Christmas 2010

Gus and I had a great Christmas. Since my parents have left for the winter, we spend it by ourselves. Well, not exactly by ourselves since I am surrounded by wonderful neighbors and co-workers. Gus and I went to a co-workers house for dinner on Christmas Eve. She lives in a neighboring mountain town and she has has 2 very good looking sons. And guess what, they were my age and not Gus'! Her boys were very nice to us and gave me and Gus a lot of attention. It didn't hurt that we ate Prime Rib and mashed potatoes until we were so full we had to go lounge on the carpet.

On Christmas Day, Gus got to open his presents. My wonderful friends and Gus' family sent him the most amazing presents! He got a tower with slides to sent car down from his Grandmommy. His Aunt Amy sent him a super cool trampoline. Our neighbors gave him a Kawasaki bike. His Aunt T sent him a pillow pet and a Redskins sweatshirt. And his mommy gave him a Thomas the Train engine house with a few extra engines to go in it. Gus has been in hog heaven with all his new toys and stuffed animals.

After presents, Gus and I went hiking with his favorite baby-sitter and her husband. Well, we hiked and Gus kept bumming rides from us. After we got back, Gus took a nap while his Thai babysitter learned how to decorate cookies. She is a Buddhist and is learning all of the American's crazy Christmas traditions. She was a natural at decorating.

Well, Gus and I are buckling down for a huge snow storm. Good thing he has so many toys to keep him occupied!

Gus helping me make cookies. He ate more dough then he made into cookies.

All of Gus' presents ready to be opened.

Gus is very strategic in his present opening. See the video on the next post.

Hiking in the beautiful mountains!

Aunt Amy's Christmas Present

This one is for you Aunt Bean!

The Christmas tree is complete

As promised, a finished tree. There are now presents under the tree, but I will post those on the big day.

Now I am off to make sugar cookies so Gus and I can decorate them.

Holiday Season

We spent Thanksgiving with my brother at his house. Gus had a great time with his cousins, especially Eli who is only 18 months older than him. Eli showed him the ropes on how to play like a big boy. They had a lot of fun with trains, bikes, balls, and books. I really believe that Eli and Gus will be good friends forever.
Gus and I have really settled into the winter season out here. Gus is enjoying school at a local non-profit pre-school. While he goes to work at learning, I go to work at the community college. I am learning how to be a working mom. Since I am flying solo at this point, I have to get Gus up, feed us both breakfast, clean-up, make us both lunch, take him to school, go to work. Then come home in the evening, make dinner, clean-up, baths, books, and bedtime. Oh, and I have to care for old puppy dog and my two cats. I am exhausted just thinking about it!

As the holiday season is coming around, we put up a tree (fake tree because I feel bad about killing a tree for decorations for only a month), we put up other decorations and did some shopping. Gus has received presents from neighbors, his grandparents (both sides), and our awesome Aunt Ames. We also went to a local old hotel that always decorates for Christmas.

Visiting the decorated historic hotel

Getting ready to put up the tree

Still working on the tree. It looks better than this. I'll post a more recent picture using my cell phone.

Cool Dude

We have plans to go to one of my co-worker's house for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Gus and I will be baking cookies.

Here is a final video which shows what a good little buddy I have. Gus is truly a good little boy.

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Gussie eat all gone!

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Leaning how to bike!

This is a Firefighter

Gus has been part of a reading program at school called, "Raising a Reader." The school sends him home with 4 books a week, every week. Before this program, Gus kind of liked only his books. After a few weeks of Raising a Reader, he really started getting into new and different books. As discussed in an earlier blog, reading is part of Gus' bedtime ritual. He has his recliner that we sit in while we read his books and his Raising a Reader book.

Since Gus now likes new books, I have been trying to get him to the library where we can pick out a few more books to read every few weeks. Gus loves looking through the tons of books, though he usually picks out books with trucks. Last night, I took him to the children's section of the library to pick out some books. Usually, I try to keep Gus focused on the board books. This is mostly to limit the damage to government owned books (he tears up pages). Last night, my monkey wandered over to the non-board books and found a book about firefighters called, "This is the Firefighter." I was too embarrassed to reprimand my son for finding the wrong book, so I gently read him the paper book. Then, I asked him to put it back. It was then that he started beating on his chest like Tarzan, which in Gussie language means "mine, mine, mine." My dad came to the library with us, so Gus took the book to my dad who then read him the book.

Needless to say, I had to get the book for him. He freaked out when I put it in our book bag. When we got home, he could not calm down until the book was in his hands. Then he sat on the couch and had Grandma read it to him. After reading it to him two more times, I finally hid the book! I am a mean momma! I think it is really cool that he loves books as much as he does.

Here is the infamous book: