I'm so glad Anna Kate is at home with her mother.  GGM, Barbara, and I have had a very wild game of Dream Snatchers using seven 8-inch rubber balls.  Balls have been flying around the room, off the walls, and we surely would have hit Anna Kate if she had been here.  I don't mind not playing those rough games when she is here, but we sure can have some crazy fun when we don't have a baby to think about.

I was as good today as I was yesterday and the day before.  GGM and Barbara played with me all morning.  Besides playing a lot of Dream Snatchers, we played Car Town, and Fireman.  I only watched one TV show, Adam 12.  Barbara read two chapters of The Rabbit Ate My Homework.  I am liking it and am interested to find out what will happen next.

I was sitting on the kitchen counter, when I asked Barbara for a drink.  She asked me what I wanted.  I thought about it and said coffee.  I was sitting right next to GGF's coffee pot.  She poured about ten drops into my cup.  I tasted it and said, "YUCK!"  She said remember that.  I wanted to know why anyone would drink that.  She could not think of a good reason.

 I was playing with a 4 inch rubber ball.  I threw it toward the wall, and it bounced right back at me and hit my right eye.  Boy, it hurt but I did my best not to cry.

 I held an ice pack on it for at least 15 minutes, then it was feeling okay.  We hope I don't get a black eye from that incident.

Mommy got off work at little after noon.  She came to get me around 12:45pm and we went to get the oil changed in our car.

At home, I played with Carson and other neighbors.  Barbara came over for a short time, to help Mommy find a place to put her new kitchen pots and pans, and Pyrex.  They found several things to put into the garage sale we will have in a month or two, when it is a little warmer.

Mommy is going to let Barbara use her Wii so we can play some games on it.  I'm having fun playing games with Mimz on the Wii she bought.

When it got dark, all the neighbors and their kids came outside with fireworks.  Mommy bought me a package of fireworks. She helped me with mine.  We were outside for five cold hours and I was having a blast.  Mommy was freezing so at 10:30p she made me come inside.  I cried for ten minutes because I did not want to leave all the fun.  I then fell asleep for the night.  

I slept from 10:30pm until 9:30am this morning.  I hollered, "Mommy."  Barbara answered that my mother was at work.  She was there waiting for me to wake up and she said PaPa was there.  I quickly got dressed and went to find PaPa.  He was installing a new toilet in my bathroom.  The upper tank had a tiny crack in it.  Barbara and I stayed at my home until PaPa was finished with his project in case he needed our help.

We arrived at Barbara's around 10:30a and immediately started playing Fencing with swimming pool noodles.  I said, "On Guard."  Then I changed it to "On God!" and I smiled.  A long time ago Barbara and I had been playing fencing and once I said "On God!"  It took Barbara a few minutes to realize what I was trying to say.   I still remembered that after at least a year.

We put together a game called Toss-Across.  It is a combination of Tic-Tac-Toe and Bean Bag Toss.  We laughed a lot while we tossed little bean bag trying to get three X or three O in a row.

It was almost noon before we ate breakfast.  I slept late, then got busy working and playing and forgot I hadn't eaten.  I had oatmeal, bacon, toast, and milk.  I don't often eat bacon but I sure liked it this morning.

I found a sack of old toys in Barbara's closet.  It was great stuff from Car Town.  Barbara explained that a few months ago she removed excess clutter from Car Town and it had not even been missed.  Well, I sure like all this stuff and some of it will go back into Car Town.

When I noticed Mr Brad's car was parked in his garage, I went outside to ride my bike in hopes that he would come outside and we could go for a ride.  It was cold and he did not come outside.

We played a lot of Dream Snatchers.  We bounced two tiny balls around the kitchen.  Barbara and I played outside with my helicopter  (gift from my teacher). 

Prolawn came to use some Tar on a leak on our roof.  Barbara and I watched them and played with my helicopter.   I fell on the helicopter, hurting my elbow and breaking my helicopter.  We will try to hot glue it tomorrow or maybe use some duct tape on it.  That helicopter is one of my favorite toys from Christmas and it cost less than a dollar.   I hope we can find another one. 

Barbara and I built a great big castle.  We used almost all of the big blocks that I have, which is a great big tub full.  We had just enough time to take it apart and put all the blocks away before Mommy and Daddy arrived to take me to the grocery store.

