"This is Wota, and this is Lightning McQueen..."

Nice big breakfast for the birthday boy (or should I say man?)

This is what Baba called a "small dog" on our porch. He decided to give himself a haircut today. I love that we can save by doing home haircuts. Wish I could do mine too, but haven't gotten it cut since after my transplant. Might be time for me to go. 

Baba helping NJ with his new watch. He's been asking for it, so we finally adjusted it to his wrist. His first watch! 

His Yoda watch also came with a tiny Yoda lego figure to put together. 

He kept calling it, "Wo-ta". Oh my, for me as his mama and Perry as his uncle, it seems wrong that he isn't more educated on Star Wars. Ha, ha, that'll come in time, though. 

"This is Wota, and this is Lightning McQueen..." I think he was introducing his two new lego friends.

Baba and his birthday cupcake, one of many! We feel so blessed and loved, we got an offer from friends to bring dinner or to watch NJ so Baba and I could go out. Not just one family, but two and then three that offered! So we had dinner together with friends, how nice that they'd surprise us with food and their good company. Thank you!

NJ wanted to take pictures with my camera. I let him take some as long as I got to take some of him. 

I take one of him...

He takes one of me...

I take one of him, as we share some pear...

and he takes one of me.

First attempt at putting together his little lego lighting mcqueen. He did a pretty good job with not much help from me. First chance he got he ran to show Baba too. 

We also did some stamps today and played with play-do.

Sweet Relief

Finally school has resumed, what a relief! Rest for Mama and an outlet for NJ's heightened energy. We were equally happy about school, he's been asking, "Why there's no school?" I'm glad he likes it so much and gets so much out of it. There's a ton around the house I haven't caught up on, but I had a really good nap and then went grocery shopping. When I went to pick him up the teacher said he was very helpful as usual. That made us so happy! 

We gave him an early bath since he was at school today then we sat for dinner. 

After NJ went to bed, Mama snuck off for a bit. So nice to have a little time to myself with my best friend and a delicious cup of hazelnut coffee.

Arboretum

We've been meaning to check out the arboretum for a while, now we have company to go with us! Even better that is was free. 

Checking out a cool cactus. 

Climbing some hay. Can't remember what NJ was shouting. 

We found some nice big leaves.

NJ was making some salad (crumpling up leaves). I asked him what was in the salad besides lettuce. He said, "I'm adding onions and salt." Hmm, interesting salad. Not sure I'd like that. 

Trying out the water pump together. 

Checking out the old historic home. 

A nice picnic lunch on the grass! We had pb&j's, cuties, grapes, pretzels, and goldfish. It was so relaxing and nice. The weather was perfect, not too warm and not cold. 

Such a cool bench carved out of a tree stump. These two sat so nicely for me to take a photo. How cute!

There was some "instructions" (the way NJ sometimes says construction) going on across the street. NJ really wanted to see. So we stood at the edge of the parking lot to watch for a bit. One machine was jackhammering while the other was scooping and dumping. I'm sure we could have stayed there all day. What a fun time we had on our play date with the girls. It was a great place to let the kids run, play, and explore. 

A little visit to one of his favorite Auntie and Uncle. We had dinner and spent some time with them. We got there a little early and NJ had to use the bathroom. He paced in front of the door chanting, "Poo, poo, poo..." I was really hoping that no one else was around to hear! 

"Who blowed the beep?"

We snuggled up on the couch to watch the rose parade and Baba made us some breakfast of eggs and bacon. Just to get out, we took NJ to play at the park. While we were out, there was loud honking and NJ said, "Who blowed the beep?" This time on the playground, he was able to go from one pole to another, when before he'd get on and stand there and get back down. We didn't stay long, though because we were getting some visitors at the house. How nice for our friends to visit! A nice and relaxing new year's day.

"Rockin' around Christmas tree..."

I was so happy that this occupied him for as long as it did. He enjoyed doing all five of them, and two or three puzzles before we headed out. 

It was cold, but we still spent some time outside.

Given his own camera, he wants to try every camera. This is a photo he took with mine. 

Our simple soup dinner for new year's eve. 

While singing, "Rockin' around, Christmas tree, happy holiday, eating pie and dancing...." 

(Those were the only words he knew and sang. He told us to sing, but we didn't know the words either!) and spinning in circles, he trips over himself and falls into a chair and hit his head. Baba and I were laughing, but he started crying. Baba told him he looks just like the picture in the hall way and to go look at it. He went over and said, "I can't see anything it's too dark!" And then, "I flashed my light on it, I see it." Baba told him to imitate it and he did. It's a photo of him as a baby crying. This is his impression of it, but half laughing. 

He hasn't done this since he was first going to the bathroom by himself when he was younger, he didn't even bother to pull up his pants. He was on his way to his room to change into his pj's until he said he needed to pee. 

"We can see Christmas lights too?"

Trying to tie another knot in his paracord loop. Like father, like son.

"Are we going to eat?"

NJ had lots of fun playing Hungry Hungry Hippos and all the other fun toys at Uncle and Auntie's house. A great time of relaxation for us! 

All bundled up, it's in the forties tonight. The boys had a great time walking the neighborhood to see Christmas lights. So far I think we've made this a yearly tradition. We have photos of NJ on this street from our first Christmas together. And this is where I'd walk to see lights when I was little. Nice that they're still going all out in decorations.