But Luke and I sure had fun when I ran up on all the curbs and almost flipped us over!
Santa Clause left me a Jeep! I knew that I was getting something big, because I was so good this year, but I never imagined that I would get a toy this great!
I was so excited when I woke up and saw it in the morning, that I couldn't take the time to walk around the couch to get to it, but climbed over a table, a chair, and a couch to get to it, knocking over Ga's tea on the way. 
I wanted to go for a ride right away. Look at the Holiday Beach sticker on the door! That's for when I go for rides on the beach, so everyone knows where I call home base. 
I got lots of cool toys. My Aunt Bridey and cousins got me Chuck, the Talking Truck. It's loud, which I love, and makes everyone else crazy.
Ga and Papa got me this awesome boat, which is really a research vessel with all kinds of funky freaky fish to store in the hatch. I also like to drive my cars on it and call it a ferry.
After we finished opening gifts, which took a few hours, I got to go for a ride in my Jeep. Of course, I headed right for the mud hole in the yard. Dada taught me how to "rock the Jeep", but putting it into reverse, then forward, to get it unstuck. 
After getting stuck a few times, dada convinced me to drive on the driveway. I had a blast, and mama and dada were worried about how they were going to get me to go inside. Just about when they decided to drop the hammer, I drove up next to them and said "My fingers are cold; can we go play with something else?" So, mama and dada decided no gloves is the solution to getting me to go inside. 
It was nice to have some snuggle time with my Aunt Bridey. She is super sweet to me, and so I like to cuddle with her. 
Me and my cousins, dressed up for a family picture. I was a nut during the professional picture, which made my cousin Brenden act like a nut, so mama thinks this picture is better than the professional pictures. I had a great time playing with my cousins, and can't wait to see them again this summer for their annual beach trip.
Dada and I weren't sure what to do today because it's just gross out, so we made cookies. Then we sent the picture to mama at work to lure her home with baked goods. Come home mama, come home.
See? I ran around like a wild man trying to cut down all the trees. Mama and dada were so distracted by my antics that we ended up picking the most lopsided, empty sided tree in the lot. Oh well, Charlie Brown. 
I did like opening all the little doors up to see what was behind the pictures. Mama might even spring for a candy version next year.
Yep, it's true. On December 4, there was snow in Houston (which was mama and dada's 16 year dating anniversary, by the way). Mama said it was too cold to go outside that night when she got home from work, so instead, she brought me in a bowl full of snow to play with. I happily spooned the snow from bowl to bowl for an hour. Dada did take me out in the snow during the day, you can check out the video on Facebook.
The next day, mama and I did go outside to play for a bit. Brrrrrrr, it was cold, especially for a Texas kid that doesn't have any gear to bundle up in!
This was all that was left of the snow in the backyard the next day. Mama said it was pretty pathetic, but cool all the same.
This year, my uncle Billy, aunt Kristen and cousins Jamie and Katie flew down from Minnesota for the holiday. Grandma and Grandpa came down too (and they got to fly on Southwest!). Uncle Billy brought me a football. Too bad I preferred to throw it at the "ghost" player, ie no one. So, football is not my game.
We had food galore. No joke, there was a major meal everyday. Thanksgiving was, well, Thanksgiving. Friday was a fish fry. And here, Grandma is preparing Sauerbraten - which takes several days because a huge hunk of beef is soaked in vinegar for 3 days, etc. etc. etc. It was so delicious though. 
Papa did a great job with the fish fry! Every time he does a fish fry, it gets better. Lots of fish that dada caught, fresh shrimp, potatoes, hush puppies.....oh yea!
The weather was so amazing, we took a long walk on the beach one day. 
Katie even brought Mac along. She is really good to him.
My cousins, Jamie and Katie.
Grandpa wasn't sure about a long walk, so he followed along in the golf cart.
Uncle Billy and Aunt Kristen, still in love after, well, let's just say it's been A LOT of years. Hahahah.
Jamie took a ride with Grandpa too.
Not the fanciest Thanksgiving table, but the food was so good, and there was so much of it! It was neat to sit outside too. We were so glad to have our family in town, plus lots of our beach neighbors. That's what it's all about.
Even Zoe came over to hang out. Sweet Zoe.
On Saturday, we were getting a little island stir crazy, so we went over to Galveston to visit Moody Gardens. 
Grandma took a bunch of food along so that we could feed the seagulls. I had so much fun feeding them, I did the seagull dance, which is why Grandpa and Katie are laughing at me.
The fam, minus dada (taking the picture) outside Moody Garden. 
