Christmas Part 2: Grandma Susan

A week after Christmas, my mom came to celebrate with us. She made Oliver this special stocking. He was very excited to see what was inside...

Auntie Wisty could be here, but she sent a very cool gift for Oliver. He had had his eye on this a couple of his friend's houses...
This was the best present I got this year ; )

Reading with grandma

Awww...he learned how to give kisses!

Second Christmas dinner! Still loving the sweet potatoes. I tried to get him to try the brussel sprouts, but no luck...

Grandma got him some sweet outfits - a bowtie and suspenders! Very fancy little boy.

Christmas Part 1: The McDonells

On Christmas eve, Katie, Andy and Savannah were here and we all got dressed up and went to church. My two boys looked so handsome in their suits!

Savannah looked so sweet in her Christmas dress

After church, we sat down for turkey dinner with the babes. The sweet potatoes were a big hit.

Visions of sugar plums danced in his head....

..and grandma's shortbread cookies!

Covetting the gift he gave Savannah...

The rest of the Mcdonells came over Christmas morning. The babies were both napping when they got here...that did NOT go over well with Laura and Jo Ann!

Books were a theme of the day...

and Savannah was happy just to play with her own shoe!

Oliver is One Year Old!

Oliver's first birthday started out with a great surprise from grandpa Ken - a hand made teak toy box! Oliver loves it.

It was a school day, so we brought in cupcakes for the whole class...
They had even made him a birthday crown!

Then at home, we had another cake for him. This time it was a fancy cheesecake from the Bakery. What a lucky baby!

Oliver was not so sure about this cake business....

... so he dumped it on the floor!

After "cake", Oliver opened his present from mom and dad...I think it is a hit!

Then a few days later we threw a group birthday party for all his little friends. Still wouldn't touch the cupcakes...

First picture with Santa

We dressed Oliver up in his best suit and took him to the mall to see Santa for the first time. He did a great job - didn't get strange with him at all! Isn't Oliver handsome in his suit?

Thanksgiving in Quincy

The weekend befoer Thanksgiving, our little family when to Snoqualmie falls for the afternoon on a rainy fall day. We had gone there a year ago when I was pregnant with Oliver and sat in the cafe overlooking the falls. It is so cozy in there when it is pooring rain outside.

This is one of my favorite photos of my two crazy boys!
This is Oliver as we headed out over the mountains to Grandma and Grandpa's house. He had just learned how to wave and was practicing with great enthusiasm : )

When we got to Auntie Laura's house, sweet cousin Savannah was already there...hello cousin.

Oh wait a camera! I am ready for my close up.

I love this one...look at those two bald heads!

This girl is so sweet.

And here is Oliver...thought it might be a good idea to sit on Savannah.

And she doesn't even seem to mind!

Oliver's first taste of an orange...ooh, it's tart!

The day after Thanksgiving, we went with the Klinge's to Leavenworth for som bratwurst. Oliver sure loves those two kids!

And a trip to Leavenworth isn't complete without stopping by the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory...mmmm.

Grandma Jo's 70th Birthday Surprise

Oliver's grandma Jo Ann turned 70 on November 16th. We were all planning to go to Quincy to visit her for Thanksgiving, so we hadn't planned to go over for her birthday too. Katie and I worked hard on a photobook for Jo Ann of both her grandbabies. Katie mentioned that Jo Ann would love it if we could give it to her in person. So we started planning a surprise trip over with the Babies a few days before her birthday. Now anyone with a baby under 1 knows that it is no small feat to pack them up and travel with them for hours in a car. Katie and Savannah were planning to take the clipper from Victoria the night before but at the last minute they learned the weather was too ruff so it was cancelled. They offered to bus everyone over on the BC ferries, so off they went. They left at 5pm and the bus didn't get to Seattle until 1AM! After that, though, things went much smoother. We loaded the two babies up in the car and drove over the pass on a gorgeous day. We told Jo Ann we would skype her so she could see Oliver. We then told her it wasn't working. She was so disappointed! Then the doorbell rang....

She was so surprised!!

Laura had to be in school that day, but we all met her for lunch.

Savannah is so sweet!

Oliver loves his grandma

And she loves him

Happy Birthday Jo Ann!!