Merry Christmas To All

Keaton's Christmas started at his dad's house on Christmas Eve. He got a very cool art/learning desk, a fun game where you shoot marbles and a Hotwheels playset with lots of cars. He loved playing with it all so much that it was hard to convice him to see the lights at the temple.

Keaton recognizes Santa and knows he goes with Christmas but didn't really get that Santa was going to bring him a present....however, I did put some things in a Santa stocking I borrowed from his uncle Houston, so then he said everything in the stocking was from Santa. Works for me. Here is a few pictures from Christmas morning. Not very many willing participants in the picture taking. Also, I think we spent so much time with the video camera the actual pictures were few and far between. I did get a new camera for Christmas so my next post will be from our vacation at Melissa's between Christmas and New Years and hopefully I'll have some fun photos.

Mom opening a gift from Nona.

Keaton loves this little tent. After he opened it he didn't want to come out and didn't understand he had more presents. He caught on quickly.

Delivering a gift to Uncle Houston

Gingerbread Houses

Instead of making gingerbread or using graham crackers I bought a kit. Really I thought it would be cheaper than buying all kids of different candies. The house was already put together and there were only 3 choices of candy and not really enough frosting to do the cool things they showed in the picture. But at 2 years old, it was enough for Keaton. He loved putting these little round candies on the roof but ate many of the gum drops.

Always a ham...we're constantly working on the smile. I hope by the time he's in school we manage to get a real "natural" smile. Usually he smiles with his eyes squinted. When we tell him to open his eyes then we end up with this funny smile. Gotta love it!

Christmas is coming!

Keaton has a very nice new outfit for Christmas and he's worn it the last two weeks to church. He looks so handsome and if you didn't think so, he'll tell you! Here are a few attempts at taking a nice picture of him. Then my batteries died...still hoping for that new camera for christmas.

This one would be my favorite, except if you make it larger you'll probably notice the long drool coming out of his mouth. He was being silly of course and started drooling. But in smaller size it looks nice.

Similar to the last one but more serious. He's just so big!

This is a cute little smirk.

This was his idea to sit down. I got two pictures this one with only a half smile and another that I didn't keep with his big smile, scrunchy face, eyes closed.

Last but not least, for comparison's sake here are two pics from last Christmas 07

Lights

Last week we went to the cul-de-sac in the Rancho Del Mar subdivision with all the lights. Keaton loved it. Lots of wow's and look!


Keaton wore these little gloves which he liked, but it was funny because his hands were always held out like this.

Ho Ho...Humbug

Keaton with Santa at our ward party....not a happy camper. He recognizes Santa and gets excited but doesn't want to be anywhere near him...unless Santa has candy...then he gets tough enough to get the candy, but he isn't real happy about it.

IRON GIRL

So lately I've been walking at 5 AM with some girls from my ward. Some of them who are very ambitious would like to do a 1/2 marathon soon. So to start us off we registered for a 5K. It was the AFLAC Iron Girl. It was fun to get up early in the morning on a Saturday and exercise with a bunch of other people...but I didn't love it. I mean I figure we already walk 2.5 miles each morning so walking 3.2 was not that big of a deal. Plus it was way crowded so if we tried to jog it was like morning rush hour stop and go traffic. Anyway, here's some pics of our day. We did get a nice goodie bag and a continental breakfast...and of course we all got a silver medal! Whoo Hoo.


Kelly, Amy, Deanna, Erin, Beth


The 5 AM Walkers!
When they called me the night before they said there are blue shirt and purple shirts one has 3/4 legnth sleeves and the other is long sleeved. I said it shouldn't be too cold I'll take the 3/4 sleeves...well they aren't really 3/4 and they failed to tell me I would be the only one in another color....but that's ok, we all coordinated anyway.



Dona, Kelly, Deanna, Amy, Erin, Beth, Betsy & girls

Cousins

Melissa was in town for Thanksgiving. We didn't get any pictures of Keaton and Braden together because both of our cameras are dying on us, but she did have these pictures from when she visited in early October. I stole them from her blog to show the two cousing together. This was a fun visit. I taught Braden how to sit up (just kidding but they had told me he couldn't stay up for very long and the first time I sat him up he stayed for about 10 minutes!) Braden also started scooting around by pushing with his toes. He's just so cute and they are very cute together as well.


Going for a big ride.


Keaton wishes Braden could play a little more with him.

SHOPPING NIGHTMARE

Ok well it wasn't really a nightmare but I don't know why people do it. I guess if there was a super great thing that you could save a ton on it would be worth it but yesterday was definately not worth it.

I went to KB toys about 12:30 already lines like crazy. It was so packed it was hard to walk down the aisle and even see what was there. The only reason I went was to use a 40% off coupon, that was for a regular price item and only good from midnight to 5 am.

