Grady's Christmas Adventures

Posted on Dec. 29, 2008 at 6:15 PM - Post Comment

This was definitely my favorite Christmas ever. We had a wonderful few days and a great visit with "Nana" and "Papa".

 First, here is my "teeny tiny boy" (as he calls himself), visiting with Santa.  He had a wonderful time and was not scared at all.  He smiled at him, snuggled with him, and talked to him, bringing several compliments from Santa himself!

On Sunday night Grady helped Papa make homemade pasta.  Grady is really starting to enjoy cooking and baking (real and pretend).  I'm so glad that he got a Sesame Street cookbook for Christmas so I can make simple recipes with him now!







On Monday morning we went to visit Santa at the mall (which was a big hit, as seen above).  That evening we went out to eat downtown to a fancier southern bistro.  Grady's mood was fine, but we did have to have our first discussion of "inside" versus "outside" voices ;)

On Tuesday Nana and Papa took G to his Gymboree class so I could finish my grocery list and meal plans. It's nice to have pictures because I can't really get pictures AND participate when I am alone with him.





Now that he is in the 22 month and up group, they have a theme each week.  This week was baking cookies -  a HUGE hit with him!



enjoying their cookies...





parachute time!



That evening we made cookies, which has become a tradition.  We do butter cookies and roll them out so we can cut shapes and decorate.  Part one was on Tuesday night.  I love that I got so many cute pictures of G and Nana together:

We had a great Christmas Eve.  We baked and decorated cookies (we had just made the dough the day before), I baked a yummy red velvet cake (my second try and first real success), and we made a big dinner of pork, potatoes, cranberry sauce, rolls, and asparagus.  Grady did not have a big appetite, so he didn't eat too well, but other than that he was in a great mood.  One funny thing happened though - he came into the dining room and ooohed and ahhed like everyone else because of the candles and table setting and everything.  Then he spotted the asparagus, pointed right at it, and said "I no eating that!".  It was hilarious.  After dinner and bed for G the adults opened some gifts.  It was a very peaceful Christmas Eve, which was just what I wanted after we had been sick.  We didn't have to travel and were surrounded by family :)

Christmas Eve pictures...

Grady really liked this music box and was checking it out in the guest room.



All dressed up in his Christmas best:



dancing with Daddy:





more making cookies!







actually rolling the dough!





eating sprinkles was a favorite activity











Opening stockings from Nana and Papa





We also let him open one package that came in the mail, from his Godparents, Tania and Mike - when he opened this (and other boxes of clothes) he would excitedly yell "new clothes!!!"



A few random atmosphere pictures:

my dining room chandelier:



dinner table - I made the centerpiece out of carnations:



stockings set for the morning:



Tree with the Santa gifts:

 Christmas morning was fun.  Grady really didn't know enough to be super excited, so he slept until a normal time.  We headed downstairs right away and opened the Santa stockings before breakfast. 





Then we had a big breakfast of streudel, scrambled eggs, and fruit, as well as mimosas.  After that it was back to gift opening!










watching a little "Happy Feet"





his new suitcase with his name on it!



Then we took a break to go play upstairs a bit.  He was loving his Little People house and airplane:



cookie set:



shopping cart (with baby - he's obsessed with babies)





watching more of "Happy Feet" with his new beloved penguin:





Then we opened MORE gifts, but he wanted to stop and read the whole Nutcracker book I got him in the middle of it all.



Later that day we played outside since it was about 70 degrees.  All the kids were outside playing so he had a blast!  Grady took a super long nap and then we had a snack of cookies and red velvet cake (which he loved) since it was Christmas.  After that, it was back to gifts!

A bunch of things from the Gymbo train line I love - from Grandpa Bruce and Grammy Pat:

some pop-up books from "Grammy"







talking Cranky the Crane for his Thomas set, from Grandpa Jim



That evening we played outside more, until it was dark.  It really was a fantastic Christmas!

Now for some video...

 This one gets crazy for a minute, but it is really cute!

 Grady eating a "treat" from Santa - one of the things he got most excited about!

 Playing in Nana and Papa's car and then making pasta...

 Gymboree - just a quick hug

making cookie dough

eating a cookie

"decorating cookies" with Nana

Decorating a cookie with Mama

hilarious video of Grady gettin' down

and gettin' down with Dada

 excited about his play food

Nana reading G a story

Singing "Jingle Bells" - this is super funny!