometimes I fall over laughing.   

GGF and I played Don't Break the Ice.  He broke the ice!

I like to try different tricks.  Look how big I look!

Grandma came to get me around 5pm.  We met Mommy and then met some scrapbook friends and went to the Houston Zoo to see the Christmas lights.  

 It was cold but we kept moving and were dressed warmly.

 I kept saying, "Oh, that is pretty."  "Oh, look at those."

 You can see I had lots of fun.

   I saw lots of children carrying some laser-light swords. 

Grandma said she would buy me one on our way out.  She did and I like playing with it.

 Mommy and me kissing under mistletoe.  I told Mommy I want to go back to see the lights again.

 A house in PaPa's neighborhood burned to the ground tonight.  The house is about a half mile from PaPa's home.

Miss Karen gave Daddy and me haircuts this morning. We needed to get haircuts because we have a wedding to go to this coming weekend.

While Mommy cleaned up the garage, I played with her iPad.

 We went to get the oil changed in Mommy's car and I watched the cars going by in the car wash.  Notice my new haircut.

Daddy moved today from one apartment to another one and Mommy, Uncle Wes, and I helped with the moving.  I was a big help.

In the evening we all went over to Wes' mom's home to visit.  Wes and I played Power Rangers and Good Guy, Bad Guys.

Mommy brought me over to Barbara's.  I brought little Power Ranger figures and we played with them on Barbara's bed.  I dropped one behind the headboard.   Barbara helped me figure out that I needed something long to help me reach it.  I ran for a yardstick and I was able to fish the figure close enough for me to reach him.  Barbara didn't help me at all. 

We played with some of my new games and with flash cards and Cars.  I even played by myself a couple of times.  We ate leftovers and I ate a lot.  I must be having a growth spurt, because I eat well at most every meal and I eat my snacks too.

Daddy picked me up after work and took me over to Mommy's, where we just stayed at home.

Because I went to sleep extra early last night, Mimz woke me up to potty at 3am.  I did and I was asleep the second my head hit the pillow.  I slept until 7:20 and said I was ready to eat.  I started talking about all my new toys but I still want to keep the football ornaments to sleep with... and Monk Monk, of course.

I told Mimz that we could share some puff corn when it was time for a snack.  It was a gift from GGM and GGF.  I also explained to her how to eat the Biscotti with her coffee.  Mimz loves mornings with me.

Mimz and I planned to visit Aunt Kathy today but she has a cold.  So does Grandma and Bridget.  GGM was cick Christmas day but she if fine now.

One time I was pretending to be a fireman and I was talking to another fireman.  I said when I was a kid I played football at OU and I made a touchdown and I tackled two Texas guys.  It made Mimz laugh hearing how my little mind works.

 I got a Legos set for little boys that makes a plane from the Movie Planes.

I am really good at looking at the picture on the box and building it.

When we met Barbara, Mimz and I had a big sack of leftovers to share with her and my great grandparents.  They love leftovers and never let food go to waste.  One of the dishes included was sweet potatoes and I love them.

 Barbara showed me how to play Don't Break the Ice.  I learned to tap the mallet gently to only knock out one or two pieces of ice.

My reaction when I caused the ice skater to fall through the ice!

I also learned how to play Don't Spill the Beans.  I am really listening to the instructions and try to play my games correctly.

 My reaction when I caused the pot to spill the beans on my side.  We played Old Maid and Go Fish several times.  We played with my flash cards. 

Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus!  Above all else I wish for peace around the world today, and every day too.

When I woke up I slowly peeked around the corner to see if Santa had left me a gift.  Well, I must have been a SUPER good boy this year.  I received a BUNCH of gifts from Santa, Mommy, Daddy, and the rest of my family.   I don't remember who gave me what, but I think Mommy knows.

Santa brought me the 5 Power Ranger Megaforce action figures (I know all their names),

a Nerf football, and a Bat Cave at Mommy's house.  He left a soccer goalie net at Mimz' home and

a drawing easel at Barbara's home.

Mimz, Daddy, Grandma, Barbara, GGF, GGM, Bridget, and Mommy were all at my home to open gifts with me.  PaPa is in Nigeria.  Andy and Kristan are in San Antonio with her parents for Christmas.   Last week Mimz and I went shopping at Dollar General store, I picked out gifts for everyone.  I gave GGF a Sudoku puzzle book and I know he has started working those puzzles.  Barbara and GGM will write grocery lists and other things on their notepads.  I did a good job picking out gifts.  Mimz wanted to make sure that I understood that this holiday was not just for me to receive gifts.

Daddy bought me some little golf clubs and golf bag.   Mommy gave me an apron to wear when I cook, a small tooth fairy pillow with a little pocket where the tooth fairy will leave me a prize when I lose my baby teeth. 

I received lots of games, puzzles, flash cards, four flashlights, Legos, some clothes,and three packages of big boy underwear.

We received two marshmellow blowers, one with a Texas logo and one with an OU logo.  I bet I know which one Mommy will use and which one Daddy will use.   There were other things too, but right at this moment I can't think of them.

No one thought to take pictures while we were opening presents.  I still had on my Christmas pajamas.

 I received a real toy fire extinquisher.  I put water in the tanks and could pump it and put out fires.

Mimz and I play fireman often, so she wanted to see how it worked.

After everyone left Grandma and Bridget went to church.

Uncle Scott and Aunt Jill, Daddy and I went over to Mimz to eat a ham dinner with all the trimmings.

At Mimz I found Santa had been there also.  And I had other gifts too.  I'll have lots of fun building with this tool bench.   Uncle Scott and I played outside with my new soccer goal.  

 When it was time to leave, I asked to stay with Mimz.  I got to stay and that made her happy.  I helped Mimz clean up.  At 6:45 I was watching a Power Ranger show and Mimz could tell I was getting tired.  I was asleep before 7:30pm and Mimz was glad of that because she was ready for sleep also.

GGM and Barbara fixed a turkey and ham dinner for Mommy's family.  After dinner was eaten, and the kitchen was clean, Bridget said goodbye and headed back to San Antonio.  Grandma went home to the lake, and Barbara and GGM were so tired they both crawled into bed to rest the rest of the day.