Part II: Dinner

A long awaited time is almost over - it is dinner time and then all the kids get to open their presents at once.

Here is the dinner table all set up and ready for the feast!

Emily is all ready for dinner - she was super excited - she even helped her mommy with the desserts.

Mommy & I.  It was my naptime - so I wasn't sure how long I will hold up.

Emily with her daddy, Chris.

Grandpa Young - he worked so hard to get everything in perfect order and served everyone - he forgot to take off his apron.  Thanks, Grandpa.

Christmas Eve at Grandpa & Grandma's - Part I: Countdown

At Grandpa and Grandma Young's house, it is a tradition to have a dinner and present opening session on Christmas Eve.  So, counting down to Christmas Eve begins.

While I took a nap, mommy & daddy made some bread and cinnamon buns for the dinner. They brought all the ingredients from Utah.  Daddy was quite happy to explain how they learned to make this easy bread that even he couldn't mess up.

Daddy is cleaning once the bread is in the oven.

Here is the end result. Yum!!!

I am enjoying all the toys grandpa & grandma has.  And oh boy, they do have plenty!

Cousin Connor spent the morning of Christmas Eve with me - we watched some Christmas movies together.

While they got ready for the PARTY, I was content figuring out all the animal noises.

Cousin Emily, aunt Barbara, mom and me. Aunt Barbara is Grandma Young's sister. She came bearing presents for me and was very happy to meet me. Wow - am I famous or what? " :-)

Well, the parts II & III are coming - hold your horses folks!

Christopher in Northridge, CA

After my sleep in another place again, we visited some more people today and had some more adventure. Like I keep telling you folks, I am not sure if I can keep up with names or even faces.

Aunt Mary and I. She said I was strong and handsome. 

Cousin Matt - is he my second cousin? Hmm - not sure. 

Cousin Matt is holding me and we are with cousin Ryan (Matt's brother) and cousin Patty (their mom). Well, Patty is dad's cousin - so that makes it all of them are related to me - somehow cousins, second cousins or what not.  

Daddy took me outside and we walked around the pool. He has a picture of him as a baby by this exact same pool with his mommy.

We tested the water - not recommended for swimming at this time of the year - it was cold.  I prefer my whale tub. 

Uncle Bill and me.

Wow, another fun day and I am pooped - and need my nap before my dinner and play and bath and bed time for the night.  Tomorrow is Christmas Eve - so I get to open some presents: a tradition at grandpa & grandma's house - will see how I manage that.

Christopher in Sherman Oaks, CA

It was Wednesday morning - after mommy & daddy came back from their exercise, I helped mommy pack. Yay - we are on our way to meet more relatives.

Here I am hanging out in their bed watching mommy pack. Daddy moved everything from third floor down the stair and around the corner to the parking lot. 

Then, we drove close to an hour to Sherman Oaks to grandpa & grandma Young's house.  

They had plenty toys.  This one was interesting - I got to jump up and down and play some music too.

It is a bouncy but I get to propel it.  

It rained and rained some more.  Our car got washed.  

Another toy to stand up and move around and push buttons. 

Time to hang out with grandpa. 

After the long rain, daddy took pictures of the rainbow! 

Mommy had a busy evening wrapping presents for grandpa and grandma. 

My aunt Michelle and her two daughters: Emily and Ella - my cousins. 

Cousin Emily holding me and grandpa's hand is there just to make sure I don't get dropped.

Well, another busy day with meeting and being held by plenty people. Some more meet and greet are to come!

Visit with Auntie Baysa

Auntie Baysa is mommy's friend from her college days and she is Mongolian too. She lives in Long Beach - so today she came over to visit with us - well, she wanted to meet me.

But, as time kept ticking and I was tired so I took a nap and she showed up while I was having a nice dream.

Mommy and auntie Baysa 

They caught up in what is going on in their lives while I slept and daddy went out for take out PF Chang's.  After their dinner, she was ready to play with me.

She kind of woke me up - oh well, I guess I will let her since it is her first time seeing me.  

I guess I am wide awake - she was giggly and happy to see me, and just wanted to hold me tight and snuggle up to me.  

Here she is giving me some interesting advice - will have to see if I should follow it or not.  Hmm. . . I think she wanted to take me home, but, I was tired and ready for my bath and she was flying out tomorrow.  I think I will be seeing her more though - she liked me, I think, and wants to come visit me.  So, I guess, I will be seeing her in Utah.

But, hey I got relatives in California so I will be back here and as long as she shows up on time, she can spend a lot of time with me without travelling far.

Well, it is very late and I am ready for my sleep. Goodnite and will post more tomorrow.

Visit with Uncle Newt

Few more family members I got to meet before our next trip tomorrow - this time to Sherman Oaks.

So, our last day in Torrance, mommy & daddy had more planned for me. Of course, they went on their daily exercises, and what not, then we had lunch with Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Newt.  Well, they are dad's aunt and uncle.

Aunt Evelyn and me.  She gave me a little puppy that I can wind up to play music.  I can turn the knob quite yet, so mommy had to help me.  But, soon I will be making music myself. 

After their long conversation, daddy and uncle Newt are taking pictures with me. 

Uncle Newt and me.  Oops - my belly is showing - well, I am a little kid so, I am sure, it is ok.

So, more families to meet tomorrow and day after and day after that.  Hope I will figure out who is related to who and all that. If I don't remember you, just know it is not my fault - I am a little kid.

Another day in Rainy Torrance

Another day in Rainy Southern California: I woke up before dawn, ate and went back to bed.  Evidently mommy & daddy took turns exercising and by the time mommy got back we had an invitation to visit another of dad's cousins. 

They were happy to visit with family and woke me up - I wasn't too happy since my nap got cut short and they got me in the car before they fed me.  Well, since nobody seemed to drive well in the rain, we were moving slow and with my insistence, mommy fed me.  I think they are beginning to listen to me, I HOPE.

Here I am with another of daddy's cousin Colleen (Their parents were not that original with names, I think - but still both of them were nice, so I will just have to figure out nicknames for each.) 

Harold - he was real nice to me too; he said I was funny and cute, of course.  He played with me and even lifted me up and all.

They were real nice and their house smelled yummy.  In a year or two, if we come back around here for Christmas, can I stay with them - I might be allowed to have cookies and cake for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  :-) 

Every Christmas they make plates and plates full of goodies as Christmas presents.  

Don't they look yummy? 

Colleen and dad.  

Colleen, dad and Harold. 

Another cool thing about them is, they have SOOO many toys.  I definitely think they like to play and have fun.  See I could totally visit them often.  

Back at the hotel and this picture is after few outfit changes.   

Even got them changing the bedding.  I am sure they will have different story to tell than mine - so I will let them. But, eventually, when I can talk, I will set it straight. Till then, enjoy listening to their cute stories about me.