Thursday, January 20, 2011

Christmas 2010

Hi! It's Brandon again. I want to tell you about my 2nd Christmas! This was a very special Holiday season because I started talking a lot more during those few weeks! And I got to spend some quality time with lots of family and friends.

Here is the tree we had in our house in Kansas. Mommy and Daddy thought I would want to touch all the ornaments and pull on the tree, but I was such a good boy! The only think I did was go up to it, point and say, "Tee!" I occasionally poked at a couple of ornaments too, but that's ok, right? None of them fell off...

On December 22 (Daddy's birthday) we flew to SC. Unlike our trip down for Thanksgiving, we didn't get bumped to 1st class because the planes were too small, so it was a pretty exhausting day for all of us - especially me because I didn't even get a nap! Mommy was sick too, so she was miserable on the flights, but we made it.

This is in front of Mimi and Papa's Christmas tree with my monkey that I sometimes call "Gigi."

Here I am with Papa. I love to say "Papa!"
and with my only cousin, Drew (who is 18). I can also say, "Drew." I learned to say almost everyone's name over the Christmas break.

That's Biscuit. The one on the right, I mean. She doesn't like me and pretended the whole 2 weeks that I wasn't there. Apparently this pig is better company. Even though it was difficult, I left her alone (after being told several times that I should not bother her) and we all got along just fine.

Here are some pictures from Christmas Day!

I loved taking things out of my stocking! I kept wanting to put them back in, though.

This picture is kind of dark, but don't I look cute in my Christmas hat? Mommy and Daddy figured out that I was happy sitting in my booster seat to open presents and play with them, and that kept me from running around the house getting into everything else. That tractor was in my stocking, and I started saying "tractor" after playing with it.

This is my great uncle Tim (Mimi's brother). He got me this cool wooden stacking toy for Christmas that I just love! Who needs toys with batteries? Keep it simple people.

Here is part of that toy! I really loved all of the presents that I got and spent a long time playing with each one. I think that made everyone who gave me the gifts feel good. What can I say, I am a gentleman.

Here I am all spiffed up for Christmas dinner (holding part of my wooden toy).

Here are most of the ladies that I love: Cioci Kalina (Daddy's sister), Mommy, Mimi, Aunt Kiki (Mommy's sister), and Aunt Fer Fer (Kiki's sister-in-law). Unfortunately my Babcia had the flu the WHOLE time I was in SC. She couldn't even hold me or spend much time with me, and it was so sad not to get to be with her! That's why she isn't in this picture.


Here are some pictures from the days after Christmas:

On December 26th, we all met up with some of Mommy's friends from high school for brunch. This is Shelley, Cori, and Rebecca. Shelly and Rebecca are both going to have a baby this coming summer! I was such a good boy at brunch...the best I've ever been in a restaurant. I had whole tables of people come up to me and tell me how cute and good I am. Ha! They should see me at home!

This is my wujek (uncle) Stefan and Daddy. We celebrated their birthdays at Babcia and Dziadzia's house the night of the 26th with a dinner and beer tasting. My Cioci Kalina made a great dinner (well so I hear...I only wanted to eat graham crackers and peanut butter...one of my staples). The crowns on their head were from those funny little party "poppers" that have prizes and a crown in them.

I did a good job of keeping everyone entertained during dinner.

By the way, have you seen all my teeth lately?

Here are all the different beers that were part of the beer tasting.
Can you believe they drank all that beer?

Here is everyone who was there.

On December 28th, some people got together at Mimi and Papa's house. It was a beautiful evening, but really cold!

Papa wanted to have an oyster roast because Stefan had never had oysters before, and everyone in the Lowcountry has oyster roasts throughout the fall and winter. Usually you do it outside, but we stayed in the garage because it was so cold!
Here they are! Hot out of the steamer. Yummy! (well that's what they all said. I didn't try any. Maybe next year.)

Mommy's friend Cori came to hang out with us! I really like Cori. She makes me laugh.

Papa! What's all over your face?! It's Cheerios! Give me one of those!

