Christmas Day

This Christmas was so much fun! Blake warmed right up to opening gifts, it didn't take him long to start opening other people's gifts too. We started our morning with some presents, then we had brunch. Blake's Uncle Todd, Aunt Lisa and cousins Gage and Jake arrived around noon. My parents stopped by as well as the Handsakers, it was a pretty full house. We are so happy everyone could come.

It was really fun to see Blake play with "the big boys". Gage is nine and Jake is almost six. Blake loved to watch them and the boys are really sweet to Blake. It was also a very eye opening experience for me, I grew up with a sister and all girl cousins. We played with Barbies and makeup. Gage and Jake are really into toy guns, and evidently Blake thinks they are pretty cool too. He would pick them up every chance he got.

All in all it was a really fun Christmas, complete with plenty of snow.

This is what Santa left for Blake in our entry way! A tent and a tee pee.

Blake hopped right in.

Milk break

Blake got a new electric toothbrush in his stocking. I think it was one of his favorite gifts :)

Blake and Mom

Gage and Jake were nice enough to push Blake around in his new car all day!

Grandad and Blake working on the tool bench.

Seriously? This is Blake with Jake's toy gun. I kept taking it away from him but he kept finding it again.

Gage and his new Nerf gun.

The cousins having some pie together.

Christmas Eve 2008

Chad and I hosted Christmas this year. Chad's parents came up from Portland on the 24th (we are so glad they made it through all the snow and ice). We went to my family's house for Christmas eve dinner, so Blake had all of his grandparents doting on him at once!

Our family

All the ladies + Blake

The men

Grandma Leslie and Blake

Blake enjoying his chocolate souffle and ice cream!

The Big Dig

Chad had to get into work today so this morning he started digging out the driveway. More than three hours later, he was ready to head in to the office.

Around 9 a.m.

Who knew watching someone shovel snow could be so entertaining? Blake stood perfectly still watching Chad for probably close to 15 minutes. Little does he know that will be his job a few years down the road :)

Around noon


The neighborhood - I am happy to say they plowed the roads tonight!

Our backyard

Butter

I was in the next room when I heard "mmmmm....mmmmmm". My very clever son had used the door of our dishwasher as a step stool to get himself up to the butter.

Don't most kids put their hands in the cookie jar?

More Snow

We went out to play in the snow again today. Blake loves his snow bibs, I think he likes the sound they make when he walks, or the fact he can slide down the stairs on his tummy extra fast with them on.

I may have over bundled him...

I've fallen and I can't get up! Blake was able to get around just fine in the snow earlier this week. Today there was so much snow it was hard for him to walk in it.

Once we got out to our street he was able to make it on his own. Blake loved watching Louis hop around in the snow - lots of giggling.

This was earlier this afternoon - now we can barely see the bottom of the chairs.

Christmas with the Warning Family

Between snow storms we made it over to my parent's house for our Christmas celebration. Last year we were all in Montana and Blake had just started rolling over. This year it was all cookies, presents and running around. Mostly running around!

Reading a new Christmas book.

Opening a few more gifts (cookie in hand).

This is the backpack Alison and Brian gave Blake. It's darling, there is a little pocket for a picture of him on the back.

Taking a cookie break on the stairs.

Today Chad stayed home and we all had a snow day. This morning we all bundled up and went to play in the snow. Later we put Blake in the backpack and walked to Starbucks, which seemed more like a ski lodge with everyone in their winter gear.

Blake seemed to like the snow. Once he got used to his boots he was walking all over our neighborhood, I was pretty impressed.

On the way to Starbucks.

On the way home.

Rescue

Chad went and picked up Alison yesterday, she was stranded at home due to the sheet of black ice covering the hill in front of her home. We had some fun today, she went to the little gym with us, we played at home and shopped a little this afternoon. She went back home this evening, but with snow in the forecast we are hoping she'll come rescue us if need be! :)

Say cheese!

Blake "jogging" in Alison's tennis shoe.

Weekend Fun

This past weekend Blake spent Friday night at Grandma and Grandpa's house and Saturday night with Alison and Brian. Chad and I had some Christmas parties to host and attend, so my family helped out with Blake. It was strange to wake up at home without him, but nice to sleep in a bit! Thank you!

Alison sent some pictures of their time together - Learning to surf at the Handsaker's house - we know Uncle Brian will teach him for real some day!

Helping out in the office

Playing in the snow with Brian

After playing in the snow, Alison had to throw Blake's pants in the dryer - so he slid into Brian's Uggs to stay warm :)

Snowflake Parade

Tonight Auntie Alison met Blake and I at Bellevue Square so we could watch the snowflake parade. Auntie Alison and Blake

A friend suggested we get there a little early so Blake could meet all of the Christmas creatures.


They were passing out candy, however this picture is of Blake giving the snowman his after dinner mint :)

The parade

At the end of the parade and the Christmas music it started to "snow"! After all of this fun Christmas activity, our quick dinner at Nordstrom still seemed to be the highlight for Blake. I ordered him chicken fingers, purely because I thought it would be the least messy item on the children's menu. Blake didn't eat one single bite of chicken, but he did manage to drench himself in ranch. He started by dipping a finger in and licking it, then moved on to dipping the chips - my little health nut!