Happy HoHoHolidays!

Frank taking over the updates for tonight. We'll see how that goes. My lab gave me a box of beer for a Christmas gift and I have been partaking but Janet is in a Christmas cookie induced coma, so here it goes........

First of all: it's been a fun day. It's also been really really really long. Mason and Maddie both woke up kind of early and wanted to get into the Christmas festivities i.e. "was Santa really here last night?" Alas he was and they soon both enjoyed unwrapping their presents.

Here's Maddie with one of her stocking stuffers: a cupcake tree ornament which is pretty appropriate for our little sugar addict.

Mason for a change gnawing on something other than Mommy's or Daddy's fingers.....a new teether Santa though he might enjoy in the months to come.

Blessed brother- and sisterhood in front of the tree....getting them both to smile is just a futile as trying to herd a bag of fleas. Here's the best attempt out of ten or so:

The aftermath:

Mason getting his first taste of mutton (a sheep blankie that hopefully will live up to its advertised hype and make him sleep better):

Mason really enjoys sitting up but still needs a bit of help so Oma and Opa gifted him a Bumbo which he enjoys very much. I should also add that Maddie has been sitting in it the whole afternoon watching christmas movies..........

One of Janet's presents contained a lollipop that Maddie immediately claimed for herself but there was still a big present left. We gave her the choice between the lollipop and the present and she had to think hard for a minute but finally opted for the present.....needless to say she eventually got the lollipop as well. Here the victory pose:

Still enjoying the new tricycle. Too bad it was a nasty , gloomy day today so she could not try it out outside.

The other big hit was an easel that Oma and Opa sent. Maddie went back three or four separate times to paint or draw and had a great time doing it. The artiste in action:

Posing in front of the completed masterpiece:

As Amy pointed out the other day, our daughter is an aggressive painter. Janet got a great action shot:

Maddie has been inventing new languages for the last few weeks. Here she drew a "Boobak" (whatever that might be). We were also introduced to "Billbeeks" which apparently are a bunch of quasi-parallel lines that extend all the way to the top of the easel.

And here some of the completed pieces. Now I don't know a durn thing about art but I'll put them up against anything at MOMA. Intellectuals cast yer stones!