The first day of Christmas

Christmas Day began a bit differently than I expected. I rather expected a break of dawn wake-up call, an immediate rush to the stockings, and a groggy breakfast. Instead, we all slept in (until about 7:30 am!!) and Miles was too groggy (he had a mild cold) to rush anywhere. We even had a time for a pot of coffee with Michaela and Marshall (newly Facebook official! :-) before the stockings were unloaded!

Mom and Dad Grunert arrived at 9, and then we actually went to church before we opened gifts, which was lovely. Ideal, really. Felt like our priorities were straight.

We tried to spread out the presents evenly so everyone always had one, but it was soon obvious that this was going to be the Miles show starring Miles.

He's just so much fun to shop for! What can his extended family and friends say?

Among the many excellent presents he received: Lincoln Logs!

Meanwhile, Adele and Marshall were becoming fast friends,

united by a common interest.
...and Miles carried on, delightedly unwrapping. This year, he GETS presents.





Cookie Monster was an early favorite. He continued unwrapping presents after that, but that morning, he only had eyes for Cookie.

Later in the day, he made friends with some of his other presents. He finally has a train with a TRACK! The hearth of our unused fireplace is the perfect spot for it.

As we all settled in after an enormous and delectable dinner, Adele was passed around to get to know the family a bit better. She's learning faces as her hobby right now :-)


Miles' closing message! God Bless us Everyone!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

This is Miles' third Christmas, but the first one in which he was able to understand any part of it or to really participate in the festivities. This was also our first Christmas in which we did not travel at all. And as little suited as our little two bedroom apartment is to host five additional adults to our family of four, we were delighted to experience a family Christmas at HOME.

On Christmas Eve day, we finished what had been a three-day endeavor to make decorated sugar cookies. With a toddler participating, I found the process needed to be spread out a bit.

Miles was delighted to watch the colors magically resolve themselves with food coloring, to help frost (he was astonishingly gentle for a two year old!) and thrilled to help SPRINKLE!


Adele did not attempt to help but was along for the ride!

The finished product! We're still eating them... an excellent morning's work.

Afterward, Miles got to watch Charlie Brown Christmas! (while I picked up a lot of sprinkles from many unlikely places! and wrapped some spare presents).

Nothing like a little Vince Guaraldi for perfect Christmas tranquility.

That evening was a bit chaotic, to get everyone dressed and ready for church by 4pm, after Miles' nap ended. We almost made it! Only five minutes late and only missed one carol! The church was RESPLENDENT with evergreen and candles; I wish it wasn't tacky to photograph it.

Afterward, the boys weren't interested in being photographed (well, okay, it was really down to Miles; he was INSANE with several days' missed naps).
But the ladies struck a couple poses!

C'mon. Indulge me: she's a sugar plum fairy!

Just before bed, Miles was allowed to open one gift: his new Thomas the Train (A-Tomas-A-'Rain, as he puts it) pajamas!

And there was great rejoicing, and Santa was left three cookies and eggnogg, and lo, there was even an early bedtime. Christmas miracle? Glad tidings to us Santas, anyway!

Best Christmas pageant ever?

This year, I had TWO kids in the Christmas pageant. I feel like I'm in the parenting big leagues now :-)
Miles was big enough to be a proper sheep this year. For fun, compare this pictures to those of his sheep performance from last year.
I was not wearing a sheep helmet and following him around and looking like a sad, woolly giant this year! No, instead, I was spotting our second child, who was just small enough to play baby Jesus!

Miles was NOT the youngest sheep, but he was among the youngest, and he was assigned a personal shepherd to hold his hand through the procession and to keep him from making a break for it once they reached the stable.

(He did sprint for it once the pageant was over and he located Papa in the audience. Before any of the other kids could move, he was off like a bullet; it was great.)

Mary was smashing. She memorized the whole Magnificat! I hadn't been expecting her to just burst out with it during rehearsal; it was like the Holy Spirit showed up suddenly. Totally made me cry, both times.

Ensemble shot. Miles really did learn the words to both carols; he picks these things up really fast. The kids are singing the "Rocking Carol" here, which is a Czech carol in which they promise to bring Jesus a coat of fur to keep him warm. I love how each culture brings baby Jesus things they think are valuable. Pretty sure he does, too.

Adele did marvelously. I fed her up, wrapped her in her fleecy swaddle and told her to be tender and mild. She was fast asleep for the duration of the program! Bravo, Della.

Miles was SO pleased with his costume. "Yook Mum! Is white! Yes, and have ears! Baaa!" &etc.

Can you believe how much she loves the manger? I wish she liked her bouncy seat half so much. She woke up, looked around serenely, and went right back to sleep. Considering breaking into the church and stealing the manger for the off-season...


So, naturally, we had to take a lot of pictures....


Hope this makes you feel as peaceful as we felt yesterday. Children dressing up as animals and supernatural beings and enacting profundities is sublimely charming, whether everything goes wrong, or nothing does.
Nothing did this year.

This Evening

Following up from the previous blog, here is what Miles wanted to say to Santa (paraphrased):

He signed his name. Obviously.

In case you ever wondered what Santa's address was... (how did people find out this stuff before the internet?)

In other events, my bathing beauty has learned to enjoy a bath "at close of day."

Isn't she lovely?

All tuckered out, in her bathrobe (Marijke, I love love luuurve it!).

Miles is singing himself to sleep, and Adele is busy at one of the two things she loves best. All is right with the world.

Santa: Friend or Foe?

We took Miles to Blacksburg's Holiday festivities, which included the tree lighting and Tuba Christmas concert, as well as a Holiday Parade which we did not attend due to the lateness of the hour. Kicking off the evening, however, was an opportunity to meet and have a photo taken with Santa! Thrilling, right?
Not the first time, apparently. At least, not when you're two and a half.

He had been WAILING moments before, but this Santa was cleverer than average.

He engaged Miles in a conversation we did not hear (my mind has entertained multitudinous possible conversations, though).

Wily Santa then produced candy!! And Miles' reserve broke down.

Offering accepted, Santa was able to make peace.

And we were able to snap this picture, containing the most pleasant expression Miles was able to assume.

Now, he gets it. Santa's on his side. He has recently come to understand that Santa may just bring him a toy. He has expressed a desire that Santa bring him a tractor.

Family of four: the first two weeks

My goodness, second children certainly get fewer blogs, as well as fewer photos! I don't have time to feel bad about this, though, since we've had our hands overfull taking care of our two kids this past couple weeks and trying to get Jon through the last of his classes for the semester.

Jon returned to his classes (TA classes and grad school) on Monday, which meant three days and two evenings this past week, I was a singlehanded mom of two. Phew! I'm just glad Adele's needs are still relatively simple. I need to start on level one of this video game before I'm seasoned for level five chaos!

I've had to get clever about finding activities for Miles when neither the nature center or the library are having programs. So this past week he got to do his first watercolor painting. He ADORES it, as I expected he would!

So pleased with himself. The first painting was all lines; I'll have to post pictures of his later works, in which you can see evolution to abstract shapes which he likens to various animals.

"I really get to do this??!!"

Storytime and bedtime become an exercise in ambidextarity
Miles is either delighted or plotting something... we'll let you know what it turns out to be.


Looking a bit more affectionate here. He's really enjoying her, at least to the extent that a two year old can enjoy a newborn. Somewhat :-)

Okay, and a few of what I know you want: glamor shots of Adele!

We can't decide who she looks like... suggestions?
\
Thank you to all her clothing donors (especially you, Ee Yaya!!)

We acquired the sleep sheep. We endorse this product HEARTILY, as does Adele. She goes limp when we turn it on.



Bright eyes!

Victory!

She's wearing more pink than I thought she would... I would blame clothing donors, but... I have a lot to choose from. I just like pink on my girl better than I thought I would.

Fresh from her bath, she's looking a bit blonder. Her hair changes color hourly; we're baffled.
And entranced :-)