Home

Finally it was time to go home again. Our flight was delayed almost 3 hours, ensuring no nap for a tired little toddler. He desperately wanted on that plane. We were lucky to get first class mileage tickets home, which gave us enough room to amuse him for the flight. Of course, the adults were all exhausted from our efforts by the time we landed, but we've not been banned from flying first class again!

Josh delighted in having cousins. When they had to leave he cried and said he wanted to keep them. :( We promised he'd see them again. Now we have to deliver.


Josh and Granny

Our only family photo!

When called to breakfast on Christmas morning he brought his tube of M&Ms to the table (from his stocking) and very matter of factly pulled his fruit bowl in front of him and filled it with candy. Then he picked up his plate and asked me to take it away because he didn't need it. I think there's a lesson here for me that perhaps his stocking shouldn't have candy in it.

The next day Josh got to meet and play with more cousins! He's decided he loves having cousins. He was particularly enamored with Jeff and followed him around all evening.

When an opportunity arose to get in the middle of a bit of wrestling, he was all for it.

Josh tore into his stocking as soon as we got to Granny's.

He found the little chocolate Christmas bears we found in Greece and was already opening them as he asked "Is this for eating?"

He got a Geo-Trax train set that he loves



He also got to play in the snow. It snowed all Christmas day and the 26th as well.

Josh also enjoyed our favorite bookstore - the Tattered Cover.


He had great fun making cut-out cookies with Granny and Auntie.


Then he got to reap the results of his labor! Mmmmm - cookies.

Christmas in Denver

We went to Denver for Christmas. Josh sat with his Auntie on the plane for about 1 minute then wanted his mommy, then his daddy, then.....



He was exhausted by the time we got to Granny's house.


He recovered quickly the next day though. Here he's doing his best imitation of a cat by curling up in the cat's bed.


One of Josh's favorite things to do was to ride the 16th street mall shuttle.

Greece

We did something wild and crazy this weekend. We went to Greece. Yes, for the weekend. Oh yes, I now have Platinum status with Delta. :)


The first picture is us on the highest hill in Athens overlooking the Acropolis. Because of the glare of the sun it's hard to see so I've zoomed in below for a better look.


We stayed in the Plaka, one of the oldest (and coolest) neighborhoods in Athens. This is the view from our balcony. We were literally at the base of the Acropolis and right in the middle of all the dining, shopping, and tourist sites.

It's cold there in December, but we had to at least sit out on that fabulous balcony one evening to drink in the view (and some ouzo!).

Thanksgiving

On the way home we stopped for lunch and let him open his present from his Auntie. It's a very cool wood wedge of cheese with a little mouse on a string that he can wind in and through.


Of course when the novelty of the cheese wore off there was the bubble wrap to keep him busy. Here he's saying snap, snap, snap dad!

Thanksgiving

We went to PA to spend the holiday with Curt's Aunt and Uncle. We were pretty worried about a 6-hr car ride with a toddler, but he was a real trooper. The only actual concession we made was a bit of a run at a rest area. Josh ran up and down that sidewalk about 10 times. Then he happily crawled back into the van for another three hours.



I'm so grateful to the entire family for putting out the welcome mat for us, and for helping Josh to celebrate his third birthday. He loved blowing out three candles on his pumpkin pie. He even asked for more birthday pumpkin pie later in the van.



He got lots of great presents. This was the first time he's actually opened anything so I was curious how he'd do, but he jumped right in and ripped off the paper.


Even better than the presents and the pumpkin pie was a multitude of cousins to play with!

Pooh!

Josh's birthday is this week. He got a package from his Granny that was amazing. He loved opening the boxes and digging through the paper to get to the animals.

Bikes

Josh just had to try out a few bikes this week. Note the training wheels. He's an equal opportunity kind of boy. He chose the pink, then the yellow bike. We were amazed that he can actually reach the pedals and ride. He was pretty happy.

Danger Boy

I never thought my not-yet-three year old would be so fearless. A ten foot swinging high ladder into a playhouse? No problem!