Mama and I checked out the sea star, and then I was bad so they put me in jail. Just kidding, I was in the shark cage!
When we got back to the beach house, we flew a kite. Mama forgot how fun it is to fly kites. It was a pretty sunset too. 
Jamie and Katie had fun flying kites too, so we sailed them into the night. I love my cousins!
It was so great to have the family in town for Thanksgiving. Thanks so much for coming -- can't wait for Christmas next year!
I had to ride the El Paso train, as a tribute to my dada, back home in Texas.
I had my maiden voyage at the Shedd Aquarium while I was in Chicago. Mama spent a whole lot of time there growing up -- taking different classes and even touring the Oceanarium before it was filled up with water and whales -- and then she did an internship at the Shedd during college. The weather was nice the day we went, so I got to run around without a coat.
We looked at the regular fish tanks for a while, but I was pretty jazzed up to see the beluga whales. Can you see the big white blob about to swim past us?
Every time she passed, she would dive up and into the water to splash, almost like she was greeting us into her home. 
You can see the Oceanarium in the background. Once when mama was working there, a visitor asked her how the Shedd got the whales to come back inside after letting them out in the lake at night. Mama wasn't even sure where to start with that one. This is mama's favorite view of downtown Chicago. 
I got to meet my newest second cousin once removed (or however we are related -it's mama's cousin's baby), Charlie. Mama was impressed that I both wanted to hold him, and sat still long enough to do it. 
Here are two of my other cousins, Lauren and Noah. I was irritated that mama made me stop running to take a picture.
Another cousin, Ethan, is in this picture. He sure did have fun with us. We played 1000000 games of hide and seek. 
Ethan helped us to find the best places to hide, even in the shower! I had a great time in Chicago, but we had to get home to see dada, so we flew on another rotten Continental airplane to get home. 
This weekend we went down to the beach to celebrate Papa's birthday. Ga and I baked him a cake, and I got to help spread the icing. 
Papa couldn't help but oversee the cake making progress. 
And I helped to blow out the candles. Many, many happy returns Papa. We love you!
I posed with Headless Harry in the yard for a picture. A few years ago, Papa bought him for me and now mama and dada dread when he comes out at Halloween time - they aren't fans at all. But I love him. I beg for Ga to plug him in and then I throw everything I can in front of him to trigger him to lift his head off his shoulders and make his scary loud laugh. Most kids would be scared of him, but he's my buddy. 
Dada took me on my first trip trick or treating while mama waited at home to pass out candy (and eat 100 Reese's peanut butter cups - in her defense, I couldn't eat them anyway).
Unpacking my loot. The people in Seven Meadows are no joke! Good stuff. 
But really, I'd rather just have ice cream.
I wore my bat costume that Ga made for me - thanks Ga! Here I am with Ms. Valerie. She held my hand super tight, because
as soon as she let it go, I ran over to mama!
I have a crush on the bumblebee, Sarah Jane, even though she towers over me.
One weekend, we got a bunch of rain at the beach, and I watched with interest as a big mud hole formed at the end of Ga and Papa's beach house. It was then that I decided that I would get in that mud hole. I come by this honestly -- mama spent lots of time digging in the mud as a kid. 
I started with a toe, then a foot, and before mama knew it, my shoes were buried in mud. 
Who could get mad at a face like this? For long at least. 
Mud!
Here she is hanging with her banana for breakfast. 
Mona took her first ride on the Galveston ferry. It was such a pretty day out!
Last weekend at the beach, mama, dada, papa and I took the ferry to Galveston to go to Academy to find some new shoes for Ga's birthday (happy birthday Ga!). Instead, I found these cool kicks. I really did want to leave the store in them, but wasn't moving very fast.
Playing in my pirate ship, looking for ferries. 
Mama said "typical Keegan." I love to fly off the slide. 
When the rain stopped, we were able to hang out under the beach house and play, until the mosquitos came out. 
I think Olivia had a great time!
We finally brought out the stomp rocket this weekend. My best buddy Luke gave it to me for my birthday, but mama stashed it until a "rainy day." Everyone had fun taking turns seeing how far they could launch it. Look at me reaching for the stars. 
Mama stomped it high, but not the highest. Mr. Harvey got that award easy. We used Dale and Debra's driveway, Ga and Papa's neighbors - my family will stay there at Thanksgiving. We can't wait to see everyone!
Me hangin' on the boat. I can't wait to get on this puppy with dada to fish again. 
Playin' cars with Grandpa. He gave me change to load up my dump trucks. 
Thanks for visiting Grandma and Grandpa. Can't wait to see you at Thanksgiving. 
