Elf on the Shelf!

I decided it would be great fun to get Gray an Elf on the Shelf this year. Josh read him the story while I was decorating the tree and "Tippy"the Elf was born. Why Tippy? Josh asked Gray what we should name him, and Tippy was the first name Gray yelled out. I was hoping for something more festive, like Noel or Jingle or Snowflake or Joy or Yule or Carol or Star or Merry or well... anything but Tippy. Gray seemed pretty set on it, so it's officially written in pen in our book. I think we all know once it's in pen, there is no changing it. It's like a tattoo. It is permanent. 

We talked about Tippy a few times, but Gray's mind was BLOWN when he saw Tippy had left him a note with Lucky Charms the first night. Gray talks about Tippy all the time, basically multiple times every day. This elf watching good and bad deeds all day is genius! Every morning he wakes up and looks for him. We have been trying to be creative (thanks Pintrest!) but it's hard to be ultra creative for 30+ days of Tippy movement. I'm curious if we can do the same things next year and get away with it...

Playing Chess

Chatting with Santa

Skateboarding 

Reading the Very Hungry Caterpillar  

Playing in the toothpaste 

We celebrated Christmas way early (due to traveling), so this date was WAY off. :)  

Candyland

My personal favorite. Making snowflakes.

Flour angels

Bubble bath time. 

Checking out the Christmas decorations

Peek-A-Boo

Flying the CH-53D. 

This was about half of the places Tippy hung out during November/December. The last night that we were home Tippy made a birthday card for Jesus. I loved how involved Gray was this year with Christmas and presents, but he is also beginning to understand things about Jesus thanks to prayers and Sunday School (even if that's not what SoCal calls it). It melts my heart to hear him talk about Jesus being born in a manger and seeing him give gifts to others. I love Christmas. :)

Do you have any Tippy suggestions for next year? Do you have an Elf that you love? 

Thanksgiving!

It's hard to believe it's already Thanksgiving again, right? It seems like we were just going to be beach and the SD Fair, now it's already November! We decided to stay in San Diego for the holiday and have a few military pals over for lunch. I spent most of the day preparing everything for tomorrow, so no real cooking will be happening in the morning just a lot of putting things in the oven. 

As I type there are three pies cooling on the counter. I'll have to get back to you on how that actually turns out after they are cut and sampled. I've never made a pie before tonight and I'm pretty sure I just invented a scrambled egg pecan pie... I have delusions of grandeur because my mom is maybe the best cook in North America, so after my pecan pie fiasco I think I've been knocked back into reality. The recipe said brown the butter, then add other ingredients. I added eggs first and they started to cook before I could add the other things in, so it was like egg drop pecan pie filling. Like I said, I'll just have to report back about that... 

Happy Thanksgiving from Gray! 

I may not say it enough, but I have so many things to be thankful for and I love having a holiday just to reflect on those things one day every year. I am most thankful for having the most wonderful husband on Earth, a crazy/perfect little boy, fabulous family, amazing friends, good health, a nice home, a warm bed, plenty of food to eat, and a Heavenly Father that loves me more than I can imagine. How can I not be thankful today? Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

Christmas You Missed!

The Armed Services YMCA in San Diego does a Christmas You Missed every year for the families who had a deployed service member over the holidays. They had fun things for the kids to do, like ride a horse, make crafts, etc. Breakfast was also provided for everyone. There was a fun little Boston Terrier who had his own motorcycle, that the kids LOVED!! 

With the Coleman kids! 

Ornament making!

Santa was also there, and he gave out toys to each one of the children. He had a lot of fun with his friends that were there and wasn't expecting a toy from Santa so it was double fun. The ASYMCA did an amazing job on this event! I know that our family, and the families we went with (two others from our Squadron) really enjoyed making up for some of the Christmas memories we missed while Josh was in Afghanistan. Thanks Armed Services YMCA!! 

The days are long, but the years are short...

Today was the 3rd Mother's Day I've celebrated as a "Mom" and I'm pretty sure that it just gets better every year. Josh was fantastic as always and super attentive. Gray was more generous with hugs and kisses. It's not about the cards, flowers, or gifts but I have to admit it's nice to have a whole day to be appreciated for something you love doing anyway. 

I know I don't have all of the answers. Well, I'm pretty sure I only have a few of them, but I know that I love Gray more than I thought I could love anyone. I tell him I love him at least a couple times every day. I love his imagination, his contagious laugh, his big brown eyes, the little freckles that are starting to show up across his nose, the kisses he sometimes gives me when I tell him I DO NOT want one, and just about everything about his personality. Sometimes he irritates the crap out of me and I need a break, but most of the time I love sharing my days with Gray. 

What Mom doesn't want to go to the grocery store alone sometimes (or the bathroom for that matter)? That said, I'm convinced that this moment is the 'good stuff.' I try not to wish time away, because I know every age has trials. No one time is harder (teething or getting a learner's permit) than the next, but one times isn't better than the next (first words or first prom) either. I miss Gray's little coos and big toothless smiles and I miss watching him learn how to walk. The flip side of that is that now I see him learning how to count and build 'houses' out of everything from legos to PlayDough to pillows. What's next? Who knows? But I'm totally ready to find out! 

I'm so blessed to be Gray's Mommy, but I also have the most amazing Mom in the world. In a word she is amazing. She is one of my best friends. She gives great advice. She is smart, beautiful, caring, compassionate, funny, giving, supportive, and adventurous (to some degree). My sister and I couldn't have been more blessed than to be born into our little family because we truly lucked up in the parent department. 

*That said, my Mom acts like a 14 year old with her cell phone, but that is a whole blog post in and of itself so I won't get into that at the moment. 

Josh asked if I had any idea about what I might want for Mother's Day. I naturally responded with something like "Of course, I've got some ideas!!" I had been eyeing some antique stained glass windows (pulled out of old homes) for basically forever. Antique pieces can be kind of pricey (and sometimes hard to find) and I couldn't justify just going out to get one, but if it is a special occasion... 

We looked around at some antique shops in Ocean Beach and couldn't find anything but I had one more place in mind to try. I accidentally discovered a little salvage place in Little Italy, so we looked there yesterday. Low and behold, there was not one but several pieces hanging in the window! I narrowed it down to a few different ones and finally decided to go with the first one I looked at. I am so excited about hanging it up in the new house, but have decided to prop it up with all of the other wall decorations that I've already taken off the walls. I'm slightly bitter that it's not hanging in a window somewhere casting the most beautiful/colorful shadows, but it doesn't make much sense to hang it up just to patch the holes in a few days. Soon it will be hanging somewhere near the beach, so I guess I can wait a week or two to enjoy it.

Loving my gift!

Go read this article "Am I Mom Enough?" because Kara Baskin gives a great "Mommy Wish List" with all of the things she hopes that her children will be/do as they grow into adults. She hits the nail on the head as far as I'm concerned with what is important. I would have loved if she would have added something about children choosing to attend church later in life, but otherwise it was basically perfect. 

Here are a few of my favorites taken from the article... 

-"I hope I raise a child who says “thank you” to the bus driver when he gets off the bus, “please” to the waiter taking his order at the restaurant, and holds the elevator doors when someone’s rushing to get in."

-"I hope I raise a child who realizes that life is unfair: Some people are born rich or gorgeous. Some people really are handed things that they don’t deserve. Some people luck into jobs or wealth that they don’t earn. Tough."

-"I hope I raise a child who is open-minded and curious about the world without being reckless."

-"I hope I raise a child who knows that he’s loved and special but that he’s not the center of the universe and never, ever will be."


Happy Mother's Day! 

Easter Bunny!

This week, Gray and I went to the Heavy Lift (helicopter) Squadron's Easter party on base. Josh had to work so it was just the two of us. Gray hunted eggs for the first time, so it took him a minute to figure out that he was supposed to put the eggs in the basket, not just pick them up and put them back down. It was pretty cute to watch, I can't lie. He went for an egg at the same time as a little girl, but he beat her to it. Once he realized she was trying to pick it up, he put it in her basket. What a proud Mommy moment! My baby is learning to share! :) 

Gray. Loved. This. Slide. 

Waiting for the hunt to begin.

Who doesn't love people in cammies walking around during an egg hunt?

Checking out his loot. 

"Look at Mommy for one picture."
He turns his back and crosses his arms. I'm not even kidding. 

He spotted the Easter Bunny and I told him to wait to chat with him until after he hunted eggs. Once the egg hunting was done, the Easter Bunny had moved at least 100 yards away. Gray spotted him and high tailed it after the Bunny. You would think a kid who was terrified of Santa last year (2010) wouldn't be a fan of a huge bunny, but I guess times they are a-changin'.

Bunny Love. 

We hit the mall after the Easter party to get an Easter outfit for Gray. Turns out we had a mini-shopping spree for next years wardrobe because tons of things are on sale at the moment. Have I mentioned my love for Baby Gap before? Their clothes are always so stinking cute, plus they are well made. I have decided that Gymboree is lame unless you have little girls or are looking for button-up shirts. I was all pumped when I walked in and saw helicopter shirts galore. Then realized they were all ugly, plus had tons of white.  Who buys white for a 3 year old boy? People who like to wash with lots of bleach or people who have too much money? I digress. 

Gray spotted the Easter Bunny and had to see him again. He sat down like a big kid and kept making his 'happy face' until he got down. While I was looking at the print, the EB got up (I think he was getting closer to a fan) and started to dance. Gray saw this and had to join in the dancing. Picture Gray and the Easter Bunny breaking it down in the middle of the mall. Awesome right?

