Sunday, April 21, 2013

Christmas 2012 - Part 2

We spent Christmas up in Seattle, touring the Botanical Garden Lights and dinner at Pogacha with the Jacobsen Clan, Christmas Eve Elves Party with my family (including rousing games with prizes(!) after the little kids went to bed, late night assembly on December 24th.

Papa set up the old train track to keep the boys occupied during the days - we pretty much didn't see them for except when they needed to surface for food.


Elves party music and dancing...



Important notes and goodies for Santa, tracking progress on NORAD, and lots of wiggles waiting for the big day.

Santa brought Josh a Fire Station (doll house) with police and fire figures, including their canine sidekicks.
 Though Josh was just as thrilled with accessory cars and pretty much anything else wrapped under the tree.
 Santa loaded Owen up with some much requested Lego Star Wars items, and Nana and Uncle Todd added additional accessories.  If 2011 was "a very piratey Christmas," 2012 could easily be labeled the Christmas "sponsored by Lego Star Wars."

Actually, I'm thrilled with how much these Lego Star Wars books have gotten Owen reading.  He wants to learn the names of all the figures and realized that he could sound them out himself, without waiting on an adult to become available.  Ah, the world of reading! 



Then, it was off to the Maxwells and a full, full house of good food and good company.  Josh was happy to offer a helping hand to anyone that seemed a little slow in opening the presents.We all were delighted with baby second-cousin Delilah, who has to be the most mellow baby we have ever encountered.  The boys thought she was a hoot.  We all got some good contact time with Kate, while she was pondering the next steps in her life journey (January brought her some clarity and a move to Anchorage, where she seems to be thriving).


 And, of course, no Christmas would be complete without some quality cousin time. This year, Calla and Josh seemed to really become buddies and only required intermittent refereeing.  It was a delight watch them grab hands and head downstairs to play magnetic darts.  The kids did not let grandma forget the gingerbread houses, and Ryan snagged a video of all three kids working side by side, chatting, passing candy, etc.  It's a small thing to us, but HUGE for Calla - as she does not yet readily talk with her friends at school or at other activities.  We're not sure why she is better able to use her voice around Owen and Josh, especially since they only see each other a couple times/year, but it brings us all great joy to know that O & J are so much a part of her circle of comfort.  More cousin time, please!

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