Santa Clause x2

Carson needed all his fruits (and I guess some veggies) to get through a big week.


There were multiple meetings with Santa, including this housecall from the LAPD's Santa.


Carson wasn't above travelling to see the man in red. Here we ride Travel Town's train to the North Pole.


The North Pole in LA County apparently has one of the localized snowstorms, covering roughly 15 square feet. It was enough snow to make Laura's smile appear blindingly white.


While this looks like a common Christmas tree lot, it was actually just Carson and I hiding behind the North Pole display while waiting in the Santa line.


Eventually we did get our second visit of the week with Santa. Carson was tight lipped on what he wanted, though he did reintroduce him to his most famous reindeer of all.


We ended the weekend with a family breakfast of blueberry pancakes.

More Christmas Prep

While we don't have many pictures it was an activity filled week.


St. Nick arrived last weekend, bringing with him a new soccer ball. Don't worry, that's just the replica world cup ball, not the real thing.


As if he need more reasons to like fruit: Laura gave Carson his first smoothie this week.


With the first real rain of the year coming to LA, Carson made the most of his hand-me-down rain gear.


Fortunately everything had dried out in time for the Manhattan Beach Holiday Festival. Carson was impressed that the big guy actually made an appearance.


We finished the weekend watching the MB holiday fireworks.

More Fun with Grandma and Grampa

Grandma and Grampa slid back into town for some more fun with Carson



There was time to read books


And time to sing songs


And don't forget the time necessary for general silliness


But by the end of the week it was chilly and we needed to bundle Carson up


So that we could load up in the family truckster and get the tree. If you want to see how big Carson has gotten in a year, have a look at last year's shot here


We're all pretty excited for Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving

We do think he is gifted...

With all the visitors over Thanksgiving week you'd think Laura could have gotten somebody to take a picture for her.


After all, Aunt Caroline was here...


as was Uncle Jeff.


We even had Motown legend Stevie wonder stop by to read to Carson.


As usual, we put Carson to work before the guests all arrived.


Carson also learned that when relatives visit you have to drive them all over town.


In the end we did manage a decent Morris family pic...


and try as he might, Carson couldn't find a lump in his potatoes.

Hutchison Wedding in Chicago

For the first time in the history of the blog Carson participated in almost entirely separate activities than I did this week, so I'm not sure exactly how much info I can impart about his week.


Before we left for our Midwestern adventure Carson assisted in the kitchen, getting his skills sharp for the old fashioned family thanksgiving we'll be hosting in a couple of weeks.


While our activities were separate, the whole family still spent the weekend in Chicago. Carson entertained his Pops during a visit to the Brookfield Zoo.


While I was busy groomsmanning for Tony and Donna Hutchison's wedding.


As if the zoo wasn't enough excitement, our hotel also contained a waterpark, which Carson seemed to enjoy.


Carson's friend Drew Meurer (and mom Liz) wasn't as lucky, and had to take in the ceremony.


Meanwhile Carson got to sip some soda (not really, I think/hope it was milk or water).


Laura and I looked good, although hopefully I had used up my better smiles in the pictures earlier in the day.


We finished the weekend together, enjoying some lace cookies that Ging-ging sent home with us.

Only Missing the Blue Hat

We didn't have many pictures this week, but we did have a bit of a photographic essay after dinner on Sunday, so that's going to make up the bulk of this post. Laura had stopped at Beckers, the Manhattan Beach bakery that you may remember from last Halloween, and bought some treats for dessert. With apologies to Mo Willems, here's how it went down.


Is that a cookie?


Not a cookie, MY COOKIE!


Yummy Yummy Yummy!


This is a taste sensation.


Each morsel is a joy.


A celebration with frosting.


If you've never experienced the splendor of a cookie you really should.

C is also for Carson

It was nice to spend a quiet weekend around the house for a change.


A dead camera battery cut down on the pics this week, but that didn't stop Elmo from forcing his way into some photos, sometimes even twice at once.


It's not like we didn't get out and about though.


The whole family was able to take in a Halloween inspired music together class...


As well as heading down to El Segundo's Halloween Frolic in search of some cookies.


Which led to this meeting of old friends.