The Christmas Tornado

The day after Christmas always reminded me of a tornado scene. There are usually piles of new stuff that needs to be put away. Boxes, bags, paper, new toys, clothes, candy...it's like a fun explosion, haha. Our living room looked pretty ridiculous the day after Christmas. We needed to do something about the growing mound of toys that just piled up along the wall.

For anyone, the day after Christmas is all about playing with all of your new stuff. It was no different for Dylan. He played with all of his new things. Not spending too much time on any given toy, he worked his way all over the room to all the the new stuff that he got in the past week.

This is Dylan playing with his new microphone.  This sings a ton of songs, has a bunch of buttons to push and actually does have a tiny microphone sound when you talk into it.  Thank You Great-Grandma & Grandpa Gray.

I think almost all of Dylan's new toys make all sorts of sounds, play music, or talk.  One really fantastic thing that I noticed is that most of them not only have an on and off switch but also have a low and high volume switch.  Thanks to whoever thought of that one!

Dylan got quite a few trucks this Christmas.  This one is a tow truck.  It has all sorts on this with it including animals, cars, and a little walkie-talkie thing Dylan has in his hand.

This is another one of Dylan's new trucks.  This one, however, does not have an on and off switch, haha. Dylan likes to hit the buttons and run away when it makes sounds.  What can I say, he can be a goof.

This is Dylan's fire truck.  This truck is easy to push around on the carpet and really goes when you give it a good push.  

Take notice the the box in the background, that was Mommy's present!

Dylan got a few little toy cars for Christmas.  These little cars are fantastic and also easy to push around on the carpet.  Dylan loves playing with them.  He usually drives them all terrain though and goes up on the walls, tables, couch, chairs, etc.

In addition to all the great gifts that Jeff, Dylan & I got for Christmas, we also received quite a few gift cards. We went out shopping on Friday so Daddy could buy his new Ipod Touch for Christmas. While we were out, we decided to go to Target to look for some shelving or something to help with the Dylan toy clutter.

We indeed found something and it's perfect. There is still a little Dylan clutter but hey...he's a baby and a curious one at that, haha.  So Thank You to everyone and anyone who gave Jeff, Dylan or I a target gift card for the fantastic shelves that you helped us buy!

Christmas Day with The Grays

Our Family - Christmas '08

Great-Grandma Gray watching as Mommy tried to help Dylan get started on opening all the presents in his stocking.  By this time, Dylan had already opened so many presents.  Can a kid get burnt out on opening presents, haha?

Dylan ripping open one of many cool gifts that he got from his grandparents.  He did get quite a bit of new toys and has been very busy checking out every single one.  He even helped Daddy put the garage together that Aunt Amanda bought him.

Dylan sitting on Daddy's lap and checking out the new tow truck that he just opened from Grandma & Grandpa Gray.  This thing is loaded with all sorts of things to do.

Dylan savored each tiny piece of paper that he ripped off, haha. He took his time with every present and tore tiny pieces at a time.

Mommy & Dylan

E-A-G-L-E-S!!! Playoffs, what!?!

Dylan sitting on Grandma's lap while other people opened their presents.  Yes, that is shampoo & apple juice in his hands.  Out of all of his toys, he decides to play with these things for a bit too.  Non-toy items deserve just as much attention, haha.

Three Gray boys hanging out and talking, about racing or something close to it I'm sure.  Dylan is ready.  He even had his Monster shirt on.

This refrigerator magnet toy farm animal thing is brilliant.  It gives Dylan something to play with in the kitchen and he loves to play with magnets.  

Every single time we are at Grandma & Grandpa Gray's house, Dylan plays with all the magnets that he can reach on Grandma's refrigerator.  He is definately starting to grow upward, especially when he is starting to reach new pictures and things.

Dylan climbing the Daddy ladder

Thank You Everyone for all the wonderful gifts!

Christmas Morning

Jeff, Dylan & I spent Christmas Eve visiting and partying and didn't get back home until around 10:30 p.m. or so. It was way past Dylan's bed time so he was out cold during the whole transition from the car to bed, haha. 

The next morning, Jeff & I were up before Dylan. Since he went to bed late the night before, I was not surprised that he wanted to sleep in. However, we still had plenty of stuff to do that day so around 8ish, Daddy woke up Dylan while Mommy made some coffee.

Dylan cuddled on the couch with Daddy for a few minutes to wake up.  After he woke up, he realized that there was a bunch of stuff under the tree.  He hopped down from Daddy's lap and decided to go check it all out.

Ironically, out of all the presents that were under the tree, Dylan decided on the smallest in the pile to open first.

It was so cute to see him open his presents.  He tears tiny little pieces off at a time and hands them to you one by one.  Not to mention, we obviously had to check out all the new stuff we opened too, haha.

Dylan got an Elmo in a sub from Santa that he can play with in the tub.  Dylan wants you to constantly keep winding him up to see him move across the water.

Dylan was rearranging some gifts in this picture.  He picked up one of Mommy's presents and moved it to his pile on the other side of the tree, haha.

Santa also brought Dylan some cool animal puzzles to play with.  He loves the piece with the "Ki Ki" on it.

Dylan loves to play with Mommy & Daddy things.  This includes cell phones, cameras of all sorts, remote controls, etc.  Dylan got his very own remote control from Santa.  He also got his very own camera!

Dylan taking a break from opening his presents to help Mommy open one of hers.  Inside this box was one of my favorite presents, my new Eagles sweatshirt!  Good thing too since they are going to the PLAYOFFS!

After getting all of the presents open, Dylan & Daddy started digging in and playing with some new stuff. Dylan got a ton of blocks for Christmas. Now he has enough blocks to build really cool stuff with Daddy!


After all the presents were open, Dylan grabbed a quick breakfast and then ran back to the living room to dig into his new toys.  He was building all kinds of things with Daddy (as seen above), playing with his new cars, balls, camera, remote, etc.  In the meantime, Mommy & Daddy gathered a few things and started getting ready to go to Grandma & Grandpa Gray's house for Christmas Day.

Dylan showing Mommy his new remote control!

Dylan, Mommy & Daddy on Christmas Morning 2008

A Christmas Eve Visit...

to Great-Grandma & Grandpa Sheets

Since we were going to be unable to go to all the Christmas Day festivities for all of the families, we stopped by Great-Grandma & Grandpa Sheets' house on Christmas Eve. Dylan instantly found a little rocking chair, just his size. He kept trying to climb it but with a little help from Daddy, he got turned around and on the chair. Grandma has a stash of toys in a bag just for occasions when little ones are about. Dylan played with a piano A LOT. I guess Mommy & Daddy might have to buy him one, haha.

Dylan socialized and played for a bit and then opened some presents from his great-grandparents. He got a bunch of blocks, a tool bench, and some spending money (maybe for that piano), haha. Dylan checking out what Great-Grandma was up to. He is a very curious fellow. Thank You so much for Great-Grandma & Grandpa Sheets, and Great-Grandpa Faith for the awesome gifts. Dylan is already digging in and having a ton of fun with them.

to Mamma G's house for Christmas Eve party!

After packing up in the car, we headed off to my mom's house for a Christmas Eve party.  Since we were one of the first ones there, Dylan was being outgoing and very social.  He was running around, talking up a storm, and trying to get the cat.  The more people that arrived, the more shy Dylan became, haha.  He got all kinds of cool gifts from Aunts, Uncles, Grandma, Great-Grandparents, etc.  I will have to steal some pictures from my mom to put up.  Sometimes it's hard to remember the camera when there are so many other things going on, haha.  (We did get this silly looking picture though, lol.) Dylan had a blast!  He even got to stay up a little past his bedtime, although it didn't really matter because he fell asleep instantly as soon as we got in the car.  We got home and Dylan didn't even wake up when I slipped him out of the car and into his bed.  He was a very exhausted and sleepy boy!

New Toys!