I love my Mommy and Mimi! I was pulling their necks into me in a double hug and wouldn't let go, so they just had to get a picture because I'm so lovable and cute. Even Biscuit looks like she wanted in on that action! Actually Biscuit was probably just concerned because her mommy (Mimi) wasn't paying attention to her.

Here's my Dziadzia!

On the 29th, Mommy and Daddy went to Savannah for the night and left me with Mimi and Papa. Here is where they stayed, the Planter's Inn.

This is the fountain in Forsyth Park.

Here is one of the many Squares in downtown Savannah. The Spanish Moss hanging from the trees in the Lowcountry is so neat and beautiful.

This is on a walk on Pinkney Island. We went with Dziadzia.

New Years Eve! This is Chris & Shelley (Mommy's friend from high school), Cioci Kalina, and Mommy & Daddy.

Daddy and his sister.

Well, that's about it! We had a great time hanging out with family and friends! We just wish Babcia had been feeling better so we could have seen her more, and we wish we could see all these great people more often!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Thanksgiving 2010

Hi Everyone! I can't believe I haven't told you about my 2nd Thanksgiving and Christmas yet! Mommy and Daddy lost their camera, so they didn't get many pictures over Thanksgiving, but I'll show you some that Mimi and Papa took.

Mommy, Daddy, and I went to South Carolina for a week! We started in Hilton Head visiting Mimi & Papa and Babcia and Dziadzia. Then we went to Charleston for Thanksgiving and spent the weekend there with my Aunt Kiki, Uncle Andy, and cousin Drew.

The weather was so great the whole time...in the 70's! So, I got to spend a lot of time playing outside.

One of the coolest parts of our trip was getting there! On all the flights to and from SC except one, we got bumped up to first class! It was Mommy's first time ever. I discovered that I am definitely first class material for the following reasons:
- I really need some extra leg room to kick my feet (without enraging the person in front of me).
- I like having a little room on the floor to play.
- I love setting my toys on the little table between the seats.
- I like to be offered a snack multiple times during the flight
- And probably most importantly, Mommy and Daddy seem to put up with me a lot better after having a couple free drinks.

So, I hope the airlines can continue to accommodate my needs on future flights and support the traveling lifestyle to which I have grown accustomed.

Here are a few pictures from the week.

"Just call me Little Piano Man."

"Here Mimi. You look like you need a Cheerio."

"Check out my cool life jacket! We got to go for a boat ride on Papa's sailboat!"


"Look! I'm driving the boat!"

"I wonder what this button does..."

"I love driving the boat with my Papa!"


Bye Bye for now!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Halloween Fun

Let me tell you about my 2nd Halloween! I had way more fun this year.
The weekend before Halloween Mommy, Daddy, and I went to the pumpkin patch at Stone Pillar Winery, which is close to our house.

Did you know I can run?

Look at all these pumpkins!
Check out my cool gourd!

You're probably wondering what this picture is doing here....Well, that's my monkey I'm sleeping with, and I LOVE my monkey! I love my monkey so much that Mommy and Daddy thought it would be a good idea for me to BE a monkey for Halloween!

Cute, huh?

On Halloween we went over to a friend's house to hang out with some friend's from church.
It was fun playing in the backyard! (and I love my Mommy by the way!)

Hey Daddy...how come this lawn mower isn't working? I am supposed to ride on it, right?

We went trick or treating with our friends! I loved running around outside in my monkey suit! I wasn't too interested in going up to people's houses, and I didn't really care about what they were giving me, but Mommy and Daddy were excited about what I got!

Come on Daddy! There's no time for pictures!
Thanks for sharing my Halloween fun with me! I can't wait for next year.

Half Marathon 2010

On October 16th, Krzysztof, his dad, and his sister Kalina ran the Half Marathon in Kansas City. His mom walked the 5K with Brandon in the stroller. Valerie was in Santa Barbara spending time with her friend Shelley.

Here are all the athletes! You can see that the 5K wore Brandon right out!

Here are KZ's parents.

And the Half Marathon finishers.


The next day all of them went to Stone Pillar Winery, which is down the road from us in Olathe. Brandon is enjoying hanging out with his Dziadzia...

and his Cioci Kalina

Brandon loved running around the vineyard!

What a happy boy!