Mommy and I got out in the garden last weekend to do some planting. First we had to make sure the soil was ready to go. I got to break up all of the really big dirt clods, and make sure things were smooth and level.

Then we planted some potatoes.

I can’t wait until we can eat the ones we grow. Mommy is such a good gardener!

The other evening we all went out to Mary’s. This was my first time going out to a restaurant.

Maybe next time I’ll be awake to experience it.

Baby brother is here! Boy is he cute!

And small.

I visited Mommy and baby brother in the hospital. I was very excited to see them!

I’m looking forward to when baby brother comes home. And gets a name. Maybe M&D will do that soon!

(Ed. Note: Baby brother was born 1/12/13 at 10:17am, 6lbs, 6oz. 19 1/4 inches.)

(Update: M&D have named my new brother: Andrew Wilson Stark. Yay!)

Now that I’m 4 1/2, outgrowing my old bed, and expecting a new baby brother, M&D decided that it was time for me to get a new big bed.

And along with my new bed I have cool new truck sheets and a construction machines comforter!  Hopefully they won’t be so noisy as to keep me awake at night!

Here I am trying it out for the first time.

This post is a bit late, but better late than never right?

While we were visiting Ma and Pa’s, I got to visit with my favorite cousin Avery.

We arranged some pretty rocks on the bench out back.  And we got to eat lunch together.

The best part was when Uncle John set us up to make gingerbread houses.  We had gingerbread, frosting, M&M’s, marshmallows, gumdrops,… the works!

And the really best part?  We got to eat them! Mmmmmm!

I just got back from my Thanksgiving trip to SoCal, and I wanted to share my trip to Legoland!

Even before we got into the park, we could tell we were in the right place.  As Mommy would say, “Daddy and I were in the target market”.

First up was a ride on my first roller coaster: the Coastersaurous!

I wasn’t scared at all.  It was really fun!  You go up a hill, and then down and around two circles… then you get to do it again!

We also went on the Sky Patrol helicopters.  I got to show Daddy how to make it go up and down and turn around!

Later, it was the Flight Squadron airplanes.  Daddy did a great job of going on the rides with me so we could have fun together.

We had lunch, and I got a special treat: Chocolate covered marshmallows with M&Ms stuck on. Yum.

I had a great time with Grandma Harris, Mommy, and Daddy.  I can’t wait to go back next time!

I helped Mommy make a plum galette with plums from our very own tree!  I got to help spoon the plum mixture, and add the cinnamon and sugar.  I also got to help fold up the edges.

And of course I had to taste to make sure everything was OK.

Doesn’t it look yummy!

I got to have TWO pieces.  It WAS yummy!

It was finally time.  We had some M&D alone time and it was finally time.  To go for a ferry ride to get a Balboa Bar.  Can you see my anticipation?  I think I can see it!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…

And to top it off, another Ferris Wheel ride with Daddy!  Maybe this vacation stuff isn’t so bad after all.

But I do miss playing with my trucks at home.  I have to settle for the little one I have here at the beach.

Then Madeline and Lauren arrived.  The next day we were off to the big wave beach!

Boy those waves are big!  And they move fast!  They sure are fun to run away from when they come in!

While I was there, I invented sand surfing.  It’s kind of like skateboarding, but with a Boogie board on the sand.  And you don’t go anywhere.

Later, I taught sand boarding class to Mommy and Lauren.   They were very good students.  (Beginning students practice on the sidewalk.)

After all of that playing and teaching, I sure was tired.

(Note to M&D: This does NOT constitute proof that I don’t sleep with my eyes open.  I must have been blinking.)

What a fun vacation!

Well, it was time for another day at the beach.

On this day, Ma and Avery buried my legs in the sand, just like when Curduroy goes to the beach!

Later, Ma and I saw some artists painting pictures of the boats.

Then we had a visit from Natalie, Olivia, and Addison.  They were fun to play with on the beach!

After all that hard playing on the beach, I decided to relax and do some drawing like those artists I saw earlier.

We’re now back from our vacation, but I wanted to tell you all about it.

We started by driving all the way to Los Angeles.  Our first stop was Ghiradelli’s for ice cream.  That made all the driving worth it – at least that’s what Mommy said!

We had some fun climbing on the rocks and looking for otters amongst the kelp.  We found a crab claw and a starfish!

After all that excitement, I retired to our room to relax with the rock garden.

The next day we drove through Big Sur and stopped at this very functional bridge.  There was a waterfall there, too.

With all the driving we were doing, I got very good at sleeping in the van.

Later we were at the pier in Santa Barbara.  They had some very neat flags – and more ice cream!

The next morning, I got to carry our “officially sanctioned” breakfast down to the lobby for breakfast.  I think M&D wanted me to eat something good after all that ice cream!

Next… on to Ma and Pa’s!