Deer Season 2013

We had a lot of visitors come and go over the past week and a half for rifle deer season. Sadly, I didn't get pictures with everyone but I did take some toward the end. It's fun to see Griffin running around with all the old guys, most have known Drew since he was Griffin's size. 

Briley is fun to run around with

Pa feeds him anything he wants, this picture was
ice cream......on the last day, they shared a bratswurst (yuck)

he would drink as much soda as he could get away with

Briley is a jokester

2 of the said men who have known Drew forever

Aunt Cole is fun

a serious father-son situation

a lot of hunting strategizing goes on.....

Griffin gave the old guys a lesson in technology

Pa tried out "Hill Climb Racing"
it's a hit!

my bald eagle photography partner didn't last long

how many eagles can you spot?
some are immature and don't have white heads yet

They meet again........

I anticipated another interesting encounter with Santa this year. Griffin is still shy at first and I just knew no matter how much I talked up dear old Santa Claus, he would be a hard sell to just jump up on the lap. Last night we read a book about Santa and talked about how great he is, how he brings the best presents and is such a nice guy. 

Griffin was still talking about getting his picture taken with him when we rolled into Springfield and I was feeling more confident. Magically, when I started to pull into the mall parking lot his story changed to, "No Santa!". I, being mom of the year, just ignored him and hauled him inside. 

This was the end result:

It's no smile, but it's a step up from last year! He didn't last long in this awkward facial expression before the full purple face/mouth open/silent cry began and he was really making noise by the time I picked him up and let the next family move in. Santa did not get a hug or even told "bye" but he was happy and enjoying the sucker he was given by the time I got around to the register to pay. This year they also included online my other options that I had to choose from when buying prints. 

Santa happened to have one of his favs

this is a real winner

the lips started to pucker here.....

Thanksgiving - Part 1

Today, we celebrated Thanksgiving early with my family. Well, only a few of us. Shiloh and Chris are out visiting the McClenahans this weekend and since my parents are going next week for the actual holiday, we decided to have our meal with Grandma Delores today in Springfield. This is her first Thanksgiving as a Missouri resident. 

Grandma learning how to "skype"

Shadow enjoyed the afternoon too

kisses from Great Grandma

I think his light blue eyes have been passed down this line

I had planned on getting several errands out of the way before lunch, but didn't get on the road in time. We were only able to take care of one, very big task.......the annual photo with Santa. After lunch, I left Griffin to hang with his elders and went back to the mall for a little shopping before we called it a day and headed home. Hopefully, we will be able to get Great Grandma Delores to Silver Dollar City before the end of the year. 

28 Months Old

Griffin has become quite a handful this past month.....shown in his picture poses. He's still getting his fair share of "spankin's" and learning the acceptable way to act and talk to us. HAHA! This is quite a task, and I'm sure will carry on for some time. 

He is very independent, always has been. Somehow, he has become potty trained at daycare, but not at home....we are improving on this lately. 

He's also had several bouts of illness in the past month, including his first vomiting into the toilet experience. It's pretty pitiful to watch a 2 year old hug the toilet, but it makes for much less clean up!

He continues to be very shy when we are out in public, to the clingy/hide his face wherever he can extreme. It takes a good 10 minutes to warm up to anyone (this doesn't apply to people he sees regularly) trying to speak to him. We are going to try to visit Santa at the mall this weekend, I can only imagine what that will turn out like.

Here's a few random photos from the month:

if the weather is nice and we are home, he wants to be outside!

Elmo also works as a pillow

Lego maniac

One afternoon, Ashley and I took the boys to the pottery studio. It was the Hensley's first time and I think despite the lack of naps, they enjoyed it. Griffin and I were working on a flower pot for my plant that sits by my desk. I ended up going back to finish it! 

 

These two boys are quite a pair. I think we were all almost in tears on the way home during this "make each other laugh" game they started playing. Griffin was the perpetrator and to a much higher extent, but Chase had taken over at this point.

With the holidays right around the corner, I anticipate many more posts with much more interesting content. Stay tuned!