When I got out of there about 2:30 I just decided to hang around the mall, some other stores were open so I browsed then headed to JC Penney. However once again I was late...at 4:15 I couldn't find a parking spot...but finally I parked. I went there to get a pair of shoes, they were 24 dollars instead of 60...but I wonder if they'll be on sale again like that some other time before Christmas. I bought a few other things then checked out...and got to my 3rd store late too.

I pulled up to Walmart at 5:30...they had a man in the parking lot directing traffic it was so bad. All I really wanted to buy was this little $10 set of blocks. I walked into the store and almost turned around a walked out but made my way to the back. Found my blocks and got in line...after 15 minutes of not moving and realized I was at least 50 people back and other lines were even longer, I put those blocks down and left.

I was thinking the whole time...what about the recession...are people spending every sent they have, going into massive debt or are the just grabbing everything they can on sale and maybe having to return later once they evaluate their situations more.

Last year I went to Kohls at about 9:00 and had to stand in line for over 2 hours so that's why I tried the early thing this year. But I still stood in two lines for more than 45 minutes.

I would say...not worth it for me. Keaton didn't need any particular toy so much I couldn't wait til today or next week. I wasn't planning on purchasing any major electronic or appliance for the great deal so not worth my lack of sleep.

One thing I will say..I wanted this swingset from toyrus...they were out by 10....and mom called all the store in the valley, they all ran out yesterday and when she called again this morning, they didn't have any on their overnight shipments either. I guess I should have been at toysrus at 5, instead of walmart

Happy Birthday

These are just a few pictures of Keaton at a recent birthday party. Camryn is the daughter of my friend Yvette who I worked with last year. It was her 2nd birthday.


Always being silly.


Such a big boy!

Tonsils.. who needs 'em!

So it's been a little while cuz we've been a little sick. Last week, well a week and a half ago, Keaton had a little fever in the evening..like 99.9. He acted lethargic so we headed to bed right at 8:00. Well about 8:30 he starts gagging and throws up all over his bed. I carry him into the bathroom while he continues to spew into the bath tub. We get cleaned up and then about 9:00 I guess he had just a little more. By 10 he had passed out on the couch and slept through the night. No fever in the morning. Took him to daycare, warned her that the first sign of fever or vomitting definately call....fine all day. About 8 at night, slight fever again. Saturday morning, Sunday and Monday..same thing fine all day, playing, eating, sleeping, happy...by 5 or 6 pm, feeling lethargic not eating slight fever, never over 100.1. Well Sunday I started feeling it too! Monday I decided to try to stick it out at work even though my throat was killing me and I didn't feel very good. I had the day off last Tuesday for Veteran's Day so I thought I'd make it through. By 10:00 I had a fever 102.2 in my nurses office and I was dizzy etc. Got a sub in by 11:30 and went to my doc. I had strep and my fever in his office was 102.6. I guess I was really. This is my 2nd round of Strep this school year and my 3rd this calendar year but the doc says it's not a good surgery at this age....now that I'm so old.

Anyway, Tuesday Keaton was fine, I was off, but sent him to daycare because of my strep...picked him up around 12:30. I started to notice a little fever around 3:30 so I called the doctor she got me in at 4:15 and sure enough Keaton had a fever of 100.0 and strep too. Poor little guy, probably really sick all weekend, but it's so hard to know.

So that's our story, we both finished up the meds and we're good to go :) Keaton gets a flu shot on Thursday now that he's better, I've already had mine so hopefully we'll make it through the winter.

Halloween Part 2

So this is the updated costume...I bought it online from Oriental Trading for about $12. And in typical oriental trading fashion, it is just not quite right. My size choices were 2T or 4T, but when I got it the package said Age 1-2...so the chaps fit, but the vest is short. Then the hat is gigantic, but I offered to let him wear his other cowboy hat and he chose this one. I made a point of taking pics in the light, because that's better with my old camera, but they still aren't great. So he was dressed extra early and ready to ride...his bike not a horse.

This was a real smile and a real big hat!

My Little Cowboy

Out for a ride...someone told me it looks like he has straw in his mouth, I think it almost looks like a cigarette, but it's just a tootsie pop :)

Collecting Candy at the Gateway Ward Trunk or Treat

One round was all he could handle then he needed a break and started passing out the candy.

We only went to 4 houses at home, just for the sake of knocking.\

Fascinated by the bubble machine, this thing was really great. Our neighbor had it up on the planter wall but Keaton loved it so much she put it down for him. Inside the bubbles was fog, so every time a bubble popped it was foggy. Another reason we only went to 4 houses....too much time with foggy bubble machine.

Moseying home after a long night of work. Another successful Halloween.

