Grammy's Visit - October 2011

I think this is my last catch-up post.  The rest are pretty current.  Hooray!

Grammy Ward paid us a visit in October this year.  She never stays for quite long enough!  She came at the perfect time weather-wise, though.  It cooled off to highs in the 70's and 80's while she was here so we were able to go to the park and enjoy the cooler weather all week.  We also stayed home a lot and played.  I was really impressed with my mom.  She rough-housed with Tommy like someone 30 years younger couldn't do.  She picked him up, tickled him, and threw him around like it was no big deal.  I guess it proves that having grandchildren actually makes you younger:)

While Tommy played with Grammy I actually got a lot of work done around the house.  It's kind of sad when you have to set aside an entire morning and ship your child off to a babysitter just to clean your bedroom and bathroom.  It was that bad, I'm sorry to say.  But, since then I have done a much better job of keeping up with the housework, specifically in our bedroom and bathroom:)  I'm grateful to have had some time to get a jump start on things while my mom was here.

She also took Tommy for an entire night while Ben and I got away on a real date.  That will be the last time for awhile, so we really appreciate it:)  We love you, Grammy, and we can't wait to see you again soon!

Tommy and Grammy made up a game called Hope Rope that they played every day.  You can see how they played it in the video below.  I was so impressed.  I can't even lift Tommy like that over and over again!

This is Tommy "shopping". He loves to walk around and load up his bag with all kinds of toys and random stuff from around the house. I think it makes him feel very big and official.

I couldn't believe how easily my mom got down on her hands and knees to play cars with Tommy. They did this together every day, too. They also played Monster Trucks together, but I was never able to get a good picture of that.

When it was time for Grammy to leave Tommy really understood what was happening this time. He got really sad, gave Grammy a hug, and said, "I'm sad to leave you." He whined the whole way home from the airport, "I want my Grammy. But Mommy, I want her." So heartbreaking.

Grammy Nancy

My mom got to come visit us in February and we had such a great time! Tommy loves it when Grammy Nancy comes to visit. He gets a constant playmate who gives him undivided attention and incredible amounts of love. We hung out at home a lot this time and read books, blew bubbles, and played in the backyard. It was a great week and we only wish that Grammy could come visit more often.

We went to the park in Estrella one morning and had a great time. It was warm, but not hot, and Tommy had a great time playing in the sand and testing out all of the park equipment. He has become quite the climber lately and does really well climbing up ladders and climbing walls on his own. We even got to feed the ducks!

You have probably noticed that Tommy is wearing the same shirt in many of these photos. That is his truck shirt and he loves it as much as he loves Wrinkles. Once it gets dirty I have to hide it so that he doesn't try to wear it. He also loves his fire truck shirt.

September - October in Review

September and October were such busy months! After we got home from Denver Ben left on a business trip to Portland for about five days. While he was gone I bought lots of stuff for our home and started painting Tommy's bathroom (three months later and I still haven't finished it). We also enjoyed visits from Uncle Wes and Grammy Ward. The pictures and videos tell it best:

Tommy dining with his monkey on the new table I bought him from IKEA.

Uncle Wes tickling Tommy. Wes mastered the art of tickling after practicing for years on me!

Tommy giving his doggies a ride and insisting that they both be on the lion together.

Making cookies with Grammy.

Helping Mommy stir the cookie dough.

Four of Tommy's favorite things all at once: snuggling, drinking juice, hugging Wrinkles, and reading

Tommy making sure Monkey is reading on grade-level.

Tommy helping Mommy make more cookies.

Daddy and Tommy reading in their cool fort.

Tommy loves to steal my slippers. He even gets mad sometimes when he sees me wearing them.

Swinging at a park in Estrella. Life is good swingin' with Mr. Wrinkles.

This is a video of our darling boy playing peekaboo with his apple.

Here are Tommy and Daddy having a pillow fight.

This is Tommy feeding Mommy pizza. Yum!

And last, but not least, Tommy giving Wrinkles the love that he deserves.