Diminishing returns

The number of pictures of our family Christmas is inversely proportional to their quality--with the exception of the ones my dad took in North Carolina. Still, they should give a feel for our holiday.

A late-breaking pageant photo of Edith and her bovine buddy, Robin. Here she may be a supremely satisfied milch cow, but in the photo of the whole stable (i.e. 3/4-year-old Sunday School class)...

...her attitude is a PK-ish, "You really want me to smile?"

The girls were back to hamming it up while getting dressed for Christmas Eve services

Of course once we got to church, nothing would persuade them to keep the hats on

With friend Leanne, enjoying the candy they received from the pinata broken on the chancel steps during the children's sermon, with 50 eager kids waiting to pounce. Yes, our ministerial staff (ahem) thought this would be a fun way to expand on the celebration of the Mexican posadas tradition that was the focus of the service. Upon the pinata's breaking I went into mama bear instinct mode, ran to the front of the sanctuary, and started plucking my four-year-old Sunday School kids out from underneath the trampling feet. Miraculously, no one was hurt. The other parts of the service were lovely and a little less nerve-wracking.

Post service, hoping for a special visitor

...

Going in to investigate Christmas morning

Bubble gum in her stocking!

Against all odds Alice appears fooled by the toy cellphone she received, now seemingly as satisfied with it as with mommy or daddy's phone

Edith got a long-desired set of children's handbells. They are pitch perfect but don't require the delicate handling of real bells...a good thing, since Alice is interested in eating the clappers.

Christmas dinner with the cousins in PA. Any oldest siblings or cousins out there will recognize the "we're playing school, and I'm in charge" pose. Our nephew meanwhile couldn't get enough of showing off his favorite presents, an extension cord and a circuit splicer. It's neat that by four years old, kids aren't all hitting the same milestones in the same order but really do have distinct interests and talents.

The day after Christmas we drove to North Carolina for a week of Christmas with the Bogers

The morning paper with Grandpa

Environmental documentaries with Mor-mor (courtesy of the film festival Uncle Peter ran in Madison this fall)

Alice got to meet her Great Grandmother Mary. While she has almost lost her ability to put together a coherent sentence, the woman who once directed actors in how to deliver their lines is nevertheless still somehow recognizably herself, in gestures, mannerisms, and optimistic attitude. She seemed really to enjoy the children.

Daddy, Alice, and Mor-mor

With Uncle Peter, a recent comprehensive exams survivor

Cheesy girls

Like her sister before her, Alice enjoyed the full-length windows next to the front door

En route back home we got to spend an afternoon with the VA cousins. These three engaged each other in a non-stop round of hilarity.

They quieted down just to listen to Aunt Suzanne read the elaborate, pop-up-book version of Peter Pan they'd thoughtfully given Edith

But it was all squeals again when Daddy/Uncle Tom managed a triple-decker piggyback ride, reminiscent of fun and games at a family wedding two years ago

We're fortunate to have so much loving family and to have enjoyed such a break from the routine. Now to keep the spirit with us into the New Year...