Not Enough Nudity

 I have come to realize that we just don't have enough time with Peter's belly and thighs.  He's my first winter baby and it's cold outside.  I'm always in a rush to get him wrapped back up whenever his clothes need changing.  Today I warmed up the bathroom, stripped him down to his diaper, and captured his tiny little nakedness, for posterity.

And while we were at it he had a sit on his potty.  Yes, he uses the potty.  If you're curious about that click here.

 He would have had a successful sit on the potty except that I took my finger away from its pointing job to take this photo and it got all over the counter instead.  Oops. My bad.  Good job Peter.

Art Lessons

 Viola offered to give Charlie some drawing lessons.  She taught stick figures, flowers, and dinosaurs.  He learned stick figures, invented his own "flower", and scribbled a lot. Good lesson.

He wasn't too keen on me photographing the lesson but when he finished his "flower" he was very adamant about having a photo taken.

The master with her drawing titled "Waterfall."

Peter's R2 Unit

If I need a shower all I have to do is turn on Peter's best friend the bathroom heater otherwise referred to as R2-D2.  He settles down and gives me all the time I need.

Christmas Day, brought to you by Five Sticks of Butter and a Half Jug of Maple Syrup!

 We had all of the good times imaginable when celebrating Christmas with short people and a new baby!  Charlie wanted to rip through the presents as fast as possible, Viola wanted to take her time and examine each one properly before moving on the the next.  This is difficult when most are the presents have both of their names on them.  Peter wanted to cuddle and eat all day.

The biggest presents included a marble machine made by Brian and a tent that we made together.

 There was also a new house for the Lego village that Brian stayed up and put together on Christmas Eve.  It's not a real Christmas if the father doesn't have to assemble something into the wee hours the night before.

 The annual giant York Peppermint Patty in the stocking.  Not to worry he ate his breakfast (of homemade cinnamon roll) before having his sugary treat.

 Viola and Charlie wrapped up some presents for Peter.  Just what he always wanted, a calculator and a rock!

 While I cooked the lunch these two fellows took a well deserved nap.

 Our first whole family portrait with Peter.

 This is the reality.

 Charlie got a big crane just like he asked for.  He loves it.

 Some parts of the marble machine.  Brian can do anything with wood!

 Viola painted this very cool plate for us.

 Dinner's ready!

Sweet potato souffle.

 It's really a crustless sweet potato pie but if we call it souffle then it's o.k. to serve it as a vegetable.

 Rosemary Maple Glazed Pork Tenderloin

This was one of the most delicious things that I have ever made!

 We were all quite eager to dig in!

 Charlie ate his Brussels Sprouts first.

 Then there was this "Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins."

 On Christmas night Viola planned a Birthday party for Jesus complete with Shrimp and Chinese noodles and a cake (Vanilla cake with white chocolate ganache "so that it will look like snow.")

 I live to serve so when lunch was cleaned up, I got right on that.

Side note: Do not eat that cookie! It's one of the teeth breakers that got over baked.

Looks good though.

 We sang "Happy Birthday" and dug in.

It was a good Christmas.  

Thank you God for sending your son!

Christmas Eve. Gingerbread-a-pa-looza.

 One day to go until Christmas and we had a lot of gingerbread business to attend to.  Starting with a gingerbread house.  Brian and I used all of the icing from the package building the structure the night before so I had the task of making more royal icing.  Some claimed it was too runny but when you have already used all of your powdered sugar I'd say, "it's perfect!"

 Next the making and decorating of gingerbread cookies for the eating.

 These we made with maple cream cheese icing.  So they would be delicious!  Sadly Brian and I overcooked one pan of cookies rendering them inedible (in the way of breaking your teeth).  We were probably better off since we managed to eat the other pan of cookies within an hour.

While I did the prep work in the kitchen Brian and Peter had some time to do the manly bonding.

Two Days until Christmas

We made a couple of attempts at getting a photo of all three kiddos today.  We will do better in spring when we have grass again.