Sunday was our first round of Christmas parties, therefore Dylan had quite a few new things to check out on Monday morning. First on the agenda, examining this giant groundhog (I think that's what it is, haha). I know that I said it before, but this thing is huge! If you couldn't get the full effect of how big it is from the Christmas party pictures, then this should do it. He's got quite a size difference on the little man. Dylan loves this guy. What kid wouldn't though?!? Seriously, he can climb him, tackle him, or just lean up against him and use him and a big cozy pillow/chair.


Dylan then moved on to all of the other new toys sitting under the tree. He spent the rest of his morning playing with the new trucks. Dylan had a blast pushing the police car and fire truck all around the living room. When he moved on to the big CAT truck, he also tried to push it around the room. There are buttons on the side of it that will make it go forward and backward but there is also a lever that will raise and lower the back of the truck. Dylan only pushes the lever the one way and always raises the back to dump everything out of it. Every time he pulls the lever, he cracks up and runs away from the truck. He either ends up trying to get away by climbing the couch or you, haha.


We are going to another Faith Christmas party tonight at my Mom's house for Christmas Eve. I have not been this excited about Christmas since I was a kid myself. Not that Christmas wasn't important to me during my teens and twenties but it has been rejuvenated for lack of better words. I can't wait to see the little man's face when he comes downstairs on Christmas morning to see all of his presents under the tree. I can't wait to just sit back and watch him dig in! I have actually been driving Jeff crazy as well this year. I am not a very patient person especially when it comes to Christmas. I always want to open presents early and give people their presents right away. But I'm hanging in there, haha. It is Christmas Eve already so.....

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to Everyone!

The Faith Christmas Party

After we left Great-Grandpa Gallagher's house, we headed off to another Christmas party but this time with the Faith family.  My Dad & Stepmom, like last year, decided to have their small family Christmas the weekend before.  It allows everyone to be able to sit, eat, unwrap, socialize, and enjoy themselves without having to worry or run to other houses/dinners/parties.  Not to mention, it also helps alleviate some running and stressing on Christmas Day.  This year, Jeff, Dylan & I, are staying home for Christmas morning to have our own family time together instead of running off to try to squeeze in another Christmas party.  Anyways, so off we were to the Faith residence to visit with grandparents, aunts, and uncles.  Take notice to the HUGE stuffed animal in this picture.  This thing is big, soft, and cuddly.  Dylan spent the next morning climbing, hugging, and tackling the big guy.  I want to know which one of you guys had to carry this thing out of the store or mall, haha?

The Family Photo (left to right & back to front):

Daddy, Dylan, Mommy, Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Dustin, Amanda, Aunt Blake, Aunt Alisha, and Uncle Cameron

Yeah it's a big family and this is just the immediate family, lol.

Blake, Dylan & I.  Wow, apparently I have a double chin issue, haha.  The three of us posing for a picture before the present opening begins.

Dylan & Mommy.  Dylan only had about a 15 minute nap before we arrived at my Dad's house.  I tried to keep him asleep as I carried him in and put him down but Dylan had different plans.  He decided to stay up and was surprisingly not grumpy at all.

Dylan playing with the fire truck that Uncle Cameron bought him for Christmas.   He also got a police car from Uncle Cam.  Both of them have buttons that play lots of sounds and music, haha.

Dylan ripping open some presents.  Every time he ripped off a piece of paper, he would say "Yeaaa!" and look around at everyone.  Of course, everyone repeated him and the cycle continued, haha.

Uncle Dustin opening some of his presents.

Aunt Alisha hanging out.  I like the new hair!

Dylan opening another present while Mommy & Grandma watch. 

 

For a little boy who barely had a nap, he was in quite a good mood.  Must have been all the presents, wrapping paper, and toys, haha.

Bow on the head.  It's just a cute picture.

Dylan & Mommy checking out the new toolbelt set that Uncle Dust & Aunt Alisha bought Dylan for Christmas.  Now he can help Daddy fix anything!

Grandpa Faith & Uncle Cam hanging out.

Dylan playing with his new, motorized, CAT dumptruck.  This thing is pretty awesome, I must admit.  Grandpa Faith even made Dylan some blocks to tow around and dump out.

Thank You all again for the fantastic presents!  Happy Holidays!