Visiting

Before we left town, we went to visit Great Grandpa up at the big house.  As usual, John was easily entertained with the walker.

Mean while, JNP and JSP visited.

We usually show up right before lunchtime so that JSP can go show JHP off to all his friends.  So off, we went with Great Grandpa pushing John along.

-EBP-

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Five Days

It only took 5 days until we saw some snow.  Most of the rest of our trip was wet, not snowy.  But even the meteorologists were wrong that day and we actually got an accumulation of snow on the day before we left.  So out the door we had to go.

This is what the neighborhood looked like late in the day.  The snow started out wet and then dried enough to actually make bigger, fluffy snowflakes.

John bundled himself up and then stayed on the porch watching the snow.

It took me a while to convince him that he wasn't going to catch much on his tongue standing on the porch.

So he ventured off the porch.  About 5 feet.

Daddy joined him after a while at which point I came inside.  I was still in my pj's shooting photos.  And I had started to really feel the cold.  So glad we got to see snow while in Indy.  And a pretty snow, at that.

-EBP-

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Christmas Day

Santa filled a stocking and left it on Christmas morning.  Not John's stocking because Momma left that at home.  But Grandma had one John could use.

He enjoyed discovering that was in there!

And he had one more gift to open from Grandma and Grandpa.  Some Imaginets!  Another things to build / create with.

For lunch we went to Aunt Susan's house.

We found various ways to entertain ourselves before the meal was ready.  She WAS laughing here, not crying!

Ridem' Horsey!

Puppet John!

And a zerbert for good luck!

-EBP-

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Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

Rejoice Religious

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Christmas Eve

The Christmas Eve Gift exchange was interesting as usual.  I drew early in the event and look what I got, but I didn't get to keep it for long.  Celia had to have it!

And then THE rubber chicken made it's appearance again!  John had a great time with that thing.  But he had his own specially selected gift...

Grandma and Grandpa bought him Tinker Toys to keep at their house.  And he loved them!

Darth Vader made an appearance as a gum ball machine.  Uncle Andy was the lucky one who got to take him home.

And of course, John enjoyed his time with the pretty girls!  Especially Amanda.

Since John was old enough and service was early enough, we ALL went to the Christmas Eve service as a family.  And when it was time to go ring the bells with the other kids, there was no holding John back.  He went running up the aisle, not a care in the world.  This was his first service that he sat through without too much hushing.  I guess he's growing up!

-EBP-

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The Indianapolis Children's Museum

On the Friday before Christmas, we decided it was time to try out the Indy Children's Museum.  On the day we went, it seems everyone was trying to get into the Indy Children's Museum - even the dinosaurs!  It was quite a site for John, John, Grandma, and me to see a ~40 foot Dino peeking into the museum!

Maybe it was because Bumblebee was there?

Right as we arrived, they had an indoor snowball fight.  John thought it was awesome!

They had the largest cotton balls I've ever seen.  Check out the handful John is holding.

After the fight was over, we made our way to the Dinosaur skeleton exhibit.  I have to say that I was impressed by this exhibit considering this was a Children's museum.  Of course, you couldn't touch the dinos, but there was plenty to see and you could even watch real live paleontologists working on bones in their lab.

John really enjoyed the excavation area.  The "earth" the dinos were buried in reminded me of tiny colored Styrofoam mixed with a lightweight glue.

Daddy and John worked slowly and managed to reveal a small piece of the bone.

This museum would not have been complete without a life-size version of an Indy car.  John waited patiently his turn to climb inside the car.  And when it was his turn, he was all smiles!

We really enjoyed our trip to this museum.  There were some areas we didn't make it to and other areas that were just too busy.  The place is huge and has something for everyone.   I've always heard great things about this museum, but I have to say that I think the Houston Children's Museum is better because almost everything in our museum can be touched.  And at John's age, that is what engages them!

-EBP-

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Christmas at Home

Since we were heading out of town for Christmas, we decided that we'd let John open our gifts before we left town. First, John remembered that he needed to change the date on the Advent Ornament that Nana got him last year.

 I think we went overboard a bit this year.  Here is John with all his gifts!

Among other things, he got a new Leapster game...

and a Captain America action figure...

and a Batman shirt...

and a One Year Children's Bible for the family to read together...

and last but not least, the biggest package...

was the much anticipated Bat Cave.

And oh boy, did the boys have fun breaking it in!

-EBP-

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Christmas early and a new ride

Since we were heading out to Indy for Christmas, we met up with the Buckley's to exchange gifts early.  But before we got down to business, June decided she needed to conquer the rebuilding of the biplane, which she did.

John got some new books.

June had quite the stash to open while John waited patiently.  He didn't know he had more coming.

Like a NEW two wheeler!  After a few adjustments, he was riding confidently.

Although he had a service crew to follow him around the curve and back.

Somehow we ended up in the backyard and JNP decided to rake some leaves.  The kids had the best time!

I even managed to get them to pose once...

or twice!

-EBP-

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So many faces

We were waiting on some friends to meet us at a local jumping place. They were running behind and John was anxious to get inside. So I figured I'd better do something before he started a one boy riot. So I pulled out the camera phone, let him out of his car seat, and asked him to pose. He started out a bit reserved, but that didn't last long.

A little warmer.

OK, not so reserved now.

And.

It.

Goes.

Rabid.

And then he's back to normal.

Super. Sweet. John.

I couldn't resist including this one. I don't remember what the conversation was with Daddy, but he must have thought it was funny!

-EBP-

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