Halloween Round 1

I decided Keaton was going to be a cowboy for halloween. I found a costume online for $12 from oriental trading and since I was already ordering stuff for school standard shipping was free. It said it would be delivered by Tuesday, October 28th. Perfect I thought, plenty of time...well I forgot about the ward party Saturday, so we pulled out a hat Keaton got at my cousins birthday party and his bandana is actually a scout bandana. We went to 2 second-hand children's stores and 3 Goodwill's to try to find him little cowboy boots, but no luck. I did find him some little work boots, they look better than his tennis shoes or church shoes. He is still a very cute cowboy in his make-shift outfit. And we practiced saying trick-or-treat all day. I think he had a pretty good time.


Keaton after the Trunk-or-Treat


Yummy Desert



Pumkin Pie - Grandpa's favorite and Keaton liked it too.


Getting ready for the Bean Bag Toss


I'm not sure what this pose was :)

Pumpkin Patch

On Monday we went to a pumpkin patch. Keaton had a good time, although I think he would have been just as happy playing in the dirt. The pics aren't very good. I should get a new camera or figure out if mine has a night mode or something. Josh had never been in a corn maze before and about 30 minutes into it he wasn't a big fan of the lost feeling and we were having to carry Keaton cuz he was done. But overall, it was a good time.


Keaton and daddy going for a wagon ride.


Keaton and mom on the little barrel train


Ketaon pretending the pumpkin is too heavy for him.


Keaton the Farmer


Deanna the Farmer

Maybe a Handyman for Halloween??

Keaton is such a copy cat. My parents got a new garage door and my dad had to paint it to match the house, Keaton found the rollers that day and was rolling everything in the house. (luckily he didn't find any paint) It's been few weeks but this roller never quite makes it back to the garage, and even ends up in the toy box frequently. Last night he wanted to take the roller to bed and wouldn't let go or give it up even after lots of persuading and pulling on my part. This is Keaton asleep with his paint roller which I did take away after I took the picture.

Quiet reminders from my Heavenly Father

So yesterday after our long day at the zoo Keaton took a pretty good nap but still woke up a bit grumpy. We had to run some errands at night and he was just throwing fits, taking off his shoes right after we get them on, running and hiding under things, telling me no, hitting and pinching etc etc. I finally go him in the car and had to pin him in his car seat to buckle it which is when he hit me in the head and said go away mama. (Terrible Two's?!?!) We start on our way to Target and he's still grumpy and I'm thinking if this kid tells me no one more time I might just toss him out the car window. A minute or two later he calms down and starts singing I am a Child of God. He sings it for the next 5 minutes and now I'm crying and driving cuz I was so angry at my sweet boy. Thanks to Keaton and Heavenly Father for reminding me that none of God's children are perfect but we all deserve patience and love.

Zoo Walk

My friend invited me to join her for the Autism Zoo Walk on Saturday. We were supposed to get there to register at 8 but when I hadn't heard from her by 7:30 I was worried. Finally she called back and said they wouldn't make it to register by 9 but they still wanted to go to the zoo. I invited my mom and got to the zoo right about 10:00 but since there was a special event we had to park at the Stadium down the street and walk about 3/4 of a mile to the zoo. Well at 10:00 it's already pretty warm and sunny plus I have 2 year old who is walking. (Maybe I should have brought the stroller but he usually doesn't stay in it anyway and I didn't think I wanted to push a stoller and drag along a kid.)


Well my friend doesn't call me until about 11:30 saying she's there and we started down the kids trail and she started down the african trail...so opposite sided. Anyway, we happened to meet up with them near the splash pad and saw the monkeys together but that was it. I love my friend she's great but this is how all of our play times go...they never quite work out.



Luckily my mom came along otherwise I would have been really upset. Keaton wanted me to hold him and fell asleep while we were walking, I woke him up to eat then we headed home, not before riding the carousel of course. It was a long and hot day and cost about $60. But it was Keaton's first trip to the zoo so I hope he had fun.




Keaton was a little afraid of this frog so he kept leaning over and I told him it was pretend and asked him to touch the frog's eye but he is touching his own eye instead, but I love the smile.


He's getting to be such a big boy.


He loved watching the tortoise eat a carrot, but never stood still long enough to get the tortoise in the shot with him.


When Keaton sees tractors he says "Look Bob the Builder" I had to pry him off this one, even though he kept telling me it was hot.


We found a squirrel friend, which kept running up close to get some smashed chips on the sidewalk. Probably the best part of the day, he watched this squirrel for at least 10 minutes. This is Keaton leaning in to see him, but again, neither the squirrel or Keaton would be still long enough to pose together .


Did you know this cup has free refills for life? Next time I'm getting a kids meal for myself too. We both had the same hot dog, same chips, I got a medium drink but no refill, he can get all the refills he wants plus his meal came with a rice krispie treat all for $1.50 less than the adult.


Watching the ducks and turtles... Keaton does this thing when he's being silly where he turns his head and looks at you through the corner of his eyes, this is not the best picture of it, but that is what he's doing.


Again the child who never poses, we took like 8 pictures before the carousel even started to move! Plus my mom wasn't quite sure how to use the camera, I zoomed and cropped but this was the best I could get.