Where We Welcome 2009

....and we finally arrive back at our house!

A Graves Family Christmas

Can you spot Elijah amongst all these gifts?
Elijah got a motorcycle - one which was reminiscent of our Dairy Queen experience.
We started the morning with delicious sausage balls. Elijah was, for a time, more interested in his sausage balls than in his presents.
Elijah wanted to see what everyone got~:-)

Opening 12 month frames for all the grandkids:

A big fire truck!
Grammie & I received super-cute, monogrammed aprons from Laura.
Baby Luke got a few fun presents, including a super cute monkey.
Grammie gave Lil' Pepper an outfit. Can you guess what she wants us to have?


Tonka trucks!!!

Elijah is unable to reach the pedals...yet.
After our gift frenzy, we headed to Charlie Daniels Park.
Daddy & Elijah dug in the dirt with a "digger."
Elijah drove the tractor,....
...swang for a long time,....
...and learned how to go down the slide.
We also found a ship in which to play.

What a fun time!

Back to the Home State

We headed back to our State after leaving Baby Bella, although we didn't quite make it back to our house. Grammie & Grampa took us to Dairy Queen to start off the Christmas festivities. It was there that Elijah was exposed to his first arcade game. HE LOVED IT. He would wave at the cars on the screen and pretend to drive it. It was hilarious because he doesn't usually care at all for anything on a screen. Little did we know that this was the perfect preparation for one of his Christmas gifts. Elijah stood between us for better sampling capabilities. Grammie & Grampa went crazy with their dipped cones. The next morning, Grammie let Elijah help make banana bread while Eric & I went to the gym. I did an aerobics class in a little room with mirrors all along the front. I was wearing a big t-shirt, which was not-big-at-all around my belly, and standing in the front row. Halfway through the class, the instructor runs over to me and yells into her little headset microphone, "Honey! You be careful! I just noticed that you are ....with child...Are you ok?" I just stared at her because I could not figure out how she "just noticed" my enormous belly. Then I just wanted to laugh at her attempt to be discrete by saying "with child" as she yelled into her headset.

Elijah enjoyed the Christmas tree (Don't touch!!!), the space, the toys, and the new playmates at Grammie & Grampa's. Daddy taught Elijah to ride on his back, despite the over-crowded-with-presents living room situation.Elijah loved this new game, which continued through all rooms of the house.

Bye, Bye Lynchburg

When it was time to head home, we were all sad to leave. Elijah was sure to miss Aunt Ab and being able to eat popcorn on the couch. Bella was really going to miss having me there.
Most of all, Elijah was going to miss "Jooooooeeeee! Joooooooeeeeee!! Jooooooeeeee!!!" Here Joe and Elijah reading another book and playing another round of Honk!:

We miss you guys a lot. Come see us soon!!!!

Playing

David & Connie watched the kiddos so we could go on a quick double date. It was a real treat although, sadly, Country Kitchen was closed for the day. We ate some yummy BBQ instead. I even had time to straighten my hair that day!Grandpa came up later that day to join in the Christmas fun. He got to open his own little pile of presents with Elijah's help. The requested telescoping back-scratcher....

...and some vitamins were big hits (at least with Elijah).
Daddy played with Elijah on the big rocking horse. Elijah worked on saying/squealing "giddy up!"

Connie was super nice and read many a book to Elijah. This is, by the way, the path to capturing Eljiah's affections. (Well, books and food.)
Poppa came to visit! He is quite a character and was thrilled to meet his new great-granddaughter. The McKinley men with a dash of pink charm: