Snow Day

Yesterday, we took a mini- vacation to Flagstaff, AZ just to remind us that it is indeed winter. We thought it'd be fun to let Grant play in the snow and try his best at sledding. Even though we didn't find any dangerously steep hills, we had a lot of fun pulling Grant around in the saucer and teaching him that snow is for eating and throwing. As cold and wet as he was, he loved it!

Review of our holidays

Where does the time go? Sometimes I feel too busy to blog and other times I lapse because life is uneventful with no pictures to show for it. Here we go catching up on our AZ Christmas.

Every year and only once a year, I make a few batches of the Monahan cinnamon rolls. My sister encouraged me to wear a hairnet due to the brownie incident of 6 years ago that does not need to be talked about anymore. After making the dough and letting it rise and messing up the kitchen, it was time to let Grant help with the frosting...

He dumped the powdered sugar in the bowl and licked the beaters clean. Delivering cinnamon rolls was a great way to get to know a few more neighbors. Next year I vote to make bean burgers instead.

Will and I waited until 2 days before Christmas to buy G's gifts. We decided his gift would not be a giant flinstone car, but something much more mature and practical- his own minature leather chair. The only thing was that he found his present in our closet before Santa ever had time to drop it off Christmas night.

My family (minus all the kids) went to see the Forgotten Carols as a way to celebrate the season with music. My old HS friend was the star of the show and we all had a great time being together as couples. That's my sister in the picture below for those who've never met her.

The gingerbread house could not last forever and since Grant was clever enough to pull a stool over and begin his feast, we let him. Of course, after he ate the bench and part of the walk way, I had to interrupt. We actually STILL have the house, but Will can't bare to part with it yet.

Yeah, Christmas Eve. Grant probably thought it was his birthday or something. He loved opening his new PJ's from Grandma and Grandpa Titera. Oh, and his Santa suit still fits (technically). We'll make him wear it every year until he's 3.

Here are some pictures of Christmas Day. He was most excited about his stocking, which contained a BANANA and a new light up tooth brush.

Christmas night, we hung out at my parent's house and dressed up the kiddos for the Nativity. Grant was a shepherd... I somehow was talked into being the donkey.

We sure enjoyed the holidays and hope everyone else did, too. Now, onto 2010!!

Striking resemblance?

What? I didn't put the katsup there.

Fighting over TP

Me: Grant!! Did you do this?? Again? That takes Mommy a long time to roll up. You need to clean it up...

Grant: (wobbling over with a guilty expression, he begins to...)

Clean it up of course. Why didn't I think of that?

Grant's growing up

Here's some pics of our almost 18-month-old little boy. He's had some fun experiences with the holidays and learning to do things "all by himself." These are all kind of random, but hopefully those who don't get to see him much these days can get a sense of his developing personality.

This is our advent wreath/ nativity that we light each Sunday in preparation for Christmas. We sing a song and Grant gets to blow out the candles when we're done.

He's saying "hot..."

This is what he does when he's full of holiday treats... he shows us

Here's his bedtime routine...

Brush your teeth

What are you doing??



And say your prayers. (He does this arm-folding thing every time we pray, but it's totally un-prompted. He wants to pray over everything, even his water or his snack.)

Playtime at the park. Grant has made a few friends, most of them older. But, he doesn't know the difference. He loves going to girls' houses because they usually have cooler toys like tea sets and doll houses... and purses (wish I had a picture of that).

Grant likes to think he can do his own hair. I have to keep the gel out of his reach because he smears it in his hair, then runs a comb through it. Sometimes it actually looks decent.

His favorite thing to do is run out to the garage when he hears Will's motorcycle driving in. He gets so excited. Anytime he hears or sees another bike, he points and says "Dad, Dad!"

Stunt-devil

Grant's favorite flield trip... the puppy store

We love this guy so much!

Christmas tradition

Last year, we started the Christmas tradition of making homemade gingerbread houses from scratch. Though it wasn't the same without Annie and Phillip and the Kelly's, we really got into the art of creating something that was too pretty to eat.

It all started with very sticky and messy dough. The trick is to use lots of flour. Will made the mathmatically correct cut-outs and I rolled, cut and baked. We used egg whites and powdered sugar for "glue." If you want the gingerbread recipe, go to http://www.allrecipes.com/ and search for gingerbread house. Though, I would increase the amount of flour by at least a cup.

The parents, brother and sister-in-law and Will's mission buddy's family came. Keith and Alyssa got the award for "most cooperative," Dad got the award for "heaviest" (could he pile anything else on that thing?) and I gave Will and I the award for BEST OVERALL!

Posing with a half-finished masterpiece.

Of course, we stayed up for 2 more hours perfecting it. Grant waits for the day when we'll actually let him eat it.

Family Pictures... for Christmas

Last weekend, we took family pictures near Superstition Mountains. My friend was kind enough to do this last minute and bare with a cold, crying Grant. He lasted for about 30 minutes, but we managed to get some decent shots.

It got a little cold... and Grant wanted Daddy

Only Daddy!