Daddy's Little Sous Chef

To celebrate the New Year, I picked up some filet mignons at Bristol Farms. John wanted to help me cook. Since it's a special night, we decided to let John stay up late and help me cook. He even got to enjoy some of our dinner.

Big Boy Bed

On Monday, we went to pick out a big boy bed for Johnny at Leeds Mattress. The store opened at 10, but we didn't get there until 10:20. The store wasn't open just yet. It seems the salesman was late because he'd spent the night in the emergency room for a gall bladder something or other.




When we went in, John wanted nothing to do with the beds. He was angry Johnny because he wanted to go to Target, our next destination, to look at trains and buy chocolate milk. After a while, he warmed up and we went to look at the Tempurpedic beds. They really are comfortable, but ever so expensive. Eventually, he didn't want to leave the store, not even with promises of chocolate milk and trains. This boy of ours is rather fickle like that.

Feeding the Horses

At the Gaunt residence on Christmas, John and I tooks some time to look at the horses. As we were looking at them, Uncle Fred came out to feed Rocket (th big horse), Tatiana, and Sampson (the minature ponies). Uncle Fred was kind enough to allow John to help feed the horses. John had so much fun telling me all about the horses.

John's Latest Kick

Over Christmas, we went to two family gatherings. At the end of each night, John asked the respective hostesses, Aunt China and Aunt Patty, if he could have a sleepover. Apparently, John thinks that we have sleepovers all the time now.

Christmas Week in Less Than 10 Minutes

Christmas Day

Our John woke up and he wasn't quite sure what was going on. He remembered that he got some gifts the night before from the very loud Gonzalez contingent of his family, so he made an immediate beeline toward them. There were some really cool Thomas the Tank Engine toys that he couldn't wait to dig into. He didn't realize that Santa puts his presents under the tree.

After Maureen and I directed him to the Santa gifts, he still wasn't too sure about them, so we had to start unwrapping the gifts. Eventually, he saw that Santa brought him a blue bicycle. He was ever so happy. He'd wanted the tricycle since he first saw it in Target. Then, he wanted a blue one with a dinosaur on it that we saw at Toys R Us, but they didn't have it for Santa. He went with the classic Radio Flyer. After taht, he saw more Thomas toys and was in heaven.

He was quite intrigued with the empty cookies plate. There were a few crumbs and a half eaten carrot next to an empty glass of milk. Santa and Rudolf had a great snack. John made the cookies with a little help from Maureen earlier in the day. All in all, it was a great day.

Really Belated Birthday Wishes

John would like to apologize for the delay in these wishes. On Monday, December 20th, it was Aunt Kaitlin's birthday. On Thursday, December 23rd, it was Aunt "Wuwu"'s birthday. Happy Birthday.

John's Understanding of Christmas

John's concept of Christmas is pretty much what you'd expect for a 2.5 year old. He knows a man named Santa Claus brings presents. He doesn't know about the Naughty or Nice part of Christmas just yet, but he does know about holidays that are celebrated all over the world thanks to Caillou's Christmas episodes and movies. He knows how to sing the Dreidel song and he knows how to say Kwanza (I don't really consider that a holiday since it just started in the sixties, but that's just me). Anywho, he does have some concept of Jesus. He has his Little People Nativity set with Blue Mary and Brown Joseph. When we went to Mass on Christmas Day, we took him up to the altar to see the big Nativity set and he knew Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus. Plus, he gets to decorate a tree. It's pretty much "win-win" for him.

Our Visit to Santa

Thursday morning, we headed to the Grove to visit Santa. John had a full list of items that he wanted to tell Santa that he'd like. He wanted a blue bicycle, a fire truck, a train, and a present for baby. He likes riding around the little bikes at Target. During Caillou's Christmas Movie, Caillou told his mother that he wants a fire truck, so we figure that's where he got the idea for that. Obviously, he loves trains. And, he's a kind and sharing boy, so that's why he asked for a gift for baby. At least, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

As we approached, John was ever so excited to get closer and closer to Santa's cottage. Finally, it was our turn and Santa's helper asked John what he wanted and he went through his list. As we entered, John was ok, but as he approached Santa, he got a little timid. Santa was very nice and tried to put him at ease, but Maureen had to join the picture. At one point, Santa got me in the picture, but I wasn't dressed for a family photo. As you can see from the photo, the boys look a bit dazed, but John did ask Santa for his toys. Santa even asked him if he wanted a Thomas train. Santa really does know all.

