Trains and Candy!

12/19/09

Olbrich Gardens had a Model train show along with a Gingerbread house contest. Isaac had never seen a movie model train before. He was absolutely transfixed by them. After he got over the fact they were movie on their own, his next step was wanting and trying to catch one.

I must say he looked like a little conductor in his bibs and hat.

It was quite the setup. They had four large trains going and about a dozen gingerbread houses.

This was Isaac's favorite house because it had tractors. He didn't understand why he couldn't take the tractors off the house and play with them.

This house was done by a local bakery. It was pretty cool and looked yummy.

Another very detailed house.

This one was my favorite. It was a series of gingerbread houses that they decorated to make a train. It was pretty cool and beyond my artistic talents (which are minimal).

Outside Decorations

12/18/09

Isaac helping put the candy canes in the front snowbank. He would put them all in and then take them all back out.

Isaac didn't know what to think about the Santa Pooh. He decided that he didn't like it and made us turn it off. So Santa Pooh was up very little this Christmas season.

Christmas Cookies

12/13/09

Isaac and Nonnie helping Daddy making Christmas cookies.

Now Mommies turn to make cookies with Isaac. Which translates into making sure Isaac doesn't eat the raw cookie dough or touch any of the hot pans.

Mommy and Daddy making cookies. But where is Isaac?

Down in the jump house with Grandpa. He loves his jump house and it is a great way to burn off energy during the cold winter months. Although it does take up half the basement.

Visit with Santa

12/12/09

Isaac's first Santa picture where he could tell Santa what he wanted. He was still a little nervous and didn't really know what to expect from this big guy in red.

Isaac telling Santa what he wants. Let me guess, tractors and trains.

Mommy and Isaac helping Daddy check all the Christmas lights before he puts them on the roof.

Holy Snow!

12/9/09

Just the past the first week in December and we get dumped on with snow. Isaac "helped" by racking the snow off of the pile I had just made and putting back on the driveway. I believe we got somewhere in the range of 17 inches.

Once the driveway was cleared, Isaac could finally bring his Bigwheel out. It reminded be of bumper bowling for little kids. Isaac couldn't help but stay on the driveway because there was snow almost higher than his Bigwheel everwhere else.

Here are some of the neighbors pine trees weighed down with snow. Lot of branches broke off do to the amount snow.

Here is our pine trees. Some of them were almost totally flattened to the ground. They still looked pretty sad even after I brushed off the snow.

More Tractors

12/6/09

Isaac on a piece of equipment that I have no idea what it does.

On the biggest tractor on the farm. He wanted to drive it all by himself.

Another tractor, which was probably last functional sometime in the early 50's.

Isaac on the front loader ready to dig up some dirt. Did I mention that Isaac LOVES tractors?!

Isaac, Grandma, and "My Pet Monster." It was an 80's toy and one of my cousins Aaron's favorite toys when he was little.

On the Farm

12/5/09

We went back to Nebraska for the extended family Christmas. Isaac loves animals and tractors so this trip was exciting for him. Here he is looking at the "BIG WHEEL!"

Isaac pretending to drive the tractor. I have a lot of good memories of playing on the farm when I was a child. I am hoping he will have that chance also.

The farm has been in the family for generations so there is old farm equipment that is long past its functionality. It didn't matter to Isaac, it was just another tractor that he wanted to drive.

My uncle Keith giving Isaac an early Christmas present.

What did he get? A brand new backhoe loader that makes sounds like a real tractor. He loved it and kept pushing the buttons all the way home...all 7 hours. At least until he feel asleep and then we hid it.

Isaac taking a closer look and trying to get it out of the box. For those of you who haven't had the pleasure (challenge) of opening a child's toy, here is a tip. Be ready to either clip or untwist about 10-12 twist ties per toy. They really anchor those toys to the boxes.

Isaac apparently was not a fan of his second cousin's piano playing ability. He kept his fingers in his ears and kept telling me to make them stop playing.

One of Isaac's favorite activities, running.

He must have run up and down the hallway about 50 times. He never seems to get tired. We were chasing and running with him in shifts. It took 4 adults to keep up with him.