Merry Christmas

Photo taken by Jim Stokes at the Royal Sonesta Hotel,
French Quarter, New Orleans, December 16, 2009.

Cruising w/ PawPaw and Mimi

We went on a 5-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on the Carnival Triumph December 7-12, 2009. I had fun playing in my upper berth, but I slept with Mommy & Daddy in the big bed. Every night a new towel animal was waiting for us. The best part of the cruise was the eating ice cream with PawPaw & Mimi multiple times a day. We also saw a couple shows and went swimming in the salt water pool. I usually ran out of steam by dinner time, even falling asleep at the table a couple times. But I enjoyed all the fried shrimp and desserts. We stopped at two Mexican ports, Progreso and Cozumel. When we left Nola, it was 56 degrees, but we arrived in Mexico it was 86 degrees. It was hot. I had lots of fun.

Mexico

During our cruise, we stopped at Progreso and Cozumel on the Yucatan Peninsula. It was HOT & HUMID. We got to check out the Mayan ruins at Chitzen Itza ("Chicken Pizza"), but the excursion to the ruins at Tulum near Cozumel weren't offered. Good thing cuz I barely made it through Chitzen Itza, I kept wanting to rest in the shade or have daddy carry me on his shoulders which prevented him from taking a lot more pictures. I was happy to board the air conditioned bus afterwards. It was so HOT in Cozumel that we just wandered around the port for a while before Mommy & me went back to the ship for lunch and ice cream. Here are so photos from our Mexican adventure.

Our Tree

We wrapped up the Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend by decorating our Christmas Tree so we could enjoy it for a week before setting off on our transcontinental travels to visit family. We went with a red & gold them this year.

Neighborhood Gingerbread Party

This year was our first time joining in the fun at the Boyer's annual tradition. There was enough royal icing and candy to give the tooth fairy a sugar high. I helped Mommy build/decorate her first gingerbread house - a contemporary Asian-inspired Eichleresque abode. Daddy went for a modern "tree" house, and I created a "clock" tower.

November Rain

Gilroy Gardens November 2009

One last trip to Gilory Gardens for the season.

Halloween 2009

Trick-or-Treating around the neighborhood in my dragon/dinosaur we-still-haven't- decided-which costume.

Lemos Farms Pumpkin Patch

We headed out Halloween morning for our last chance to visit a pumpkin patch for the season. We headed for the coast to Lemos Farms Pumpkin Patch in Half Moon Bay where I got to ride a pony and a mini-train on wheels thru a "haunted" village.

Tubtime Tat

Sportin' my cool Halloween tat from Khai that Mommy put on backwards. Silly Mommy.

3-year Stats

Went in for my 3-yr check-up. Dr. Tuch gave me a clean bill of health. She said I'm doing just fine, no worries, no questions, especially when she heard I can recognize my letters & numbers and can count to 20. My weight and height have evened out. I'm coming in just under 80th percentile for both - I'm 39 inches tall (79%) and weigh 34.5 lbs (77%). Mommy, Daddy, and I all got our flu shot and I also got the H1N1 nasal mist vaccine. I didn't get a sticker this time, but I got a lollipop instead. :-)

Zachary's 3rd Birthday Bonanza

Thursday Morning - Zach excitedly hops aboard his birthday present...

...and takes it for a spin around the block.


Thursday Evening - Three cream puffs for our three year old.


Friday Morning - Decorating cupcakes with Mommy.


Friday Afternoon - Zach's daycare birthday celebration



Saturday Afternoon - Zach's official 3rd Birthday Party

Birthday balloons from Aunt Terry & Uncle Bill.


Saturday Evening - Birthday dinner at Chevy's

Happy Birthday to My Best Boy

You came to our room at 4:30AM, much to early for you to crawl into our bed, so you slept on the little bedroll we had set up for you on the floor. Then promptly at 6AM, with barely a glint of sunlight shining in the sky, you tried to sneak back into our bed again. This time, I couldn't resist letting you in and snuggling close. Soon you drifted back to sleep. It's times like these that my heart swells with so much love for you. I never thought I could love someone as much as I love you, and every day I love you even more. I feel so privileged to be your Mother, to be the one to kiss away the tears and fix the boo boo's, the one who gets to answer all your why's, how come's, and how do they make that's, the one that gets to hug & kiss you every day, the one who gets to watch you grow. In three short years, you have gone from adorable drooling little baby to wonderful, handsome, smart, inquisitive, energetic, and considerate little boy. Right before my eyes, you've turned into a little boy who loves to climb anything he can from trees to monkey bars, who jumps off steps and stones over obstacles on one foot or two, who competes with the older boys by peddling faster or climbing over the highest rung, who knows his letters and can count to 20, who is sounding out his first words, who loves to help whether making cupcakes or dinner in the kitchen or making repairs in the garage. I know I won't always be the first thing you ask for when you wake (with TV a close 2nd) nor will I always be greeted with flying hugs & kisses when I come home nor treated to showers of kisses at bedtime and requests for more cuddles. So, I cherish every single moment that I get to be your Mom.

Roaring Camp's Beach Train

Today we got an earlier start and headed up the Santa Cruz Mtns to Roaring Camp Railroads for another great family outing. We pulled in just in time to catch to 10:30 Beach Train to Santa Cruz. We didn't even have time to purchase tickets before boarding. (In fact, we didn't buy tickets from the conductor until our return trip.) We rode an open car through the redwood forest, over bridges, through tunnels, and down the hillside to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk on the Pacific Ocean. We had an hour to ride the Sky Glider high above the boardwalk, play skee ball, eat pretzels, and get our feet wet in the ocean before rushing to catch the train back to the mountains. I crashed out on mommy's lap for most of the trip back. I even slept as we debarked from the train and still didn't stir when my daddy placed me on a picnic table. But as soon as my daddy left to get my stroller from the car, my eyes popped open and I spied the toy tractors surrounding a hay mountain. I had to go explore. I easily spent the next hour there. We stopped by the gift shop on our way out looking for the pop guns I'd seen some of the other kids with. Mysteriously, I couldn't find them, but my mommy did point out a pack of gummy fruit that she suspicously let me have. I stayed awake from most of the ride home, finally falling asleep within minutes of pulling into our driveway. I ended up napping with mommy for a couple hours. When we woke up, we went out for BBQ at Armadillo Willy's.