Dear Santa

Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays

The song "Happy Holidays" was on the radio and I was singing (poorly, but Griffin doesn't care). The next thing I know, Griffin's singing..."Happy Halloween, Happy Halloween..."

I love it!

Breakfast With Santa

We've been talking about going to Breakfast with Santa for DAYS! Griffin was ready and, honestly, it was the first thing he said this morning when he woke up. "Go see Santa?!" (quickly followed by, "I'm hungry.")

So, could this kid be any more ready, any more cool...bring on the big man!

Emma and "Baby Paul" went first. Paul was indifferent, Emma had a list (she meant business!).

Sawyer, who obviously recognized the seriousness of the meeting, said he wanted a fire truck. 

Lily and Paul gave each other kisses there was just so much love in the air!
and then, Griffin's turn. This is how he visited with Santa. And, Santa is about five feet away. Yep, all talk, no walk. That's my boy!!!

But he did look cute with Daddy...

and even cuter with Mommy!

T-minus 12 days...Happy December!

Naughty or nice?

Griffin and I were talking about Santa coming to visit yesterday. I asked him if he was naughty or nice. He said, "I'm nice. Grandpa Joe is naughty. He needs time out!"

Who's checking his list?!?!

Christmas Parade!

This is how the day ended...with a HUGE piece of apple pie at Griffin's favorite deli!

The big man! How are we going to bribe Griffin once December 26th rolls around?
Waving back to the big man (notice the appropriate solemnity due such an important person!)

The anti-Santa...the GRINCH! (looking a little saggy we noticed)

But Mighty Mouse was all bulked up!
and Mommy needs to bulk up to carry Griffin on her shoulders!

Daddy had no problems...(okay, maybe he needed a break every now and then, but don't tell him I told!)

T-minus 15 days until Christmas! HOORAY!

hee hee hee, Kelsey!

Kelsey is my 13 year old cousin. She hasn't reached the "too cool for school" attitude yet. Here's the proof! (and, Griffin's nostrils to start off with. I wonder where he got those?)

I have a feature on my camera where you can take your own photo. Obviously, Kelsey enjoyed it! (and I'm sure she didn't expect that I'd put these on line!

Turkey Day '08

Yet again I have managed to mess up the order of the photos. Oh well...here are Griffin's rewards for being such a good boy and cleaning (see below...)

Just kidding. Although, he sampled more than one or two, I'm sure!

I wasn't lying about the cleaning. And Aunt Cary is dancing adn cheering G on, not spanking his bum!

You work for your dinner in this family!

The three Alvarezes and their niece, Elena (her immediate fam is in Cali so we were sooo happy to see her come from Boston)

Auntie Lala before she showed her true colors (see photo with Doug below)

Grandpa violates the turkey

Griffin and Kelsey peel sweet potatoes. Yep, this kid cleans AND cooks! (Griffin, not Kelsey!)

And some cute little turkeys for good helpers.

Griffin was a dream on the 11 hour drive up and 15 hour drive home. Yes, I said 15!!!!

Griffin and Adam who was so much fun; Griffin loved hanging with him and Kelsey!

The girls get ready to go to a shower...looking lovely, don't you agree?

Lala shows her true colors and Doug is (rightly) afraid :o)

Or maybe these are her true colors!!!

Happy Holidays, Everyone!!! We hope your Turkey day was great and that December is off to a good start.

pink ellies

The weekend before Thanksgiving, we put up the Christmas tree. While we were working, Griffin took dancing lessons with Grandpa Joe.

And helped Aggie make a wreath.

He also happened to find a pacifier and thought it was hilarious!

Curious about the PJs? Well, Griffin saw them at Target and HAD TO HAVE THEM. Aggie offered trucks, dinosaurs, you name it, but he insisted that he wanted "pink ellies!" I love 'em...the jammies and the kid!

Buddies!

Last Friday Griffin and I went to Cary to meet my friend, Jenny (we were roommates in college and she was in our wedding) and her two kids, Sam and Katie. Katie is 4 1/2 months old (she was born on my anniversary!) and Sam is ten days younger than Griffin.

Sam rollin' around...and loving it!

two buddies being silly (and sweaty!)

Jenny and Katie looking sweet (and not sweaty!)

How do you fly this thing????

You're the best mom ever! (okay, that's me saying that, n

I love digging (now quit taking my picture!)
buddies...off to find some trouble (or create some if there's none to be found)
If my old laptop hadn't crashed, I'd post some super cute pictures of Griffin and Sam together at 8 weeks old or so. Alas, they are gone (lesson to be learned? BACK UP YOUR FILES!). Happy Saturday!

Happy Halloween!

We had a very busy Halloween season. Yes, season. When, you ask, did Halloween become a season? I don't know. But, let's start with the good stuff...

The loot!!! Griffin loved trick-or-treating and seemed to really be amazed that all he had to do was ring a doorbell and people would give him candy. It's going to be tough to teach him that this only happens one day a year!

Did you know gorillas love popcorn balls?

Hanging by the pumpkins (not ours, but some friends!)

Happily displaying some loot.

The night before Halloween, we went to a festival of sort at a local science center. It was fun, but about a billion of our closest friends also chose to come. The fish were really biting at this game, though!

and Griffin had a great chat with Ralphie (EVERY buffalo we see is Ralphie...CU's mascot)

We also went to a Halloween concert and Griffin danced the afternoon away!

Our friend, Skye, also came and she was brave enough to go on stage with the band (the pink fairy)...she's so cool!

She also participated in the costume parade. We think she should have won!

I was happy to watch my buddy and finally asked Mommy to take me on stage.

I love "Big Bang Boom!"

Lastly, we had a Halloween party for 15 three-year-olds and their parents (thank God!). Here's our buddy, Ethan. No, the muscles aren't real ;o) Ethan's Mom, Stacey, and I were roommates in college.

What a Dad...dressing up like a banana is true love.

Dressing up as a zookeeper is also love, but a bit more fashionably :o)

This is Superman's family. His parents are SUCH hippies! (this couldn't be less true, but the costumes were awesome)

The cutest glow-in-the-dark pajamas worn by the cutest Halloween-er...nighty night!