Thursday, November 24, 2011

Thomas at Two


As many of you know, Thomas turned 2 on November 4. And as many of you parents know, toddlers are quite the little chameleons: charming one minute and "terrible" the next. From showering us with good morning kisses to frying Lance's keys in the microwave, Thomas seems to be experimenting with his own version of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. Come on Dr. J, we're rooting for you!

Highlights from the past year and glimpses of Thomas today:

--He learned to walk! (and run and pounce and climb, etc.)
--He said "goodbye" to Mommy's milk and "HELLO!" to raw cow's milk
--He sleeps completely through the night (with his collection of pillows, blankets, and menagerie of furry friends like Jake the Gray Rat, Snowflake the White Rat, and Rocky, the Raccoon, aka "My Baby!")
--He speaks in phrases and occasionally complete sentences. ("That. That. Thomas have that!" and "Push...that...button" are currently his favorite phrases.)
--He discovered cell phones (Mommy: SIGH)
--He learned that Puff the Magic Dragon lives in Honalee.
--He is competent with a screwdriver.
--His favorite color is orange or "anaranjado." (And no, we don't take this as a sign that he will be a UT Vols fan. )
--His favorite singer is Barbra Streisand. (This is particularly interesting because when I was his age, I made my mother "play Barbra" for me before I went to sleep at night. Now, when Thomas goes over to Mamaw's, he immediately asks to "watch Barbra" (a concert that Mom DVR-ed).
--His favorite song is "Mamaw Driveway Sing" ("Mamaw'll Be Coming down the Driveway when She Comes")
--His favorite train is Molly (not Thomas!)
--His favorite food: tomatoes ("matos"), which are good for the soul but bad for the butt (they cause horrible diaper rash)...and he loves cake, as is evident in the photos from his birthday party!

Beaker gets a crown too!

Helping Mamaw cut the cake

Yum, cake!

Caramel face

Opening Papaw's gift

Fireman boots from Papaw!



Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Happy Halloween!

Here are some pictures from this year's Halloween Frolic at Walnut Grove.


"Aerial" view of guests and the apple cider cauldron


Lance serving the apple cider

Decorations in the gathering room


"Brains of Literary Geniuses"

Aunt Betty escorts Thomas, a "very hungry caterpillar"


Thomas on Mamaw's lap

The Garza-Snell family as fairy tale characters
(Beware of Luca, the Fierce Dragon!)

The Childress family as the Who's (and happy Grinch)

The McCalman family as "superstitious peasants" and "pet werewolf"

Silas the Bee getting a ride on Erek's shoulders
(pollination is a very exhausting job, you know)

The Harringtons as June and Ward Cleaver

Lonnie the Gypsy

Uncle "Shoe" carving a pumpkin for Thomas

The Paine family carving their cucurbit masterpieces

Dante admires his Jack-o-Lantern