Who would have thought?

The moms of only girls - with only grandsons!  So fun to see little Carson David (Roy) Groendal and his mom, Whitney and Gramma Michele.

 Holden entertained until he conked himself out.

Cute girls and their cute babies - Carson is only 10 weeks old and is almost as big as Griffin.

Griffin is thinking "hey, dude, you look more like my brother than my brother."

Tea Party

How can you not love a man who will sit down to tea with a little boy?

Blueberries, party mix and water actually.  

Connor insisted in sitting in the doll high chair.  I especially love the girl with her cell phone on the table who joined them.

Connor LOVES the mini champagne glasses we brought home when cleaning out 310 Valley Drive - and the Snap, Crackle Pop plates - thanks MJ.

These little blue chairs were from nursery Sunday school class at First Baptist in Helena.  Six of them packed in my suitcase on the last trip! And yes, Fred can still sit on them.

Serving one blueberry at a time.

"Papa, you ate my blueberry"

Love you boys and your tea party.

Winter Chores

Even when he has a grandson along, it is raining cats and dogs and it is cold outside, Papa never sits still.  C doesn't care - he is ready to join in any work in the garage.  

 One task completed:  "winterize" the "mow mow."

Ready to Toast to the New Year?

Snappy had to work but Papa got to spend the day with Connor.  They might not see each other until next year so they 'toasted" to the New Year.

Saving the Best for Last

At some point in early November, when asked what he wanted for Christmas, Dustin said in his best Eyore voice, "ahhh nothin', I don't need any gifts."  Well, that left some planning to do.  D teases Elizabeth and Michael for playing in the band so these two concocted a plan.  Elizabeth dug out her old flute from the attic, Michael dug out his old clarinet from his parent's house and they began practicing a duet as a gift to D.  Google provided prefect easy music for Michael every night to Connor's pleasure.  Elizabeth on the other hand found practice much harder with two babies and D around.  She claims her flute only makes one note, which we thought was all her but have since decided that all the pads have shrunk while in the attic and it really does only play one note.  AND then she conveniently forgot it on Christmas morning.  Never one to shirk his duty, when the presents were all opened, Michael told D he had one last gift.  He busted out the clarinet and played us several tunes.  We laughed, and sang along and Connor would raise one finger and declare "ONE MO!"  Well played Michael!  It was the best.

Christmas 2011 is now history.  This one bears repeating - What a blessed, merry Christmas!

Go Connor Go

Thanks MJ for all the new rides.  Papa decided that putting together that tricycle would be a perfect activity for Michael.  Poor Connor, he was ready to GO.

 Finally, he hit the sidewalk.

Not exactly a formal dinner

On Christmas morning, everyone arrived at Snappy and Papa's for a delicious brunch (bacon, sausage, egg casserole, fruit, cheese grits, coffee cake) followed by cookies, party mix and snacks - sooo many new sights and sounds, only a few short naps just left us trying to make it to dinner (Prime rib, ham, potato gratin, green bean bundles)

 At some point Holden lost his messy shirt and started to chew on the charger.

 Then he practice blowing raspberries.

 And we ended up with a shirtless, drooling boy.

And another one cozy on Snappy's lap while she ate with one hand.

Elizabeth said it was probably not what Snappy envisioned - but Snappy says it is even better than she imagined.

Papa's Big Idea

Papa got so caught up in the boy toy shopping that he bought the twins swords and shields.  Five month olds...swords and shields...really.  

Snappy was buying doll houses and Papa was buying swords.

 Connor and Michael were ready to try them out.

Boy Toys

Never, ever, ever did Snappy and Papa think they would see a living room full of boy toys.  There was every kind of riding toy you could think of.

 And awesome vehicles that make crazy noises - even when you don't touch them.  How do you turn these things OFF?

 There were cars.

 And tools.

 And yes, seriously there are M&Ms in that Connor !

 There were tents and teepees and tubes for climbing in.

 And little boys playing rat-a-tat-a-tat, rum-a-tum-tum.

 Papa smiled through it all.

 Holden helped him open his tools.

 Then the babies slept through most of the present opening - despite the noise.

  Holden, is definitely learning to say "Back away from my toys Connor!"

But when C had the chance, he couldn't decide which one of his cousins new rides to choose. He decided to straddle them both - take that Holden!

It's not a "Doll" House

It's a Fire /Police House.  Complete with a kitchen, bedroom, helicopter pad, dogs, fire truck, motorcycle, office, exercise room basketball court and ...

The potty and bathtub.  Call it what you will, Snappy was happy to get this close to being able to buy a "doll" house.

The Children Were All Snuggled

Or at least getting ready to snuggle all safe in their beds, while Holden is saying "enough with this nice stuff, GIVE ME THAT TOY Connor!"

 And Griffin, is just thinking "NO, please don't make us sit through another one of your photo shoots.  I am so tired of wearing this Santa hat."

Maybe there were visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads.