SNACK BREAK!

Dalton got caught eating on the job! All that fixing stuff is hard work...I guess he built up an appetite. He loves to put on the safety goggles and we have had the hardest time trying to catch him with them on his eyes...this is as close as we got! Note that they are upside down because..."I do it myself!" He has a lot of determination and that is a good thing! I think he gets that from his Daddy:)

Goldfish...the official snack of toddlers, mommy's and sometimes daddy too!

THE "DUMPY" TRUCK HAS COMPETITION!

The day after Christmas Dalton received a package in the mail from our friends in Weatherford, OK. And by now Dalton has figured out that when someone says there are presents for him that it's a VERY GOOD thing! So when he got up from his nap (he's still in his sleep sack) I told him that he had more presents under the tree...he was very excited and said "presents, presents"! He tore in to them...one was a Tonka truck flash light that rolls and lights up and the other was a Tonka Police Car with lights, sounds, doors that open, etc.

This is the look on his face after he pushed one of the buttons...pretty cool!

We went to my parents to eat Christmas leftovers and Dalton just had to take his police car to show Pa...he loves it and Daddy likes it too!

70 PLUS DEGREES...THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS?!?!

How fantastic it was to have temperatures in the 70's the day after Christmas! NO JACKET:)

"Outside" here we come...you can tell by the grin on Dalton's face he thinks it's fantastic too!

He is so good at patting down that sand...it was a little windy and the sand was getting in our eyes...so I added some water to the otherwise dry sand and it was just right for making molds in the sand!

Merry Christmas Dalton!

I know that Dalton doesn't really understand Christmas...but we sure had fun trying to help him this year! It is so fun to be experiencing all of these things for the first time with him. He has really enjoyed reading about Santa, going to visit Santa, talking about baby Jesus and playing the nativity scene...it's hard to believe that this time last year he was just learning how to crawl and now look at him. He is running, jumping, coloring, talking, hugging, kissing, he knows some of his colors, and likes to try to count, calling his friends and family by their names, his vocabulary is well over 100 words (I know some of you may be thinking that there is no way because when you see him he barely says a word...he is our shy little guy but just give him some time to warm up and he will talk your ear off). He loves trucks, Elmo, trains, firefighters, dogs and I think his mom and dad, too!

Anyhoo...back to Christmas...as most of you know Dalton is really in to crayons right now...so we are SO GLAD that Santa brought the Easel loaded with a BIG pad of paper, new colors, marker, paint, brushes, smock, chalk, etc. Dalton has not actually used the paint yet...so far he is having fun just pretending! He LOVES the art easel and keeps himself VERY busy with his drawings...he talks about drawing Elmo and Mookie (Cookie Monster)!
Great smile...and one of the only pics I got of Dalton looking at the camera this Christmas...way to busy to stop and say cheese...he will say cheese but he just keeps doing whatever it is he is doing...little stinker!

Santa left a train conductor hat and train whistle in his stocking...he can actually make it blow and he just LOVES it and says CHOO CHOO! Today on the way to pick up dinner Dalton and I got caught by a train...he was thrilled. We were about 3 cars from the railroad crossing so I rolled down the window so he could get the full effect...and he talked about it the whole way home:)

Dalton is finally figuring out that this unwrapping gifts stuff is fun!

Working hard unwrapping another gift!

After a long morning of unwrapping gifts we packed up and headed to my parents house for a traditional turkey & dressing lunch! We were joined by my sister, brother-in-law, two nieces, my aunt, uncle, their son and his two girls! And after a few more gifts were opened we packed up and headed home for Dalton to get in his nap!

Presents Under the Tree for Dalton

Elmo Live Doll...pretty neat...I got some good video I will post later.

Art Easel loaded with art stuff...already talked about that.

Tool Set...so funny that he took the tools and went straight to his Tonka truck to fix it.

Tonka Race Car Set...very easy for him to manipulate on his own...good sound effects.

Elmo Lap Top Computer...a little over his head but he likes to push the buttons.

Conductor Hat & Train Whistle...you can tell by the pictures that these were a hit.

Board Book About Colors...can never have to many books!

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS...

The night before Christmas A.K.A. Christmas Eve was spent like it is every year for as long as I can remember...with my side of the family at my sister's house. Her husband fixes yummy potato soup and we exchange gifts...the adults draw names earlier in the month and of course the kids get gifts from everyone! Since this is only Dalton's 2nd Christmas he didn't really understand that there were toys waiting for him to unwrap them so mommy did most of the unwrapping...especially once he opened the dump truck or what Dalton calls the "dumpy"! He lost all interest in anything else that night. However he has since gained interest in the rest of his fantastic gifts.

