July

Three years ago on July 24th the judge pronounced us a family! TJ wanted to play mini golf to celebrate this year's Family Day. 

E had a convention in Branson MO to attend so the rest of the family packed up and came along ( J, Omi, Bubbe, GrandDaddy, and of course TJ), except poor Samson, who had to stay in a kennel.

We spent the night on the way there and on the way back in Memphis at The Peabody where we got to see the famous ducks march in and out!

TJ enjoyed lots of Grandparent time - having all three of them together!

 

Snow Cones and lots and lots of pool time!

We met an Atlanta Santa helper  by chance in Branson!

and saw Parades!

and played Pirate mini golf!

This is TJ's scary pirate face, I'm sure no explanation was necessary ;)

Back in Memphis on the way home, we rode the trolley!

and were happy to be back in our own beds!

Chattanooga

The weekend before Christmas TJ, E, and J went to Chattanooga to visit Bubbe and GrandDaddy.  It was a weekend full of adventures that included going on a steam engine train where Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus made an appearance. 

Waiting for the train!

Bubbe brought special light necklaces

Santa and Mrs. Claus came on for a visit!

The next day TJ wanted to try ice skating. TJ had been talking about it for a couple of weeks so we decided to give it a try.  

TJ was super excited to put on his ice skates...

and he did great walking on them...

getting on the ice was a different story...

TJ was not a fan of ice skating, so J helped him off.

TJ thinks he will like ice skating when he is 3 and because he was sad he wanted a corn dog!

We will try again next year!

More Santa!

Kindness elves. 

Instead of elf on the shelf, we have been doing "kindness elves", these elves want to make everyone happy at Christmas with TJ's help. They write a letter every day and leave it in the red mailbox. 

One morning TJ brushed Samson and gave him peanut butter (for breakfast), another morning TJ made a Christmas card for our Mail Lady (with a starbucks card), and today TJ helped J bake brownies for a Christmat concert at church.

TJ enjoyed listening to the Christmas music

Another Santa visit (E made this Mr.and Mrs. Claus' costumes) so TJ got a special longer visit!

We went to see "A year with Frog and Toad", TJ very much enjoyed the show.

and finally J and TJ went a step past ugly sweaters at a Christmas party!!!

Holidays

TJ has had a nasty cold and hasn't been feeling his best, but after two weeks and some antibiotics is finally starting to be back to his happy healthy self!

From the board at preschool!

Making frosting to decorate the turkey gingerbread cookie

A little decorating and a lot of M&M eating

The "finished" Turkey cookie!

Helping Omi cut apples for the pie

Getting ready to play outside at preschool.

Outside superhero time!

Making stars...

Shining shoes for St.Nicholas' Day

and

Seeing Santa!

Christmas Fun

 Attempts were made to take a Christmas PJ picture...

We never got one with everyone looking at the camera!

At preschool TJ learned about the German tradition of St.Nikolaus and that children shine their shoes to leave outside so that on December 6 - St.Nick leaves presents in their shoes.

TJ was very serious about his shoe shining.

The kids shined their shoes as they waited for their parents to pick them up!

 On a trip to the mall to visit Santa, TJ stopped in a kid's store to try on a reindeer hat and take about 20 selfies on Omi's phone!

 TJ, Omi, and Bubbe road the Pink Pig - a Georgia tradition it is Christmas ride that has been around since the 50s.

 There are monster trucks in Bethlehem...

 E and TJ attempted to make gingerbread house and tree - TJ did not like icing on his fingers, but he did like to steal the M&Ms

TJ has been enjoying his Advent calendar and thinks that so far December has been great!