Happy New Year

In the "jammas".  "Weading" all by himself.

where did the baby go?

I don't see a baby anymore.  Just a big boy.

Random Decemberness

December sort of got away from us.  However, it was full of all kinds of silliness at our house.

wearing Mama's Uggs

getting artsy with the magna doodle

helping mom make cream cheese frosting

decorating the gingerbread house

cruising on the new trike

Merry Christmas from the DeClercqs

I know this is posted a little late, but we were too busy enjoying the Christmas cheer.  And the Christmas lights.

Trip to the park

Was it fun?

Terrifying? 

Painful?

Of course not!

Yeah for Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa!

Two blog posts in one month!  Take that Halversons.

Anyone want an apel?

Tonight after dinner, a remarkably well eaten, mostly whine-free dinner, Garrett  asked for an "apel". 

Not much later, Garret returned to me, hand outstretched with the apple stem.  He proudly said "apel" to which I repliec, "No son, this is no longer an apple.  You literally demolished that sucker."  Laura tells me that I should be glad he actually returned the stem.  Sometimes he eats that too.

Garrett steals the show

Today was the last day of church directory portraits. Garrett and Laura, as usual came out between services to visit, mostly to visit Danna, but also to say hello to me.  As you can see, Garrett stole the show!

photo cards

Adam has been wanting to try to print some photo cards with his work on them.  Our first try was with Shutterfly.

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Bako, etc

On Sunday we took an epic drive to Bakersfield.  Epic? Why yes, it took us over 4 hours to make the quick 2 hour drive.  Lots of traffic, some rain, and a sign indicating a 60 min delay on the grapevine.  No snow, just lots and lots of people.
However, once we arrived in Bako, we were pleased to spend 24 hours with our friends, the Halversons.  Their son is a mere 2 months younger than Garrett.  Garrett was very enamored with all of Bryce's toys.  He also slept better there than ever before.  He slept in til 9:15.  Wowza!
On Monday we went to Murray Family Farm.  We toured the farm, which included a giant jumping pillow...

some pumpkins...

Garrett was a little concerned about the wristband

duck races...


and a corn pit...


We also picked some apples and avocados.  The apples were pretty slim pickings, but we managed.

The boys seemed to enjoy being pulled around in the wagon. 

We had a great time, except for the 7+ hours we spent in the car.  So much for avoiding the Thansgiving mayhem on the freeways.

windfall

We had a pretty serious Santa Ana wind storm on Wednesday.  That meant on Thursday our yard was littered with leaves and branches.  Yesterday Garrett discovered the sticks.  And was smitten and wildly entertained.  Yes, I do have a little boy. 







Lesson learned for next time... do not request that he show you the stick.  He will throw it at you.  My mistake.

thank you

Thank you creator of Trader Joe's organic yogurt squishers.  Yogurt is fun again.  And Garrett can do it mostly by himself!

bandaid

Garrett had his first bandaid-worthy accident.  He closed his thumb in the front door, yes the big wooden door.

There wasn't much crying, but it was bleeding.  So to protect his Biola shirt and our upholstery, I applied a bandaid.  There wasn't a bit of gagging, which due to his aversion to stickers, I expected.  However, the bandaid only last about 15 minutes.  He pulled it off and threw it in the garbage can.

Garrett's love for cleaning

Garrett's cousin Kaylin has a fear of vacuum cleaners.  Irrational perhaps, she's afraid of them when they aren't even turned on, but everyone has fears. 

Wait, no.  My son doesn't have any fear.  In fact, he has an unhealthy desire to be sucked up into the vacuum cleaner.  See for yourself:



Update: Garrett actually is afraid of something, stickers and double sided tape - he'll gag and scream if they come near him.
Laura's update to the Update: Garrett voluntarily reached for double sided tape today.  Apparently, even that fear is fading.

favorites

Garrett's favorite things seem to shift from day to day.  He is fickle.
However, over this weekend, two things emerged at the top of his list.
First, this book...

We watched a cartoon called Willa's Wild Life.  This book is the basis for the cartoon.  So, when I found it at a local bookstore for $5.99, I scooped it up.  We have read it easily a dozen times since Saturday. 

Second, dancing. 

G loves to play with our alarm clock.  As soon as he pushes the power button, he starts dancing.  I will spare you the details of my dancing, and Adam's dancing for that matter.  But, one thing is clear, Garrett gets his moves from his daddy.

found

This is Crunch. 

He has been missing for about 9 months. 

But last night, he was found... buried under a bush in the backyard.

Apparently, Bobby took it upon himself to save Crunch for later. 

 So much so, that I had to rip little roots from his little orange stuffed carrot body.

Never a dull moment.

Laura's awesome birthday voyage.

Ahoy thar, matey! This here be an adventure wurthy of th' seven seas.

Shiver me timbers!

keys?

Yesterday morning, I walked out the door with Garrett.  In one hand I had the diaper bag, complete with water bottle and snack.  In the other, I had my purse, complete with Bible and notebook ready to be filled with BSF notes.  What I failed to grab on my way out the now locked door, were my keys.I checked all the doors, and they were in fact locked.  So, my only option was to climb in through a window.  You never notice how dirty the outside window sills are until you have to climb through one.  I brought Garrett into the backyard, removed a screen, pulled up a chair, and shimmied through.  I am also not as bendy as I used to be.
Once inside, I grabbed my keys, let myself out the front door, and ran around back to get Garrett and head for Bible Study.  Garrett was nowhere to be found.  He had let himself in the house by climbing through the doggie door.  I got down on the ground, shoved my arm through the dog door and coaxed my now laughing son back through the door.
Next time, I am sending Garrett in for the keys.

class of 2028

Biola, here we come!

Thanks Uncle Joey for the rockin' tshirt!

last day of summer vacation

To celebrate the last day of summer vacation, we had a fun-packed day.We drove to San Clemente.  We wandered down to the pier and decided we must camp in San Clemente next summer. 

We also met a pelican.

We had lunch at the Cellar.  We had the charcuterie plate and a cheese plate.  G loved both.  His favorites were the balsamic onions and the D'Affinois double creme cheese.  I know, I might be raising a baby foodie.

That afternoon Garrett spent some time in the backyard.  He got very dirty.

Then, we had ribs for dinner.

McD

It has been hot here.  

So, I decided we needed a cold treat.

We headed to McDonalds. 

 I am normally vehemently against fast food (In N Out and Chipotle excluded, obviously).

But, I do love McD's iced coffee.  And I had a coupon for a free ice cream cone.

Garrett had his first McD ice cream cone. 

He loved it... as soon as I removed the paper wrapper from the cone. 

G has a strange aversion to things that resemble stickers.  Normally there is gagging involved.

Why do kids always want to bite the bottom off of the cone?