Airplanes!

We took Jacob to the Paso Robles Estrella Warbird Museum this morning. He loved climbing into the helicopter and airplane, pressing buttons and turning dials. We all had a blast.

Airplanes

Mr. Rally's Yellow Tractor

About three doors down from Nana and Papa's house, there is a construction site. One particular lot contains a nice level area, being prepared for a foundation by a big yellow tractor. Jacob has recently been very interested in tractors, since we've been reading him Dig!, the story of Mr. Rally, his dog Lightning, and his big yellow backhoe (we say tractor because he knows that word). So we took him to see Mr. Rally's tractor down the street, and he was fascinated.

Mr. Rally's Yellow Tractor

I suspect he will ask for a visit to Mr. Rally's yellow tractor again tomorrow.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! We are having a fabulous time visiting Nana and Papa, after a quick stop in Bakersfield to visit Grandma and Grandpa. Here are a few pictures of Jacob's day.

Christmas 2008

All by Myself

I gave Jacob a clementine ("tootie") without peeling it, figuring he wasn't actually going to eat it, since he already ate snack. But a few minutes later, I found him very busy. He peeled and sectioned the Cutie all by himself, and I just snapped away. Can you see how proud he was when he finally had a mouth full?

Peeling the clementine

Wet

Wet

Jacob had a blast playing in the rain. At first he just stood outside the door and stared. Then he discovered the puddles. And he just kept saying over and over again, "Wet. (pause) Wet. (pause) Wet...." When I finally got him to come inside, he was definitely wet!

December Pictures

Here are a few pictures from this month and Thanksgiving, including the annual visit to Santa.

Santa time

Advent cake?

Happy Advent! Since yesterday was the first Sunday in Advent, we began lighting the appropriate candle in our wreath yesterday, along with singing the song I sang when I taught preschool and Kindergarten (to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle"):
Advent is a time to wait,
Not quite time to celebrate,
Light the candles one by one,
'Til this Advent time is done,
Christmas day will soon be here,
Time for joy and time for cheer!
Hopefully over the next several years, our children will love counting the candles as we approach Christmas and learn that Advent is for waiting. Last night, as we lit the first candle and sang for the first time, Jacob grinned. But then he asked for cake.