Gray is thinking: "Happy Face!"

Yucatan Cruise

My sister had the crazy idea that we should go on a Christmas vacation. Mom and I talked her out of a Christmas cruise, in favor of a New Year's cruise! We left on the 26th headed to New Orleans and got on board a Carnival cruise ship. We stopped in Cozumel and Progresso.  

Carnival has scheduled activities for kids basically every day you are on the ship (even days at port). Gray and Claire spent a few hours in the kid zone every day. We found that it was easier to have dinner without them (by feeding them first and dropping them off) and that they had tons of fun with the Carnival people. They went on treasure hunts and had a prince/princess party. They made tons of hats and had face painting,  it was so cute to see what they did every day. 

The kids loved sitting in the window in our cabin. 

Our first stop was in Cozumel. Jennifer found Chankanaab Park the last time they were there, so we went to it for a few hours. They had a little show with sea lions and seals, which was really cute and the kids loved. The park also offers swimming with dolphins, but we skipped that and headed for the beach. Jennifer, Bob, and Lexie snorkeled for a little while. Gray, Clarie, Mom, and I stayed on the little beach for kids because Gray loves the water. The water is much warmer in Mexico than it is here in California, so Gray stayed in over an hour. I think he would have stayed longer, but he got a little chilled so I made him get out. (He will have full body shakes and be turning blue, but not be ready to get out of the water at home.) We left the park and did a little shopping before heading back to the boat. It was a pretty relaxing day, and everyone had fun. 

Ma'am and Gray in Cozumel. 

Gray and Lexie loved Chankanaab Park in Cozumel. 

Gray and Uncle Bob watching the seal/sea lion show at the park. 

Gray loved the little bay for kiddos. Plus the water was WAY warmer in Mexico than it is here in California! 

Our next stop was Progresso. We had plans to visit the Dzibilchaltun Ruins, just outside the city of Progresso. We did a little shopping in the market before getting on a tour bus and heading to the ruins. Good Lordy it was hot out that day, but the ruins were very interesting. They let people climb on them and we had a guide that gave some information about what we were seeing. There was a freshwater sinkhole at the ruins that people swim in. We were told it was 200 feet deep, so I wasn't even remotely interested in getting Gray close to that! It was really pretty to look at though... I loved the trip to the ruins, but wouldn't want to go in the summer because if it's hot in December, I don't want to know what it's like in July! 

Making time for a little shopping in Progresso.

Trying out the swings/hammocks. He approved. 

We spend one day at the Dzibilchaltun ruins.

The freshwater sinkhole at the ruins.

Carnival has so many fun things for kids! 

The kiddos!

Build a moose! Gray wanted a pirate moose. :)

Once we made it back to New Orleans, we stopped at Cafe Du Monde for some beignets. I'm pretty sure there is some law that says you can't visit New Orleans without getting beignets. Gray loved his first experience with them and was covered in powdered sugar before it was over with. After the quick around the Riverwalk, we headed back to North LA. 

I think we all had a pretty great time on the cruise. Plus I found out how amazing the kid zone is if Josh and I plan another cruise with Gray anytime soon.

Beignets for the road in New Orleans. 

Christmas!

Gray and I spent Christmas at 'home' this year. It was great to spend time with family and friends we don't get to see very often. I think the worst part of living in California is being away from our family and friends. Luckily we have make our own 'family' of military friends everywhere we move, so it's not like we are all alone out here. It would just be nice to be able to spend time with parents, siblings, cousins, etc on the smaller holidays or even family reunions. Alas we will stay here in California for the foreseeable future, so we just have to enjoy our trips home and visitors.

Gray loved the gifts from everyone and from Santa. Speaking of Santa, he didn't have a melt down this year! He actually smiled at Santa and sat in his lap for pictures. He refused to talk to him, but at least he didn't cry. I'm thinking next year, he may even tell Santa what he wants for Christmas! 

Photo of a photo=Not the best quality. 

Gray loved Papa's Harley! 

This was so sweet. :)

Gray and Claire on Christmas morning.
Gray had just woken up. Claire had been in hair/nails already that morning. 

Gray LOVED his dune buggy!
I just wish our yard was bigger so he could actually drive around instead of forward and backward! 

Showing Claire his new wheels! 

Uncle Chris gave this to Gray. 

Opening presents from Daddy! 

He loves the owls on the Christmas tree. And the bells. And the birds. 

One more gift from his temporary Sunday School teachers in Bastrop. 

Gray and Cayden had a little too much fun in the dune buggy.

Luckily Mom lives on a quiet street. :)

We made the rounds and saw just about everyone, even if our time was limited. I'm glad Gray was able to see so many people who love him even though he doesn't get to see them very often!