Christmas trip to NC

24 hours of driving over 4 days and three days of visiting. Six states (IL, IN, KY, WV, VA, NC). Two nights in a hotel (Charleston WV and Lexington KY). One really long audio book (Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol). Meeting a brand new cousin. One trip to church, one trip to wave at Santa, making cookies with Memaw and Papa. One day visiting with other cousins.

Leo did great in the car, mostly entertaining himself by looking out the window, playing with his dr. kit and Aquadoodle, and reading books.

Except for some rain and a very windy last day of driving, the weather cooperated (hallelujah!)

Leo loved cousin Sam, calling him Little Buddy and wanting to be whereever he was. He was so gentle and sweet with him--I hope this bodes well for when Bertie Bott arrives.

Leo got to frost cookies with Memaw and Papa and had a good time.

Leo wanted to help everyone open their presents, and couldn't wait to tell Sam what his present was (before it was opened).

Leo got to stay in PJs all day on Christmas--a real treat.

We were glad to get home and I was especially happy to see we'd gotten a good amount of snow (for central IL) while we were gone. It's just not the holidays without snow!

Sorry for the disruption

Looks like the template we were using expired...so I've installed a new one. I'm not crazy about it, but it'll do until it's time to rename and reorganize in honor of Bertie Bott, I suppose.

Pics and posts from Christmas forthcoming, just not tonight--I'm tired!

Recent Leo misquotes

1. Any piece of paper is now a "sign of document" (from the "signed document" in It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown)
2. "My stuffed animal has an owie--I'm a doctor who can make it better--I'm a vegetarian."

Things we are not going to name this baby no matter what Leo says

1. Leo
2. JoJo's Circus (a TV show)
3. Cameron Hunter (a male friend from school)
4. Alice (nice, but taken by Mason's sister)
5. Robot JoJo
6. Robot Eyeball
[more as he suggests them]

Class clown

The other day Leo was playing quietly by himself for quite awhile. Eventually he came out like this--basket on his head, sunglasses on his face, and slippers on his hands.

Tonight after dinner I was eating ice cream and Leo asked me what was making my belly so big. I asked him what he thought, thinking he'd say "the baby." But no he said, "ice cream!" Cute.

St Nicks

Leo enjoyed St Nick's this year--receiving a coloring pad, some Playmobil figures, some chocolate goldfish, and some chocolate.

Jeff was not very awake--it was pretty early on Sunday morning. Leo won't sleep past 7am on the weekends.

Random December post

Some of you have asked to see the baby-belly--here's a shot from today--23 1/2 weeks (which is 5 or almost 6 months, depending on your math).

















Leo made a "gingerbread house" at school on Friday. We thought it was quite clever that his teacher had them use a milk carton for forming the shape.

Leo has been enjoying participating in Jeff's and my alphabet game. You pick a letter of the alphabet and then in turn each person names a word starting with that letter, until one person can't think of any more words. It's harder than it sounds. Leo actually does a good job most of the time. Today while doing "p's" I said "pollyanna," and he said, "I think you mean Indiana."