Harry's take on Santa

We've been talking a lot about Santa lately to get Harry ready for Christmas. Harry can identify his picture and talks about him, but I'm not sure he entirely gets it yet. On the way to see Santa today, we talked about telling Santa we wanted "a choo-choo train" for Christmas. Then when we got to the front of the line, Harry was starstruck. He hugged Mom tight for a minute then faced Santa and stared. I put him on Santa's lap and he stared as if he were in a trance. Harry was gripping a Matchbox car, so Santa asked about that in an attempt to get Harry to warm up to him. Luckily Harry has lots of experience saying the word "car," so he was able to repeat that when Santa asked what he wanted. On the way home, Harry gave this report: "I see San-ta Caus. Choo-Choo Train. Car."

For a good dose of cuteness

Go to Georgia's page (link on the right) to see our little man and Georgia giving kisses. (It gets me every time.)

Papa's Racecars

It just so happens that Harry's Papa has a collection of model cars that makes Harry jump up and down and squeal with delight. As I type, he's looking at these photos and chanting "Papa's racecars! Papa's racecars!"



Sometimes, he even convinces Pa to let him see one up close.
"I love you, blue car."


Afterward, Harry is on cloud nine. He even gives baby James a kiss.

Visit with Grandpa and Grandma

Grandpa Bob (Gam-Pa) and Grandma Phyllis (Gam-Ma) came to visit and took Harry to the Children's Museum, where they just happened to have a train exhibit!

Operating a truck with Daddy.

Checking out how a train works with Grandpa.



"I drive train."

More of the Count

Indiana Corn

Playing in Nana and Pa's backyard.

This is what they look like when you catch them on game day.





"climbing" a tree

Testing out the new deck that Pa built.

Running, running, running...

The city boy tries to stand up without actually touching the grass.

A smile from Baby James.

Count Dracula's Halloween

The count joins a Halloween parade with Alice the princess and Sam the lumberjack.



Marching in the parade with Mommy and Beth.


"I'm scary!" (or scared of the other kids in masks.)

Then it was onto Aunt Angie's house so we could pass out candy to the trick or treaters with baby James. Unfortunately, the first trick or treater to visit was the scariest kid I've ever seen -- he was dressed in a black hooded robe with a horrible mask and a 5-foot-tall sickle. He was alone and scared Harry to death. From then on, he didn't like Halloween so much....




The count awaits the trick of treaters. (Notice the neighbors' scary horror movie display in the background...)



Dracula breaks for a snack of his favorite Elmo crackers or "El-mo cack."

Why won't Baby James stop crying? (He did not like his costume very much :)