Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We spent our Christmas holiday in Nederland visiting family, eating awesome food, and opening tons of presents!  The morning of Christmas Eve, we opened presents at Nana's with all my cousins.  I got the Woody doll I asked for, a Spiderman action figure and some other superheros.  There were presents and toys everywhere, and we had a great time playing around.  

That evening we got dressed up and headed to church with Nannie.  I clapped to the music and then fell asleep during mass. I couldn't quite understand why Baby Jesus wasn't there for his own party, but Mommy tried her best to explain it.

 Afterward, we went to Mama and PaPa Collins' house for punch, snacks and desserts.  Yummy stuff!

Then I went to Aunt Mary Sue's to open presents with Poppy.  I got Buzz Lightyear, some movies, games and puzzles.  Then it was back to Nannie's and off to bed so Santa could come!  When I woke up the next morning, I found exactly what I asked for....a JEEP!  I also got books, a game, a movie, new pajamas, Bullseye, headphones and a Happy Napper penguin.  I must have been one good boy in 2011!

After Santa, we opened presents with Nannie, Papa Vaughn and Uncle Daniel.  I got a karaoke machine and an automatic NERF machine gun.  I had a blast singing in the mic and shooting at my dad.  It was awesome!!

We had Christmas lunch at MaMa and Papa's house and then opened MORE presents.  I am one lucky boy!  It seems like everyone got me a gift, even though I was supposed to only get two.  I had fun playing with my cousin Levi, and I'm starting to remember who everyone is.  What an awesome Christmas it was!! 

The day after Christmas, we made the trip back to Prosper.  Mommy and I stayed home all week and played.  I did go to school with her one day and we did a bit of shopping, but I stayed in my pajamas for the most part.  Friday night we went to a New Years Eve Eve party with my soccer friends.  I helped Mommy bake a few cakes, and we went over for food, fun and fireworks.  The sparklers were great!  

New Years Eve we had dinner and a present exchange with my friend Kennedy and her parents at a restaurant.  We ended 2011 with a quiet night at home...perfect!  Today we rang in the New Year by throwing some food on the grill and having the girls over to play.  It was a great day to either play outside or stay in and watch football. 

I am ready for all the excitement that 2012 is going to bring!!!!

Buddy, Bowling and the Big Guy

In my earlier blog, I forgot to mention that we recently adopted an Elf on the Shelf.  Each night after I fall asleep, he flies back to the North Pole to report to Santa.  He's not allowed to talk to me, and he can't move when we can see him.  I was a bit skeptical at first, and I asked Mommy lots of questions.  I turned into a believer when "Buddy" escaped from his box and flew into my stocking while I was in the bath tub.  Mommy and Daddy were both in room with me, so we have no idea how he did it.   I stood there for quite some time saying "Amazing!  He got out of the box and flew across the room. That is incredible!"  I spent the rest of the night studying the situation and eventually decided to just go with it.  Each morning he arrives in a new location and I get to go on the hunt for him.  This morning I caught him in the act of making some hot chocolate, and I thought that was hysterical.  I'm going to miss him after Christmas!

Today Mommy and Daddy were both off of work, so we had a lazy morning around the house and a very busy afternoon.  After running a few errands, we decided to go to Splitsville- the bowling alley.  I've only bowled on the Wii before, so I was so excited to do it in real life.  I strapped on my shoes, picked out my ball and gave my parents a run for their money.  We had the best time playing around, snacking on fries and cheering for each other after every frame.  I can't wait to go back!

After a little bit of protest earlier in the day, I finally decided it would be a good idea to visit with Santa in person.  I told him I wanted a Jeep for Christmas, and he said "I don't normally make promises, but I'll bring you a Jeep on Christmas morning."  I love getting the VIP treatment, and I only have a few more days to wait!!

I ended my day by going shopping with Daddy for a present for Mommy.  I looked at lots of things and finally decided on the most awesome present ever......a drum set!  I just love getting to shop for my parents, and I even let them play with their gifts every once in a while.
 

Mommy told me I am spoiled, but I don't think so.  I'm just one lucky dude who lives life to the fullest!!!

Fun with the Family

School is out for winter break, and I am taking full advantage of my time off.  This weekend Nana and Wilson came to visit.  They got to see me score a big goal at my soccer game along with Aunt Jenny, Uncle Troy and the girls.  I got to play with everyone all weekend and Uncle Troy grilled on Sunday night.  Monday night we all went out to dinner here in Prosper, and then we came back to my house to decorate cookies.  I love playing with my cousins, but they can wear me out!

