Pictures for Card

I have been wanting to get a picture to put on a holiday card.  OK.  I wanted a Christmas card, but that didn't happen.  But we finally got some good pictures.  I think they are best when you see more than one of them at a time.

Family Celebration

We're back home after a great weekend spent celebrating with my parents and other extended family.  Well, most of us are back.  Liam is staying with Grammy and Grandpa for a few more days.  It's funny how having "only" one child suddenly feels so much easier.  The baby, however, had a very eventful weekend, got way off his normal routine, and has been having a hard time sleeping.  Also, he rolled over for the first time, pulled off one of his socks, (and tried to eat it) and ate solid food for the first time.  The only thing lacking is for one of his bottom teeth to finally break through.

Our camera is kind of on the fritz.  All of the pictures have cleared off the memory card a couple of times without us meaning for them to.  So every time we got some good pictures I ran upstairs and got them off the camera as soon as possible.

 Devin got this outfit for Christmas.  I was glad we had an after Christmas party for him to wear it to.  He posed with Grammy while we were waiting for everyone to arrive and start eating.  It was an appetizer party.

 I was wondering if he would use the celery for teething.  Liam used to do that sometimes.  But he wasn't that interested.

 He and Uncle Titus weren't too sure what they thought of each other.

 A chocolate fondue fountain was a big attraction.  Mom made the cookie nativity scene with Benny and Ruth.

 Devin napped during part of the party.  Liam got a sampling of chocolate dipped food.

 Dapper Benny - before

 and after.

 Sammy also slept through at least part of the noise and chaos.

 Some presents from Aunt Shelley were greatly appreciated.  The kids got presents this year.  The adults donated the money we would have spent on presents to a good cause.

Lights at the Zoo

Thursday Liam got to play with a friend while Allen and I did laundry and grocery shopping in preparation for the big family celebration in Columbus.  In the evening Allen and Liam went to the zoo to see the lights.  I stayed home to stay warm, do a little packing and avoid a little more exhaustion.  From the pictures I'd say they had a pretty good time.

 We like to pose with this polar bear.

 This might be the mama of the twins.  If so, I can sympathize with her sacked out position.

 Allen reports that the train display was much smaller this year than other years.  This is another historic picture.

This beauty shot thanks to a passing stranger.

Christmas Day

Here are the Christmas day pictures.  Liam decided that Christmas should be a jammie day.  He was a little disappointed that Allen and I eventually took showers and then put on regular daytime clothes.  Devin put on daytime clothes eventually too.  Mostly, though we stayed home and took it easy.

 The boys with the "loot."

 Devin opened the first stocking present.  He's not quite old enough to appreciate this opportunity to rip paper.

 "Really?  You got me a book?"

 Liam couldn't figure out what this was.

 He knows what to do with books!

 My stocking present was not a book.

 Allen's was, though.

 Liam made us this present for us at school.  He wanted us to open it together and he took the pictures.

 After a quick repair job he was ready for us to see it.  Devin seemed generally unimpressed during the present unwrapping, but his expression here seems particularly critical - like he's thinking "Is this what's in store for me?"

 A gift from Aunt Amy, Uncle Ed and the cousins.  Thanks!

 Something to spice up my mommy look.

 Another gift from the extended family.

 He had fun tearing the paper on this one.  Legos.

 So like I said in an earlier post, we did decorate some (unprinted) newsprint with markers.  But we got out the good ones.  Liam decorated this present for Devin and he took the job very seriously.

 Now here's something he can get excited about!

 A curling jacket for Allen.

 Finally! a bank for Liam.  He's been wanting one for "a month."  (Actually much longer.)

 It's still brunch, even if it's eaten at 12:30.  To make it extra festive we put lemon zest and juice in the blueberry sauce.

Sampling the sauce with his fingers.

Christmas Eve

Well, Christmas Eve and Christmas day have officially come and gone.  They actually went more or less the way I anticipated they would.  Here are some pictures from Christmas Eve.  I think Christmas will have to wait.

 We got all dressed up for dinner out and the Christmas Eve service.  Liam got a little stressed about wearing the right colors for Christmas.  I convinced him to wear these clothes because they coordinated with what Devin was wearing.  Then we took a picture to prove it happened before Devin's outfit had to be changed.  Which actually happened at the restaurant.

 A silly father-son moment.  Unfortunately Liam's tummy started hurting while we were eating.  Otherwise we really enjoyed the food.

 Always ready to ham it up for the camera!

 The Lutheran church has an early service for kids with puppets.  Since our church doesn't usually have a service we go to this one.  Liam really enjoys it.  For the past two years they've had an audience participation portion.  Last year Liam was hesitant to go up, but this year he was the first one at the box.

 Devin stayed in the audience.

When he got back Liam explained that making the puppet talk was hard and hurt his hand.

 When we got ohme we had some dessert and then tried for a family picture.  I'd still like to get some Christmas cards made since we didn't send out birth announcements for Devin.  These turned out pretty well, but because of the lighting I don't thin the quality's good enough for cards.