Henry checked the Santa Tracker app on my phone more than a few times before tenderly setting out the milk and cookies. Bedtime is never that difficult, but my was it silky smooth on Christmas Eve. The morning went as anticipated, Henry had a great time tearing open his gifts and also took joy in helping Piper open hers, and soon we were awash in paper and requests for Daddy to build the Legos. Unlike last year, Henry came up for air and had something to eat, which was wise. A long day of stimulation and playing was ahead.



Piper was a great sport as well, allowing more than a few pictures in her holiday dress before descending into tears at being propped up. Henry had a great time playing with Bella out at Randy and Kelly's, ate a well rounded Christmas dinner, and then promptly fell asleep on the ride home, clutching a cement mixer.

 The prime rib was buttery tender and the company as jovial and welcoming as always. Busy lives keep getting in the way of seeing all these good people more often.



Full set of Christmas photos here.

Christmas along with Grandpa Barnes' visit adds up to a busy holiday season that we are finally recovering from. Grandpa had a few projects to handle out in Chugiak, though mostly he just enjoyed visiting with everyone, particularly Piper.

Over the course of their first few meetings they just plane wore each other out.




Applebees means apple juice and coffee for these two. When all of us were together, Henry reached for Grandpa's hand far more often than Mom or Dad's. For 2 weeks he was Grandpa's guy without a doubt. I know he really loved bunking in the same room as Grandpa.

Daddy was still useful though, as I have the dexterity to build up Lego sets.




Plenty of Christmas pictures here.