Brannan Family: January 2008

Christmas in Oregon

The day after Christmas we ventured down south from Jen's house to my parent's house, Caleb had a great time playing with an Elmo train set, going for jeep rides, watching the real train go by outside and pulling trucks around the yard. Too many wheels and not enough time at Grandpa Roger's house. My friend Janel and her son Jonah came over one evening, Friday night we went into Beaverton with a bunch of OSU alumni to watch the Beavers win their bowl game, and Saturday night my parents through a housewarming/holiday blessings party with over 50 people. My brother came home Saturday night and we celebrated VanDyke Christmas on Sunday morning before heading back up to Washington on Monday.

Driving the jeep with Grandpa Roger

Pulling mommy's old truck and telling it who's boss

More truck pulling with grandpa

Here comes the choo choo train down the track

The choo choo is stopping right in front of me, I am so excited I might pull grandpa's ears off

Now the choo choo is blowing it's whistle at the intersection, this just keeps getting better and better

The OSU alumni crew at the Old Market Pub for the Emerald Bowl

Pulling the truck around on the porch

Learning to drive the old Ford tractor, helping grandpa grade the driveway for the party

Bedtime story book from Auntie Erin on my third Christmas

Trying to model my still packaged Thomas the Train bicycle helmet

Telling everyone a story about his new "The farmer says" toy from Uncle Joel

My last morning with Grandma Janet before we have to leave....see you in a few months when my new little brother or sister arrives

Christmas in Gig Harbor, WA

The weekend before Christmas we flew up to Seattle with Doug's mom to spend about a week with Jennifer and Anna, who were without John for the holidays. What an adventure it is to have two toddlers under the same roof with all the holiday excitement and sugar! We went to the zoo lights one night, and down to the water's edge in one of our few breaks from the rain and freezing temperatures. Both the kids enjoyed being pulled around the cul-de-sac in the wagon and going down the slide in the play room...which I didn't get any pictures of :( Jennifer is a much better photographer than I am and has several good pictures from the trip on her blog, but here a few that I captured.

Anna and Caleb going for a wagon ride at zoo lights at the Point Defiance Zoo

a very bright tree, sorry it's a little blurry

Mount Rainier in lights

Making popcorn for popcorn balls, both the kids' first time watching an air popper

Playing at the beach, shoveling rocks and maybe slipping a few in my mouth when no one is looking

Christmas morning, Santa brought Anna a new kitchen and this super realistic "squeaky wheeled" shopping cart, it has wheels so Caleb loved it.

One of Caleb's new books from Grandma Cindy, and his Christmas "sock monkey" PJs from Auntie Jen

Wearing Anna's monkey back pack, he's almost ready for kindergarten

This monkey talks when I push on it and I don't think you understand how excited that makes me

Christmas in Fort Collins

The holidays have kept us busy, we celebrated Christmas three times again this year, (Caleb is going to think every year should be this way) The first of the festivities was at Jim and Diane's with Caleb's great grand parents Tom and Ferne. His first gift (a red truck) was such a big hit he didn't care much about opening any other ones. We attempted to do some family pictures, but like usual with toddlers 1 out of 50 might turn out.