Finishing Christmas by Denny Lynn

I like to get presents, but I also like to give them! This year, Mama and I made a blanket for John. Mama did the cutting, but I helped tie the fringe. It has a horse, a cow, a lamb and a tractor on it and it will match his room.

I also got some presents for Teddy! I found a bean bag chair just his size! Since it is getting cold, and I don’t like for Teddy to have to wear old baby jackets, I got him his very own jacket. We looked and looked for something Teddy size and finally, Grandma suggested we go to the Teddy Section (aka: the Pet Aisle) and we found just the right thing.

I wrapped them up and put them under the tree – I hope Teddy will be surprised – even though I kind of already showed him the presents.

One Year Old Today! by John Lee

So for my birthday I got an ear infection and horrible diaper rash! Mama and Daddy and Denny took me to the doctor and they gave me medicine, which contributed to the diaper rash – but we got a popsicle when we left. I felt so bad I just wanted Mama to hold me. On the rare occasion she could put me down, I mostly sat in my cow chair. Snuggling with Mama gave me Whoville hair – luckily no Grinches around so far!

I felt better today, but not 100%. I hung out in the big boy bed with Bubba – after all, I am a big boy today!

I even had more presents to open - thank you Grandma & Grandpa!

I did get to go for my first ride as a big boy with my seat facing forward. It was pretty exciting to see out the window and watch Mama – until I fell asleep that is.

Even feeling poorly, I have to say, one is the best age I have ever been!

It is Finally Christmas by Denny Lynn

With John’s party done, it was finally time to decorate! I helped Mama put up the tree and decorate it. For some reason she didn’t get out the breakable ornaments, but she did get some candy canes for us to put on the tree, John alternated putting them on and taking them off.

 John helped pick out some ornaments to fill things in.

We got out Tigger and Pooh to go by the front door. I really like Pooh's big pencil for checking off his Christmas list.

I got to help put out a very special nativity – my great-Grandma Denny made it! I put out Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus.

We don’t have lots and lots of decorations this year, but enough to feel like Christmas!

Happy Birthday, Mason by Denny Lynn

Saturday was Mason’s birthday! He had a party in the afternoon after we had John’s in the morning. I wrapped a present for just for him – a shark hot wheels track!

It was a hammer head shark party – pretty cool!

They had a jumping balloon with a slide – I really like that. John mostly hung out with Aunt Nette, but me and Teddy slid and slid and slid with the big kids.

Then Etienne and I ate fruit loops and gold fish out of the ladle.

There was a shark piñata, but it was pretty scary – I finally decided to hit it – Mama wasn’t fast enough to get a photo, but I told him he was a “Bad Shark” and gave him a whack! It was way fun and I hope Mason had a great birthday. John and I are glad we could go to his party.

Happy Birthday, John by Denny Lynn

I was well prepared to celebrate John’s birthday, even though it isn’t my birthday. I know my birthday is in February and I will be three. You can ask me – I will tell you! I helped make cookies with Grandma – they where animal cookies to go in the goody bags and on the table.

I also helped decorate and set everything up. It is pretty exciting to have a party at our house! I was ready when the party started – I even dressed to match my little brother in our farmer outfits.

Aunt Nette helped me make a cow puppet.

I played all the games – cow pie toss, animal charades and herd the animals – I got my pig in the barn just by using the stick.

I got to help John blow out his candle and sing Happy Birthday. I even got him a special pillow pet – I have been telling Mama for a month that John needs a frog pillow pet, but when we went shopping I picked out a dog – John has his very own puppy now! I was such a good big brother helping with the party that when it was over Grandma gave me a remote control Percy train – very exciting stuff!

I am glad I have a little brother – mostly!

Happy Birthday to Me!! by John Lee

I am one year old, well almost! I got to have a special farm birthday party to celebrate! Mama made me tractor cakes and hay bales. We decorated the table like a real farm with vegetable rows and everything! There was a big banner with my name on it and even a picture of me!

Lots of friends and family came to make it a great day! They did crafts – including making a farm animal puppet and decorating their own water bottle like a cow to make Moo Juice!

Mama had games for us to play, too! We had a cow pie toss and a balloon animal roundup – we even played animal charades and everyone made animal sounds! I hope everyone had fun playing the games and getting prizes from the basket!

I had the most fun stealing the hula hoop and the balloons!

I blew out my candle while everyone sang happy birthday to me! It was pretty exciting. Then it was time for cake. I tasted it, but my favorite thing was eating the chocolate bar that Mama used to make the windows!

After cake it was time for presents – and there were presents! I even told Etienne - look at all those presents!

I got distracted by the punching horse Uncle Shawn brought – it was too fun – but Mama and Daddy helped get me back on track.

There were so many wonderful things, including toy bins and an Elmo plane from Grandma and Grandpa and my own beach towel from Holly and Eli. Mama and Daddy got me my own big boy chair like Denny’s – mine is black and white like a cow.

Nana and Papa sent me a ride on tractor like Denny’s – I was very excited!! Now we can have tractor races!

I gave everybody feed sacks to thank them for coming and candy tractors that Mama had made. It was a great day and I am so thankful for my wonderful friends and family! A special thank you to Uncle Shawn for taking all the pictures!

Rudolph by Denny Lynn

Grandma and Grandpa came to see us for John’s birthday party, but they brought us both a special present to share! It is a Rudolph storybook, but it is all recorded and being read by Grandma & Grandpa. John and I both love it. Now we can have Grandma & Grandpa read to us anytime we want!