A visit with Santa

Winter Wonderland was Friday night in Atascadero...and we had our dry run with Santa there. He was insistent he would not sit on Santa's lap but mommy or daddy would hold him when he told Santa he anted a Bertie Bus for Christmas. And that is just how it went down. On Saturday we ventured down to SLO to see Miss Melissa play and sing at the Mission, where Santa's house also sits this time of year. Again, Bix insisted that we would hold him while he repeated to Santa his wish for a Bertie Bus. But Santa was a little more in the groove of plopping children on his lap this time and Bix sailed down with an anxious look on his face. Mommy and Daddy were knelt down next to Santa though...so he survived with no major upset and is likely to stronger for it. Overall it was a much better experience than last year...when he screamed for someone to get the little girl off the strange man's lap. Anyways..here we all are :)

The tree all lit up

Here it is....

This Year's Holiday Tree

The Sunday after Thanksgiving we headed over to the tree farm down the street to pick out this year's tree. It was a little Charlie Brown-ish in the field of glorious trees, but looks great in the living room all decorated and lit up. Bix loved helping to decorate this year and was very persistent with each one about putting the hooks on. We got our our new robot ornament for this year and he picked out the spot where it would look best. Here's up picking out the tree and Brian and Bix chopping it down. Decorated tree picture to follow.

Obviously Bix knows how to travel the farm!

 
Silly boys!

A nice picture with Mommy...although tickles are required to get a smile out of Bix.

 
Such a big helper pulling the cart.

Chopping down the tree

The two Gleason lumberjacks.

I am lumberjack, hear me roar. TIMBER!

Thanksgiving

We all traveled down to Nana Gwen and Grandad Oscars for Thanksgiving this year and we had a wonderful time. Bix really got into drawing and "delivering mail" as Nana Gwen had some lovely "stamps" for him to use. He was so excited when we arrived (at 10:30 pm) that he woke up and wanted to play right away. I have to say we didn't get too much sleep..he hung in for late naps and even later bed times...pushing 10:30 one night....but he was so happy to be there and asked again and again if we could stay longer.

Relaxing in the special chair on the deck

Having a chat with the family

Snuggling with Nana Gwen

Drawing trains with Grandad Oscar

Making funny rhymes with Nana Gwen...always proceeded with "Oh, I know a good one"

The men at work on the yard design

Bix's new best friend...Uncle Alex...you couldn't separate these two.

The walking group (as opposed to the cooking group :)...Brian is the photographer in case you are keeping tabs).

Oh that great fun chair again

Collecting and examining leaves with Nana Gwen

Still going over the yard design...this time Bix's version..."here's the bedroom and here's the play structure, Grandad Box-car...he-he"

Doodling with Nana "hen"...look at the concentration

Phew...what an exhausting few days!

Bixby got a cranky the crane! We were out shopping and sometimes it's hard to resist the "can I get one" in the little meek voice filled with such sincerity and hope. And of course cranky needs a base to sit on so the trains can drive below him to drop off and receive their load. So Daddy and Bix designed and build such a pedestal. Bix was sure to wear his safety glasses and stand wayyyyyyyy back when Daddy was using the saw.

Bixby standing wayyyyyyy back!

The little boy long blond highlighted hair was adorable...but it kept getting in Bix's eyes and trying to keep up with trimming it when Bix hates the "itchy" hairs on his face and neck wasn't working out so well...so we went to Kim for a "big boy" haircut. As usual he did a great job sitting still....he was not so sure about the clippers but the biscotti at the end of the visit made it worth it for him to sit still and endure the buzzing noise. And what a cutie...I will miss the blond mop...but he will continue to charm with his new do.

Halloween

This year i'm going to be....

A construction man...no...just kidding...I just needed to do some work in the kitchen before the festivities.

He is Bix with Lila and Haley at the Zoo Boo the weekend before Halloween, testing out the costumes and their trick-or-treat skills.

And then it was the real deal, ringing doorbells and having a great time. Bix especially loved hanging with his friend Spider-man (Eamon)

Bixby turns 3!

Another year has gone by, full of new accomplishments, non-stop talking, and a complete enjoyment of all the little and big moments that make up life. It is amazing how much they grow and learn in such a short time. At Bix's request, we had a construction themed party and it was a blast! We had a wreaking ball which you could ride or throw toward a pile of boxes, digging in the sane for buried rocks, and house painting (bird houses that is). 

SMASH!!!

Playing chase the one with the balloons.

Digging

Whoa Lila!

Too much fun!

Yummy

House painting with Nana and the gang

And a fun pile of gifts to top it all off.

Then it was back to the house GiGi and POpPop rented in Cambria for some play time with Uncle Nate

And the next morning we went on a walk along the bluffs...and look who we ran into!

Enjoying the view

Here's to another great year!