M&D got me this neat Play-doh squisher for Christmas.  You put the “doh” in one side…

…push down on the lever…

… and it comes out the other side in all kinds of different shapes.  Even though it is not a truck, it still is lots of fun!

Next on our merry whirlwind tour of OC was Grandpa and Nana’s house.  We arrived Christmas morning and it wasn’t long before I got to open my first present!  I got a puzzle with sea creatures from Darren.  Did I mention I like puzzles?

Then Grandpa and Nana got me a Richard Scarry book: Super Stupendous Stories!  I decided that this had to be tried out right away!  It has all of my favorite characters in it: Lowly Worm, Sergeant Murphy, and Huckle the Cat.

Just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, what did Grandpa and Nana have for me but a GIANT FIRE TRUCK!

I’m not sure how anyone got this picture of it as the way I remember it, I was pushing it around for the rest of the time I was there.

Thanks Grandpa and Nana (and Darren, Davide, and Simone)!  I had a great time visiting with all of you!

The more I watch M&D, the more I can figure out how to use their gadgets.  Take my phone, for instance:

Flip it open, and talk.

What could be simpler?

(Ed. Note: Wait ’till this kid is 12…)

My Matchbox dump truck might be small, but it gets put to work hauling and dumping kibble for Atlas.

Like Daddy says, “Use the right tool for the job!”.

It was time to give M&D a checkup, so I got out my doctor kit to get started.  First up, Daddy:

I started by listening to the heart and lungs with my steth-o-scope.

Then it was time to check out Daddy’s ears.  I thought I would see if there is something wrong with his ears since he doesn’t always do what I tell him.  Maybe he just can’t hear me?  Turns out there was ‘food’ in there!  Maybe he’ll be able to hear me better now!

Next up was Mommy.  She got a blood pressure check…

… an ear exam…

… and I listened to her chest, too.

Overall, M&D are in pretty good shape.  Not bad after over two years of taking care of me!

Mommy got this great Black & Decker^® powered tool set for me.  It has a flashlight, tape measure, level, safety goggles, jigsaw, electric screwdriver, and a drill motor.  Wow!

Now I can help Daddy with projects like fixing the fence, where my new drill motor is just the thing!

If you were here, I’d tell you that Daddy has a blue drill motor, and I have an orange one.  And then I would tell you again.  And again.

M&D got me a wheelbarrow so I could help more with the gardening.

It’s a shiny red Radio Flyer model than makes lots of cool noises when you bang it around!

M&D recently surprised me with a new garbage truck!  It has a can in the back that you can fill up…

…and then dump into the back of the truck.

Then you can drive to the dump and dump out the whole load.  What a fun truck!  Thanks M&D!

After the fun airplane ride and getting picked up at the airport by Ma and Pa, one of the next things I got to do was visit with Aunt Danee.  She brought me some great sand toys – just in time!  And she provided excellent training, including making sound effects.  It is really important to make the right sounds when dumping sand.  She also told stories about spending time in Balboa when she was younger.  Thanks, Danee, for helping me get ready to go to the beach!

Later, Ma wanted to take a family picture.  I wasn’t too keen on looking like everybody else, but in the end I decided to concede and join in.  M&D say I’ll treasure this in the future.  I dunno.

After the family picture, I had a great time playing with my cuz.  Avery and I were jumping and sliding like we were, well, 2 years old.

Now I was looking forward to hitting the beach.  But that will have to wait until the next installment!

Uncle John and Aunt Heather got me this BIG dinosaur puzzle with lots of pieces for my birthday.  This one is really challenging and I need help from M&D to fit the pieces in.