Signs of Christmas

We knew there was supposed to be a small tree lighting and Santa visit in our town tonight but couldn't find much about it. Rudy desperately needed a haircut so we went there, which just happens to be across the street from the tree lighting. We managed to time it perfectly and after Rudy's haircut, walked over to sing some carols, see the tree be lit and say hi to Santa.

I didn't get a good picture of Rudy saying hi to Santa but in this picture he is standing directly behind Santa, waiting for him to turn around and Rudy jumping around in anticipation.

After seeing Santa, we took a drive to look at Christmas lights. One house nearby always puts on a huge display with lights that flash to a local radio station. As you can see, Rudy loved it. As we were getting ready to leave, some songs and lines from The Grinch came on.

Random Rudyness

I know I have been absent from blogging (even from FFF - sorry, Patti). There's no real reason for it - just after Thanksgiving and multiple birthday celebrations, we actually had a (relatively) quiet week. I also have a hard time blogging if I don't have pictures taken - just shows how visual of a person I am.

So some random pictures and explanations.
Rudy's new light up slippers. He was so excited when we bought these yesterday. But he wouldn't let me take a picture of him or them. So I suggested HE take a picture and he was all over it.

Tonight Rudy was using a pair of my socks (that I was trying to put away) as tools on his hands. First they were to help him climb and then to help him fly and finally to help him glide.

Here he is flying down the stairs.

Anyone who has read this blog for a while knows that Gato is Rudy's favorite animal. However, months ago, Rudy won this bear, named Beary, and he and Gato are now part of a team.

Rudy recently informed me that Gato is the Mommy, Beary is the Poppy and Kitten (which he got from Grandmom and Gram for Halloween) is the baby. Frequently other animals are called into service as the brother, sister or cousin. Some mornings when he comes downstairs, Rudy is frantically trying to hold three or more animals to bring the whole family down with him.

Boys' Eye View

At the end of the night of Thanksgiving part 2, Max and Rudy got a hold of the camera and this is the result.



















I must say they both did a pretty good job of actually getting people's heads in the pictures. Although I did leave a few blurry ones out.

Four Years Old

Previous birthdays in review:
First birthday- celebrated in Guatemala at the Westin.



Second birthday - home just about a month

Third birthday -

Fourth birthday -

You can really see how much he has thinned out - especially his face - and grown over the years. Our baby is officially a little boy!

A Little Excited

Between Thanksgiving and Rudy's birthday (which is tomorrow) Rudy has been a little crazy and excited lately. Being home all day today just added to the energy he had; so he was very wound up all day.

Here he is demonstrating how he would glide from building to building as Batman (or Spiderman, maybe). He started at the door, holding the handle, let go and would jump to catch one balloon string, jump to catch the other string and then jump one more time and let them both go.

An expression we see very often - an eye roll.

Being goofy - he was playing the ottoman as if it was drums.

All dressed up and still crazy -

Finally we went to Aunt Pat's for dinner. There Rudy got to hang out with Neil (and missed Sean since he had to work).

We also celebrated his birthday with everyone there since they didn't come to his roller skating party.

Ready to spray the barking dog (or whoever else got in the way).

Rudy HAD to have Neil sit next to him. (I don't know what that strange cloud in the picture is - there wasn't any hot food on the table yet.)

Getting ready to blow out his candle on his cupcakes (with Arial wrappers).

Sitting with Uncle Neil and playing a new game he got for his Leapster.

A Discovery

Today while Paul and Rudy were outside, Rudy made an amazing discovery that he had to show Paul. He pulled Paul over to the back of our yard and showed him this:

I believe it is from a plant called a lantern or Chinese Lantern. Usually there is a red flower/ leaf around the berry inside but the rest of it fell off and just the berry was left.

He also had a lot of fun blowing the seeds off of different plants.

A New Friend

Paul's friend, Paul, has been in town visiting from Hawaii. We were able to spend a few different days with Paul and he and Rudy really hit it off. I've never heard Rudy have such conversations with anyone else. He would talk to Paul about his Halloween candy and ask him what his favorite candy was. Or he would ask questions about whether he had any kids and why or why not. It was fun to see.

Circumstances being the way they are, this was the first time Paul has met Rudy and the affection was mutual. For most of the time Paul was visiting Rudy would say something about Paul and then clarify, not Poppy, his friend, Paul.

I'm not sure how much more we'll see Paul on this visit, maybe someday we can visit him in Hawaii. But until then, at least we have a few pictures to remember Rudy's new friend.