Christmas Morning

 We repeated the new tradition of all cramming into the big bed and watching A Christmas Story until the breakfast casserole is finished cooking.  It might be my favorite part of the year.   All the anticipation of the kids for their gifts mixes with the warm smells coming from the kitchen.

This year we are planning on taking a trip to Disneyland so there were not many gifts.  We still had a great time.

Christmas Adam - For Posterity

 This year's homemade gifts were incredible.  I didn't get photos of everything.     
Jilly made map prints of  our home towns.  She also gave Ike a "GBC" book  where the letters are performed by Ghostbusters.

 Matt and Kristin made a vintage clock made out of the most classic of classic games.

 Hand painted  cards  from  Ethan Joanna and Ginny.

 My new favorite bag printed with the handwritten first page of The Grapes of Wrath.

 The kids got marble mazes made by their cousins.

 I made snack trays that are being taken over by dinosaurs and comic book outlet covers.

Not pictured: Lego head tubs made out of Red Vine containers, and a different purse for each of the little girls.  

Needless to say, it was epic.

All Things Christmas

 I hardly took any pictures during Christmas.  Luckily Matt and Jill did and the graciously shared with me.  

 Clearly it was super fun.

Best Moment Award

FHE

 As  Christmas approached we really got into the season.  The 'pets' even dressed up like the Nativity.  This incidentally later bit us in the back when someone asked  Rosy if she knew who Joseph Smith was and her answer, "Rocky has a monkey that we call  Joseph Smith."  Family Night Fail. 

Awww

 I worry that I am not documenting Ike's early life like I did with the girls so here are a few more.

The Carrot Pull

 The Grassroots Garden is this incredible project in Eugene.  It is worked completely through volunteer service and helps provide food for the Food for Lane County program.    I have never been over there before but we were invited this year to the Carrot  Pull.  There were beds and beds of carrots and we all chose a  place to start.  At exactly 11 o'clock they blew a whistle and we all picked pounds and pounds of carrots.  Each person got to choose one carrot  to enter  into  the contest and the rest we  cleaned and boxed and got ready for distribution.   It was a sneaky...and really fun way to  get a lot of work done.

 The carrots were giant and as sweet as can be.  After the work was done we  gathered together for a lunch of carrots and dip, carrot soup,  and carrot cake.  

Daisy won third place for longest carrot.  It may end up being the proudest moment of  her life.

This is What We Do

 Ike is really unhappy with baby food.    He obviously wants to eat real food but I just  keep shoving  tasteless pureed  vegetables in his face.  As of late he seems to have  resigned himself to his  fate and will humor me by choking down a few spoonfuls.   I tell him to hang in  there because good things will come  soon.   We have very different opinions about teeth.  He wants them because  he sees them as his ticket  to a decent meal, but I just can't stand the idea of him losing that big gummy smile.

In fact, I am  sorry to  say that since his smile has entered this home the regular standard of care has gone down...way down.  How can I be expected to do dishes when there is a tiny little human that needs me to kiss his cheeks?
I justify my lack of accomplishment by realizing that I am not the only one in this  family with the problem.

Uno, anyone?

 Rosy gets very upset when someone else tries to get near Ike.  Like really upset.  It is  kind of a huge problem but has been relieved a bit since she adopted Oaklee.  She has been buried in the bottom of the  toy basket but now that she has been found she goes everywhere with us.

 Ike took on the rest of the toys to make sure that nobody felt neglected.

 And the sad news is that our neighbors moved.  Arif and his family have been close friends and we will never forget them.

Giving Thanks

 We have had a lot of Spencer View Thanksgivings now but there was really something special about this year.  Maybe it is because I am already getting homesick with the idea of moving on after  graduation, or maybe it was just that we had great friends to share it with. 

Ike was ready for  his first big cooking day...well, sort of.  For some reason before we knew he was  coming I threw out all the baby toys so for the past month his only playthings were  a spatula and a whisk.  One day when he and his sisters open up their restaurant he will thank me.

The day was filled with good food and lovely friends.

 ..And the turkey train.  Gobble Gobble.