I don't know why both GGM and Barbara say they were going to bed as they waved bye to me..... 




 

Mommy woke me up before she left for work, but I was not ready to get up.  Barbara sat in the living room waiting for me to wake up, which I finally did around 8:30a.  We talked about the Rockette's and how much I enjoyed the show and how I can kick high also. We ate Apple and Cinnamon Oatmeal before driving over to Barbara's home.

We put together my Polar Express Train on the big upstairs rug.  We didn't have 6 C batteries so we were not able to run the train, but we have decided it is really for display around a Christmas tree and is not a toy for me to play with.  I am too rough for it to stay on the track and for the track to stay together.  We can put it around our Christmas tree next year.

I helped GGM mop the wood floors downstairs.  Barbara wanted to take my picture doing this work but I was not agreeable.  Not letting her take pictures does not make her a happy camper.  She thinks she does a lot for me and since that is about the only thing she asks of me, she thinks I should be willing to let her take my picture.

We worked the giant Fire Truck puzzle, twice.  I didn't want my picture taken with it, but I decided I better let Barbara take a picture or she might not play with me.  

We played on Barbara's bed.  We were buried under rocks (pillows) and fireman had to come rescue us.  We have played this game at least a hundred times.  I never get tired of it.  I like acting.   Then I was a kid who had been bitten by a rattlesnake.  (All pretend.)  My dad had to take me to the hospital where a doctor took care of me.  I had to lay in bed and watch Handy Mandy or listen to a story book.  I let Barbara read eight pages of The Rabbit Ate My Homework.  She loves to read to me.

I gobbled down some pork ribs for lunch. They were so good, Barbara and I drove to Kroger's to buy two more packages.   Just our luck they were sold out, but they will get more in tonight and we can go back in the morning to buy them.   We will get to stop by the bakery to get another sugar cookie for me.

GGF and I watched Gunsmoke, while GGM cleaned algae out of the rain gauge and Barbara laid down to take a short nap....a very short nap. There were five inches of rain in the rain gauge, which fell in two days.

 We played Kerplunk two times.  I wanted to play again, but Barbara said enough for today.
We watched an episode of Chips while we waited for the first football game of the day to start.

We ate Pringles (that Mimz and I gave Barbara for Christmas) for our football snack.  Oh, brother, this was a horrible day for OU and Texas football.   The only person happy around here was GGM.  She had lived in Arkansas for 28 years so she is still an Arkansas fan.  Oh, well, I guess we will just have to wait for next year and hope our teams do better next year.

I was loud, full of energy, and wanted Barbara and GGM's attention all day, but I was happy and well behaved.

Daddy and I were over at Craig and Big Mason's home to watch the game.  Big Mason and I played more than we watched the game.  It was 10:30pm before I got home and went to bed. 

Mimz and Aunt Kathy drove to a small town near Dallas to have an enjoyable day visiting with Uncle Don. 

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In this picture I was dressed and ready to go see the New York City Rockette's.  

Mimz attened their show just last week, but she knew I would really enjoy it, so she bought tickets for Aunt Kathy and me to see the show today. 

 I loved the show and behaved perfectly.

After the show, I fell asleep in the car on the way to a restaurant, where Aunt Kathy treated us to lunch.  I woke up with an big appetite. 

I enjoyed the entire show, but the Wooden Soldiers was my favorite.  I also like the manger scene with the live camels and sheep.

Back at Mimz home, Mimz sat up a Wii video game system, that she bought refurbished.  She bought a few used games, including tennis, bowling, baseball, and others.  Mimz and I played bowling and baseball.  I won every bowling game.  Mommy has a Wii system, Barbara will have to borrow it, and I can show her how to play those games.

reserved Saturday

  

GGM wasted no time starting her work embroidery work on the tea towels Andy and Kristan gave to her.  She washed them, ironed them, and ironed on the transfer pictures before sitting down with her needles and threads.

Merry Christmas!   Jesus is the reason for the season!

Like millions of other little children I woke up earlier than I normally would:  6am!  I knew I would find something from Santa Claus downstairs, but I couldn't go see until 7am.  Barbara and my great grandparents were not here yet.  They wanted to be here to see my joy.  Mommy and I snuggled in bed while we waited.

This beautiful day was foggy and frosty outside.

