A Very Merry Christmas-- 2006 Style

This year was Jared's second Christmas, but the first time he really understood a bit more about some of the Christmas rituals. Before beginning our holiday travels, we began the Christmas festivities on the morning of Christmas Eve at our home. Jared opened his first Christmas gift while enjoying one of his favorite holiday delights, the candy cane (or "nandy nane" in Jared's words).

We began our day by taking the annual photo of Jared in front of our Christmas tree. As you can see, Mom likes shiny wrapping paper!

"Oh Mommy, we have sooo many Christmas presents for everyone! Can I help open them all? Okay, but after I finish this candy cane!"

"Mom, I really DO want to open this present, but I am a little busy right now! Can I get back to you in a minute?"


"I LOVE the Diego Hot Wheels, mom and dad... now if I could only get this wrapping off this candy cane, I would be very happy..."


As you can see, very few things inspire the kind of bliss you see here on Jared's candy-cane smeared face.

"After Christmas Eve at home with Mom and Dad, we headed out to Halmonee and Papa's for the rest of the day. I LOVE going out to Halmonee and Papa's land!"

"One of my favorite parts of Christmas is hanging out with my cousins Sarah and Micah! Halmonee set up a pretty Christmas table for dinner but we messed it up a little bit."

After dinner, Jared played Santa Claus for awhile. He doesn't know much about Santa yet, but he really likes wearing the hat!


"As always, I got lots of Christmas love from Halmonee and Papa! Mmmm---muah!"

"On Christmas morning, we drove down to see Grandma Betty and Papa Rich. Daddy read me the Frosty the Snowman book that Auntie JoJo got me for Christmas."

"It's always fun to see Papa Rich, too!"

"Grandma Betty got me and my cousin Jayden these cool tricycle things... but then we ended up trading! It worked out perfectly because Jayden liked mine better..."


"... and I got the cool Diego one! Yay-yay!"


All in all, it was a wonderful Christmas this year. We couldn't ask for anything more!

Orange You Glad I like Oranges?

In the past few years we have watched this tree grow and change. At first we thought it was a cumquat tree.... then the next year we thought it was a lemon tree... this year it became clear that it is, in fact, an orange tree. Sadly though, our oranges still TASTE like lemons... We did not take proper freeze precautions, so they truly taste like lemons... that does NOT stop Jared though. Every day as Dad takes him on their "nature walks" Jared begs Dad to pick an orange for him ("oran, oran, oran!") and then begs Dad to "open" the orange ("op, op, op!).

My Multi-Tasking Baby

Apparently Jared believes literally in the expression "Eat and run!" Here he is experiencing the treadmill for the first time at Papa and Halmonee's house. I wish I could post the video, this was sooo hilarious! :)

BUBBLES!

Jared has a newfound love for bathtime... and it has everything to do with BUBBLES!!!

"Oh, wait, wait, Daddy-- what are you gonna do??"

"Oh-- THATS what you are going to do!! Bubbles are the best!"

Even with his sheer delight in the bubble bath, Jared still takes his bubbles very seriously.

"No, Daddy, I am NOT ready to get out of the tub!"

A Christmas Preview

We went to get Christmas photos done and this is one of the ones we did not choose, but I thought was cute nonetheless. Jared is growing by leaps and bounds. :)