John's Christmas Greeting

John loves to play with Blue Mary, Brown Joseph, and Baby Jesus. Merry Christmas.

Family Dinner

Who do you think would give us more trouble with a family dinner, the one-year old that can't feed himself or the two year old who has some sort of control? Yes, Our John was a bit of a pill at dinner tonight. He didn't want to sit. He didn't want to eat. He just wanted to blow out the candles. Meanwhile, Nicholas was as happy and pleasant as always.

He's a Good Seed. John isn't quite the extreme, but he's on his way. As I type this, he's at his train table playing trains. Sure, that's normal, but he has decided to do it in the nude. What's a father to do?

Earth Science Fun

Whilst browsing the Dollar Spot at Target, Maureen and I noticed these little santa and snowman planters. Last week, John and I planted the seeds. In only a week, you can see the fruits of our labor. More grass is growing every day and John is just so excited every morning when we look at the new blades that have sprung up over night.

Methinks He's Trying To Be A Conductor

I wonder if they'll put up signs around the city that say Electrico like when Gustavo Dudhamel took over from Esa Pekka Salonen.

Froggy Goes for a Walk

I purchased this froggy well over a year ago. I was on a Melissa and Doug kick and saw this at Tuesday Morning in Simi Valley. John just rediscovered it and decided to take it for a walk as we were heading to Grammy's house today.

Johnny Gets in the Spirit

He may be wearing a Grumpy shirt, but he's already in the Jingle Bells Spirit.

Someone Is A Bit Of A Boss

Nicholas enjoys sharing his birthday presents with his John. Unfortunately, John tends to think that Nicholas' gifts are his and that baby has to ask John for permission. Listen to John tell Nicholas to be nice. I think it should be the other way around. Don't you?

Someone Ruined His Brother's Birthday Dinner Last Night

He may have a sweet smile, but he's a bit of a devil. Last night, he was in quite a mood. We stopped into Village Pizzeria for a nice early dinner. Guess who didn't want to sit still and eat? No, Nicholas was excited to be eating the ravioli. Our John kept on screaming and saying that he wanted to go for ice cream. Needless to say, we didn't have ice cream at 31 Flavors, but we did buy him a cupcake at Crumbs. We couldn't be mean and give a cupcake to Nicholas and have John crying. That would be criminal.

The Handy Man

John is quite good when it comes to tools. He loves to play with a screw driver. He'll climb under a toy and tinker with it as if he is fixing something. He gets so excited that he does his happy/excited dance.

The Caillou Effect

John really loves watching Caillou. Maureen and others don't like Caillou, but I like to watch it with John. Anyway, there is an episode of Caillou where he is afraid of the dark. John loves to watch this episode. He's not scared of the dark like Caillou, but he likes to watch Caillou talk about the Scratchy Monster that turns out to be a tree branch. The other night, he hadn't fallen asleep when he cried out, "Daddy! Daddy!" Being the sucker that I am, I went in and he said, "There are monsters." I told him, "No, there aren't and go to sleep." Sure enough, he fell asleep in no time.

Sunday in the Park

As you know, John is quite fond of going to the park. He loves to play at the fountains, but he also likes to go to the PLB putting green to take a few whacks with his clubs. I used to want him to be a soccer star, but maybe he'll do quite well as a golfer? It's worked out quite well for Tiger Woods...well on second thought, maybe he can be like Calvin Peete, a nice boring professional.

It's Been A While

Sorry for the delay, but things have been crazy in our neck of the woods. John is as delightful as ever and he has a new obsession: Flashlights. He sleeps with three of them. He's not scared of the dark or anything. He just wants to hold onto the flashlights. I don't get it either, but he seems to be ok with the extra light. He gets rather upset if I take them away.