Barbara had been told to arrive at 7am, thinking I wouldn't be awake until that time.  She pulled into the driveway when her car clock turned to 7am on the dot.  I hurried out onto the balcony and hollered "Merry Christmas."   I was glad I waited for them to get here even though it was hard.

Barbara turned on the video camera and I shyly came downstairs.  There were little blocks on the floor which I didn't understand.  Grandma told me to start with my stocking.  

I found some little toys in it.  The best thing was a package of bracelets like my dad wears.  His says ALS on it.  (Pops had ALS.)  Mine said Megaforce.  There was a note in my stocking.  Bridget helped me read it.  It was from Santa and said I was to follow the trail.  So off I went.  Through the dining room, the pantry, laundry room, kitchen, breakfast room and then the trail stopped at the back door.  I opened the door ...  and boy was it cold and there was frost on the ground.... I saw something big and green!  Before I could go outside I had to get on shoes and socks.  I put on my good dress shoes because they were the first shoes I could find.  

Everyone, except Andy, Kristan, and Anna Kate, came outside with me.  I found a big two man tent.  GGM helped me unzip the door.  Inside I found more gifts from Santa.  A sleeping bag, a magnetic dart board, a Nerf gun, old-fashioned Lincoln Logs, and a remote control car.  PaPa agreed to sleep in my tent with me when it warms up A LOT.  I played a little bit with everything, running from one thing to another. 

 This new outdoor kitchen was Grandma's gift to Papa.

Santa Claus drank the milk and ate the cookies I left for him out for him.

I did help pick up the trail of Lincoln Logs.  

 Grandma made Monkey Bread, which is a tradition for this family. 

I had not played darts before but I quickly understood what I was to do and I think I will be a very good darts player with a little more practice.  I am good at driving the remote control car, but I will get better with more practice.  Barbara's street will be a great place for me to drive it.  

When I was going to my stocking to see what Santa had left me, I noticed two packages of the floor tiles I used when I was a baby.  I do still have them on the floor in my toy room at home.    The note said they were from Santa to Anna Kate and Barbara, to be used in the Big TV room at Barbara's home.  In just a month or two AK will be crawling and she will need a soft clean place to crawl.  What a great gift from Santa!  

He also gave Anna Kate a first Christmas ornament.

I was outside waving at Daddy when he arrived.  I told him about my gifts from Santa and he also agreed to sleep in my tent with me... when it warms up.  I think we could bundle up and sleep outside when it is cold, but I'm the only one who thinks that would be a good idea.

I was impatient to open up the gifts under the tree, but I had to wait for us all to eat PaPa's breakfast tacos.  Then we had to wait for Uncle Tim and Andy's little family to come down and eat their breakfast.

Finally it was time.  It was wild.  There were more presents than normal.  No one knows why. Barbara made a list of my gifts and who they were from so I can send thank you notes.  (She misplaced it... hopefully it is found and didn't get thrown out with the gift wrapping paper.)  I'll list my toys on my blog soon............... List has been found..Yea!

This is the list of my gifts I got at Grandma's house.  There were other gifts at Mimz home.  If I left something off or made a mistake, I am sorry.   It was hard to keep track in all of the excitement.  Also, some of the pictures are fuzzy.  I was so busy and excited I couldn't stay still for long to have my picture taken:

Santa gave me a two man tent, sleeping bag, dart board, remote control car, gun, old-fashioned Lincoln Logs, and stocking stuffer, including Megaforce bracelets

Lisa and her family gave me a Polar Express train, a neat fire truck, police car, and ambulance and...

 ... a Monkey Popper.

PaPa and Grandma gave me a Bean Bag Toss game, Telling Time Clock, house shoes and socks, Kerplunk game, Toss Across game, Nerf gun bullets,...

and a Magnetic Story board

Mommy and some from Daddy:  

Work boots, Nerf gun,...

Giant Fire Truck puzzle, ...

SWAT team uniform and shield,...

 2 Polo shirts,...

Walkie Talkies, Van shoes, and socks. 

Grammie and Bubba gave me a Sooner shirt...

...and three Auto Good CD's.

Andy, Kristan, and Anna Kate gave me a Magellan Shirt.

Bridget gave me a skate board, with a handlebar, knee pads, and elbow pads.

Uncle Tim gave me a check.

GGM and GGF gave me money for my college fund. 

We think someone gave me a Chess game.  We will have to ask around to find out who that was from. A funny thing: One gift was a mystery.  It was a very nice juicer.  Mommy talked to Aunt Lisa and found out it was a gift from Lisa's family to Uncle Tim.

Mommy, Daddy, and Barbara gathered up all of my toys and put them in one pile out of the way.  Barbara put a few of my things in her car, so she and my great grandparents can play with them:  a large puzzle, and three games.

GGM and GGF think they got the best gifts: Panda Express gift card, tea towels to embroider on, coffee, two jigsaw puzzles, and some good eats.  All things they will use.

Barbara got some good gifts too: 

butcher paper for me to draw on, markers for me to draw with, Pringles for us to eat while watching football bowl games, and other things I can't think of right now.

 Anna Kate had no idea what was going on, but she was happy.

 She played with this snowman for the longest time.

Anna Kate knows how to make Bridget laugh.

Everyone liked the gifts that I gave them.  Mimz had taken me shopping so I could look for things I thought they would like.  She wants me to know that it is better to give than to receive. She is so right.  It made me happy to give gifts.  GGF said he would try the coffee in the morning.  Barbara opened the Biscotti and cookies to share with everyone. 

 Mommy, Bridget, PaPa, Andy, and Tim went for a boat ride...

... in PaPa and Grandma's new pontoon boat.

Grandma fixed a ham, and PaPa tried out his oil-less turkey frier.  He fixed a whole turkey and some turkey legs.

After the gifts were organized and the mess was cleaned up, and everyone started working on preparing a Christmas dinner, it was time for Daddy and me to go see Mimz.  I knew we still had gifts under Mimz' tree to be opened. When we left Daddy was wearing a walkie-talkie on his belt and so was I.  We were ready to talk to each other when we got farther apart.

Mimz had spend the night at Uncle Scott's.  She said Morgan woke everyone up early.  (Kids and Santa Claus!)  After they ate breakfast, Mimz went home waiting for round two of opening Christmas gifts when Daddy and I arrived at her home. 

Oh my, Oh my, Oh my!  Uncle Scott, Aunt Jill, and Morgan gave me a go-cart!  It was Morgan's but she barely rode it and it was just sitting in their garage.  Oh what fun for me! Daddy will show me all I need to know about riding a go-cart!  Daddy and Uncle Scott rode dirt bikes when they were boys.

I have always loved shoes and I think I got three pairs of shoes plus a couple pair of house shoes for Christmas.  Daddy gave me some new cowboy boots.  Mommy gave me the work boots I have been wanting.  I also got a pair of Vans, which I can wear when I am riding the skateboard Bridget gave me.  I can wear then when riding my scooters also.  I am the luckiest boy!

My gifts to Mimz and Barbara were reindeer antlers and a nose for their cars.  They will use them next Christmas.  I have seen them on many cars and I kept asking Barbara to get some for her car.  Mommy and I got some for her car and I decided that would be a fun gift for Mimz and Barbara.  They were both very pleased with their gifts.   It is the little things that make us happy.

Mimz knew just exactly what I would like: a Learn To Tell Time Clock, new puzzles, and an I Spy game.  And she gave me a new two wheel scooter like the one I have at the lake.  

At noon a transformer in Mimz neighborhood blew, so we were without electricity for a few hours.  Fortunately Mimz had all her cooking done and we were not having a family get-to-gather at her home today.  The Watson family was all meeting at cousin Lacey's home around 5pm.  Mimz had food ready to take.   And of course, I fell asleep during the drive.

Mimz and Daddy had a great evening of fun with family and friends, but I had a FANTASTIC  time with my cousins.   I was still going strong when Mimz left around 10.  I was included in every move the big boys made.   My favorite part of the evening might have been the fire pit in their large back yard. The kids had a great time gathering twigs, limbs, and leaves to throw on the fire. All the dads were out there sitting around the pit and supervising the fun.

All of the cousins are in the picture except Hudson (age 9).  We were waiting to eat.  The boys, Mason (5) Harper (7), Becket (7) were at one end of the table.  The girls, Landry (5) Ava Kate (5) and Addison (7) were at the other end.   Addison and Ava's parents are best friends to L & L.  They join us every year for this celebration. This was a very happy and exciting day for me.