Today Mommy and I slept late and played around the house.  I went up to school with her and impressed her AcDec students with my physics knowledge.  If only I could be on the team!  This afternoon my great-great Aunt Bob came over with my cousins Andrea, Jorge, Madison, McKenzie, Mia and Mitchell.  It was Mia's 7th birthday, so Mommy and I whipped up some chocolate cupcakes from scratch.  I poured in all the ingredients and did the majority of the stirring and taste testing. We all had so much fun!

This evening, after an early dinner, Mommy, Daddy and I were cozied up by the fire.  We didn't have anything else going on, so we decided to have our Christmas!!! 

I asked my parents specifically for the Toy Story dinosaur.  Mommy hunted high and low and found me one that was a flashlight, and it was perfect.  I also got a new train, a bean bag chair for my room, and the lacrosse set that I asked for. 

My favorite gift turned out to be a gigantic real Tonka fire engine.  I drove that thing all over the house making siren noises, putting out pretend fires, rescuing people and fighting off bad guys.  Even my dinosaurs enjoyed it! 

 Last, but definitley not least, I got some Buzz Lightyear pajamas.  To infinity and beyond!!! 

I am so blessed with a wonderful family and an awesome holiday season.  The celebrations are only beginning!

Ready for the Holidays

It is so great to be settled into my new house, and it is even more exciting that the holidays are right around the corner.  With school, swimming and soccer, it has been business as usual.  I've started playing on an indoor team and have scored goals in both games so far.  My post-goal celebration dances have started to draw quite a bit of attention and even have parents from the opposing team asking Mommy if #1 belongs to her.  Do I instigate jumping, booty-shaking and fist pumping to celebrate my goals? You bet I do! 

I've been eager to help Mommy and Daddy out in the kitchen lately.  One night Daddy bought some ingredients at the store, and we made a pizza together!  I loved rolling out the dough and putting everything together.  It just tastes better when you make it yourself.  I finished off the meal with some chocolate souffle.  Delicious! 

While our house was being built, I asked Mommy a million times if my friends would be able to come over and play.  To make it happen, we decided to host a Milk and Cookies play date for eight of my friends from school.  I helped Mommy prepare by using cookie cutters to make gingerbread and sugar cookies.  I tested out the decorating supplies just to make sure they were acceptable, and I loved every minute of it! 

I also put candy canes on the Christmas tree so my friends could take one when they left.  Mommy said it was a tradition that Nannie used to do, so we decided to carry it on.  I LOVE giving them away when people come over.  In fact, I'm sometimes so excited that I ask them if they are ready to leave shortly after they arrive!

The play date was a huge success.  We decorated cookies, played with all my toys in the playroom and the backyard.  We had quite the party on the trampoline, and several of my friends cried when their moms made them leave.  Maybe we can do it again another time.  My special friends Kennedy and Hailey stayed a little later than the rest, and we ROCKED out!  We even had our moms dancing away.  We have also been to several holiday parties and had guests come over to visit.  Special times with special friends!

 Now I am finally done with school and am on break with Mom.  I am counting down the days until my visit from Santa.  One week to go!!!



Home for the Holidays

The past week was one of the most exciting weeks ever! Last weekend we moved all our stuff into the new house and started unpacking like crazy. I love my new house so much that I never want to leave. Mommy even tried to take me to the movies, but I did not want to go. After the first official dinner in the house, I even slept in my new big boy bed all by myself the very first night. The awesome Spiderman sheets are my favorite! After only having a few days to unpack, we were expecting lots of visitors for Thanksgiving. I specifically asked mommy to make me a pumpkin pie for the festivities, and she she said yes. She did the measuring, but I did all the pouring and lots of stirring. It went into the oven as I went off to bed, and when I woke up on Tuesday...it was ready! I never would try it, but it sure looked delicious. By Wednesday, all our guests had arrived: Aunt Elizabeth & Uncle John, Nana, Nannie, Uncle Daniel, Uncle Clint, Aunt Lori and the boys. I was so excited to have ALL my cousins over at my house that I could hardly stand it. I love them all so much, and we have so much fun together. It was wild and crazy, but so much fun. We played outside with sports equipment, sidewalk chalk, & empty boxes (which are always the best), and we bounced around on the new trampoline that Nana gave me for Christmas. My new big back yard had plenty of room for all of us. Thanksgiving morning we watched the parade together and then ate a delicious lunch. The kids table was the place to be for a fun time! Thanksgiving night we cheered on the Aggies in their last game against t.u. for a while. They lost, but we love them anyway! Friday we took a break from the turkey with pictures and mexican food. It is so great when everyone is together. On Saturday everyone headed home, and I got started on the Christmas decorations. Mommy and Daddy were laughing at me, but these are stockings right? This time of year is so much fun, and we are so happy to be home for the holidays!