After much waiting for the "dumpy" to be taken out of the box Dalton finally gets a good look at it...he' impressed! Notice the bow on his back that one of his cousins slapped on!
This is Dalton starring at his Uncle Todd waiting patiently for him to break the "dumpy" out of it's box! Thanks Uncle Todd...he was sitting the closest so he got stuck with getting toys out of boxes and figuring out what they do!

Dalton giving a round of applause as Uncle Todd hands over the "dumpy"!

We had a great time and we all received great gifts and the best gift of all which was time to be together with one another!

WE HOPE YOU...

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Daddy, Mommy and Dalton

HE FINALLY DID IT!

We knew the day would come when Dalton would figure out how to climb! We actually thought it would be before now...guess we just got lucky! He did it for the first time last night and as soon as he got up this morning he was back at it...I guess when you are stuck inside for a week you figure out ways to entertain yourself! First attempt...or maybe second those pants are pretty slick!
Didn't make it on that attempt!

Let's try it again...he looks like he is in ballet class stretching at the bar!

But that approach seemed to have worked...Dalton is very proud and is clapping for himself! The rule is he has to sit on his bottom!

Did I mention that Dalton doesn't always follow the rules?!?!?

I know it's not the safest toddler activity but he worked so hard for so long to climb up on the ottoman that I hated not to help him celebrate his accomplishment!

CRAYOLA WASHABLE CRAYONS ARE MY NEW BEST FRIEND!

After spending much time inside this week Dalton has discovered that he really enjoys coloring and mommy does too! He will ask for his colors and we have a LARGE pad of paper that he draws on for half an hour or so...nothing else keeps his attention that long not even Elmo...well okay maybe Elmo! However, this morning our friends Jenny and Jackson stopped by with a Christmas present for Dalton. The boys took off to play and while Jenny and I were busy chatting this is what Dalton was so busy doing...note Jackson had no part in the art project! And we hope he didn't get any ideas since Dalton got Jackson washable crayons and a LARGE pad of paper for Christmas!

Hard at work expressing himself through his artwork...ha ha!

Taking a break and saying "me me me" because he wanted to see the pictures that I had been taking of him!

Back to work...such a perfectionist...hee hee!

Of course none of this would be funny or picture worthy if the washable crayons weren't so easily wiped away! Thank goodness for washable crayons...one swipe with a wet washcloth and the toilet looked brand new!

Hey at least he's not eating them anymore!

COMPANY CHRISTMAS PARTY!

Well, some of you may be thinking...I didn't know Dalton's mom was working...and asking the question what company does she work for and how nice of them to have a Christmas party where she could bring Dalton. I am not officially working but my stay at home mommy friends and I decided since some of our husbands were having fancy company Christmas parties, lunches, etc. that we deserved one too! So we got together for our last play date a.k.a company Christmas party before the holiday and brought all of the yummy treats we could think of and celebrated!

And of course tried to take some pics...none of which turned out very good but here they are for your viewing pleasure! Maddy, Luke, Jackson and Dalton! And the only one paying attention to the camera is Luke...pretty smart for such a little guy!
Hey at least they are both looking in the same direction...maybe not at the camera but the same direction anyway...it's a start...maybe next year!

Apparently, Dalton thought something was pretty funny...he was probably laughing at us trying to get them all to look up at us so we could take pictures of them! What a little stinker:)

XOXO

No pictures...but I just had to post it so if and when this phase passes I won't forget it! Dalton continues to be into the hugging and kissing...not so much with mommy and daddy but everything else he can find!
1. crayons
2. ornaments on the tree
3. stuffed animals
4. dogs
5. Little People...last night he was playing with his Little People fire truck and police car and he decided that the firefighter and police officer should hug and kiss...so they did! It was SO FUNNY...and no he hasn't been playing barbies with his cousins!

HO HO HO! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Today we (me and my husband) bundled up Dalton and headed to the mall to do some Christmas shopping! And of course one of the items on our "To Do" list was to see if Dalton would sit on Santa's lap! Last week Dalton and I stopped by briefly after a play date at the mall and said "hi" but we didn't get as far as we did today! Dalton's daddy was so patient with him and so was Santa (luckily there wasn't anyone else in line behind us)! He clung to his Daddy and never did sit on Santa's lap but I was able to get this picture...so sweet! It's pretty typical of Dalton's personality this year...very shy! Just like last week when we got ready to leave he said "bye-bye" and waived at "Claus" (that's what Dalton calls him or ho ho)! I guess we will have to do it the old fashioned way and send Santa a letter to the North Pole since Dalton wasn't able to tell him what he wanted for Christmas:) Daddy, Dalton and Santa...so sweet!

OUTSIDE...OUTSIDE...OUTSIDE!

After Dalton's nap last Friday we had some time before his Daddy got home from a business trip to Texas! So we went OUTSIDE...kind of! I had started some "welcome home" chalk art for my husband when Dalton decided he was a much better artist than me...he really went nuts with the chalk! I am not sure if he had more chalk on himself or the garage floor!

Dalton LOVES to play outside...no matter what the temperature is or how hard the wind is blowing! So after hearing OUTSIDE more times than I could bear...Dalton and I found a compromise! Mommy brought the outside...inside to our garage! However, please note that we still needed to wear our coats to play in the garage.

For those of you who know me you may know how much I dislike being COLD...so this is a picture of me pretending to be having fun in the cold garage!

Dalton having a little sand time...got this idea from my friend/neighbor Carrie! It is a very inexpensive and mobile way to let Dalton play in the sand (clear tote with lid and one bag of sand). Next summer he will get a BIG BOY sand box where we can build really cool stuff but for now he mainly likes to pour it in cups and dump it back out so this miniature version is perfect. We did the same thing for a water table...however the water table will not be back until spring:)

He even mowed the garage floor...it looks like it needs a good mow or something. Please disregard our garage that so desperately needs to be cleaned out!

Dalton still covered in sidewalk chalk but having a ball on his Tonka truck!

Please don't hit mommy's car:)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Survey! TAG, you're it. Copy and post on your blog!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapped...the wrapping, curling ribbon, running out of scotch tape is half the fun!
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial every year of my life except for one when I lived with my friend Michelle.
3. When do you put up your Christmas Tree? Usually...the day after Thanksgiving but not this year...curious 21 month old has got me nervous!
4. When do you take the tree down? Shortly after the new year!
5. Do you like eggnog? I like Braum's Egg Nog...I don't buy it but my mom does...thanks Mom!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I loved an electric organ...probably 3rd or 4th grade?!?
7. Hardest person to buy for? All the men in my family
8. Easiest person to buy for? Dalton
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No, and we need to get one.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail...it is quite a job...between my husband and I we send out well over 100 cards!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I'm not saying!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story until the marathons on Christmas Day ruined it for me. I like Christmas Vacation:)
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually after Halloween...and I like to be done at least 1-2 weeks before Christmas so I can focus on the wrapping...remember it's half the fun! I don't like to be rushed during the wrapping because it takes all of the fun out of it:)
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Sad to say...Yes!
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom's turkey and dressing and green bean casserole!
16. Lights on the tree? prelit tree - white lights
17. Favorite Christmas song? Silver Bells
18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Sad to say I am not sure I can...I better figure that one out...Dalton will be quizzing me before we know it!
19. Best gift ever? I am not sure...I so like to give more than receive...I think that I am hard to buy for.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Snow Man
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? That most people including myself get so wrapped up in the Santa part of Christmas and not as much on the real meaning of Christmas. I sound like the Charlie Brown Christmas!
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I started collecting snowmen ornaments about 7 years ago so they cover the tree. I am sure that will change as Dalton gets older but for right now he has his own little tree and I have started buying an ornament for whatever he is in to that year...Sesame Street!
24. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? Dressing
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A BIG smile on Dalton's face on Christmas morning! And all of the love and hugs that I can get from him:) And of course Daddy too!

A SESAME STREET CHRISTMAS!

I haven't gotten brave enough to put up the BIG TREE yet...I hope to get it up this weekend. But while Dalton took his nap this afternoon I put up his tree...decorated with all of his friends from Sesame Street! Oddly enough he went straight for Oscar the Grouch and said "OCAR"...note he's not so good with the "s"sound! There are several Elmo ornaments and I just knew that he would grab those first but mommy was wrong!

Here he is going for Oscar...he was kind of towards the back of the tree!

Just a close up shot so you can see some of the cute ornaments.

CAR GO FAT!

Dalton loves to send his cars racing down the ramp a.k.a "slide" on his Little People's garage. Apparently, it is a very dangerous activity since he felt the need to wear his helmet...and he could be right. When he starts laughing as hard as he is in this picture he does have a hard time standing up:) Better safe than sorry! Look at that car going "fat" down the "slide"!

TURKEY DAY ROAD TRIP!

Well, we did it...we traveled to western Oklahoma to see my husbands mother and on to Texas to see some more of his relatives that had not met Dalton yet! And I must brag on my little guy...what a trooper he was in the car...he slept the whole way! Of course we did time it to his nap time but YEAH anyway:)

Once we got in town Daddy and Grandma took Dalton to the park while mommy stayed behind to get the house ready for Dalton. Upon their return we went and saw some horses that were in a pasture behind Grandma's house and then we went out to eat and came back home for an evening of Elmo, bath time and bed time...which didn't go so well...it's only sleep right!?!?

On Thanksgiving day we traveled to and from Texas to visit more relatives and eat lunch. Dalton was shy...surprise, surprise! He was not at all happy about all of the people and all of the attention they wanted to give him...he clung to me and would cry when anyone else tried to talk to him! Luckily this did not last the whole time we were there and he eventually warmed up to all of the folks who had been wanting to see him for so long! We headed back to Oklahoma later that afternoon and planned for a big day at one of Daddy's friends the next day.

Daddy's friend Dee and his wife Jean Ann have a cattle ranch and they live on the most beautiful land out in western Oklahoma...you can see forever and ever...to bad we weren't there to see the sun go down! It will be a SUPER FUN place for Daddy and Dalton to escape when he gets older to go and do BOY STUFF...whatever all of that is...all I know is that Daddy is very excited about the possibilities! And mommy enjoys the company of Jean Ann so it all works out!

He was such a good sleeper in the car...now the night time sleep in the pack and play not so good...in fact it was horrible:( O-well we can't have it all:)

Dalton has turned into quite a smarty pants...I was trying to take his picture and I said "say cheese" and instead of smiling this time he grabbed a piece of cheese off of his plate and ate the cheese instead of saying it!

Dalton and Grandma...I could never get them both looking at the camera at the same time!

One of Dalton's favorite things to do at his Grandma's house...play piano apparently with his fingers and toes!

Daddy and Dalton showing off their piano skills! Quite a pair!

Dalton childproofing Grandma's house...oops!

TENT TIME!

After hearing all of the good times had by Dalton's play mates and their home made tents I decided today was the day for a tent. It was VERY COLD outside and Daddy was working late and we needed a new indoor activity. So while Dalton took his afternoon nap I was constructing my first tent as a mommy...not to bad! But I am up for any helpful hints! The tent!
Some of Dalton's stuffed animal friends that Mommy used to try to get him to go into the tent...didn't work!

This is what Dalton wanted to do instead!

"ELMO, ELMO, ELMO" Daddy purchased this Elmo's Visits the Firehouse DVD and Dalton is VERY FOND!

Initially, Mommy was very disappointed that Dalton didn't squeal with delight at the sight of the tent that I had made. But then he eventually warmed up to it and loved it running around, diving in, etc. There were some great picture moments but just my luck the battery on my camera was to low to take pictures...BUMMER! Maybe next time...there will be a next time...thanks to all of my mommy friends for the tent tips!

DALTON'S LUCKY DAY!

Upon leaving our play date Tuesday at Dalton's friend Maddy's house we were greeted by the Edmond Sanitation Dept. They were picking up tree limbs and Dalton was FASCINATED to say the least...I finally talked him to getting in the car and watching from the back seat. It was a little chilly outside...so here we are in the back seat...Dalton so excited and mommy snapping pictures! He kept pointing and saying "trash truck"!
They were parked right behind us so we had the best view...maybe not the best picture but definitely the best view!

DATE NIGHT...KIND OF!

Last weekend we escaped to a neighbor's wedding...does that count as a date??!?! My parents stayed with Dalton and all went well and he was even asleep upon our return! So I guess he can survive without us! Those of you who know us know that it is very rare that we leave Dalton with anyone...why you may ask...I really don't know! We definitely should more often it was nice to have adult time with my husband even though we probably talked about him at least half of the time! Mommy & Daddy all dressed up!

REALLY?!?!? ARE WE PLAYING OUTSIDE TODAY!

Last Saturday it was REALLY COLD...but to Dalton who apparently has no real since of hot or cold it was fine. As you can tell by his BIG SMILE he is just fine in 40 degree weather! Bless his heart he had been saying "outside, outside, OUTSIDE" all day so after his nap we went outside for about 15 minutes...that as long as mommy & daddy could stand it! Dalton getting ready to play in the sand when he really wanted to play in the water...
In the summer Dalton would help me water the plants...so I guess since there was no water he decided to pour sand on the flowers instead?!?!? He meant well right?!?!?