Out of the Sand

While in Galveston we spent much time on the beach but some of my favorite moments were just conversations in the car, silly or cuddly moments in our condo and a few of the sand-free tourist stops.







We had a blast touring the rain forest at Moody Gardens, especially the butterfly exhibit.



G could have stayed there for hours just trying to catch one.

The animals were amazing, terrifying, interesting and beautiful all at the same time.



Since it was a week day and school is back in session, we were one of the only families there that day. We got lots of attention from the staff. It was neat to learn fun facts about the animals and to have someone point out some of the harder to spot creatures. After a lesson on bats, G decided he wanted to try doing things upside down for a while.



He kept assuming this position and announcing, "I'm a bat!". Funny kid!

We even got to see a Dora movie in 4-D! It was a new experience for all of us and I think we were all caught off guard at the first blast of mist in our faces as Dora flew her plane under a waterfall.





G also took his first swing at Putt-Putt Golf in Galveston.



Yep, Hole-in-One on his first swing! He's a natural!

After playing one round he asked to "Play Putt-Putt right now?" repeatedly. Even at 8 am the next morning he was asking me if we could go play putt-putt. The last night of vacation we obliged with a trip to another one of the local putt-putt courses. Although there was no hole-in-one that night, we still had lots of fun.



Yep, that is the best the lady at the course could do.
Yep, I played putt-putt like that.
Yep, G has started saying yep. He draws is out. It's hilarious.

It was memorable family vacation. A week together, uninterrupted is a beautiful thing. We are all looking forward to future family vacations, possibly even back to (as G calls it) our little yellow Galveston house.

Outtakes

So in trying to get a cute picture of G for the Christmas card I ended up with nothing. Not one single Christmas card worthy picture! But I do find my attempts and the results entertaining. Hopefully you will too.

First Idea - Christmas PJ's, Christmas Tree and a big ole Christmas lollipop





Results - Sticky house and sticky kid too interested in lollipop to smile

On to the Second Idea - Christmas PJ shirt (he had already changed into his pants for the day), coffee cup full of marshmallows to keep him interested





Result - nearly broken coffee mug and mouth full of marshmallow pics

This is when I knew my attempts were over...



One darling moment - G has started hugging his stuffed animals. He also tells me shhh! sometimes when he is holding them. It is so sweet! Although this monkey was in need of a bath following this sticky hug.



Oh Well! Going a different direction with the Christmas card, but at least we got a good laugh at how uncooperative a 1 year old can be.

Up To

Our little man is up to 16 months now! (Well when I started writing this blog he was. Now he is almost 17 months.)

A few other things he is up to...

14 teeth!

Making animal sounds... horse, elephant, dog, owl, cow and just this morning a cat

Pretending to be a monkey, elephant, frog, fish, turtle, giraffe, dancing machine

Making funny faces... 1, 2, 3... Funny Face! This is the usually result.



Helping around the house





Repeating words all day... shoes, off, door, thank you, good job, catch, touch down

Running, kicking and throwing like a champ!

Having a ball with friends



Talking on the phone and by phone I mean anything, really anything, that he can make into a phone. Some recent examples are a rice cake, calculator, octopus, and baseball game ticket. Love his imagination!

He really is a little sponge these days and although he doesn't say a ton of words he is always talking to us and the amount of things/requests he understands blows us away. He is still an unusually goofy kid and LOVES to make people laugh, like someone else I know. He has also started screaming with laughter when something is really funny, like Daddy trying to juggle. We are totally smitten with his precious, quirky soul!