Christmas was G-r-r-reat!

For any of the pictures in this post (or throughout the blog, really), you can click on them to view a larger version. Be warned: you may not like what you see!

In case there was any doubt, we had a very fine Christmas. We knew we were blessed to have such a supportive circle of friends and family, and that is still our greatest blessing. But Jen getting a job just a few days before Christmas really helped to vent a lot of the anxiety we have been living with.

Jen even found time to make Christmas cookies! Of course, she had a little help from her very own mischievous elf. We can't tell you how many cookie-equivalents Veronica snatched from the cutting surface, but she was pretty wired. She did kitchen laps for twenty minutes (reminded me of Beavis and Butthead, if you remember the MTV cartoon).

And of course, later, we finally opened the package from Gramma and Grampa Root. There was one parcel that was marked "open first." Well, guess who really enjoyed opening it first? Quite the cookie season for little V. Her first molasses cookies went down pretty well. She ran a few more laps from the Christmas tree to the oven and back, another twenty minutes. (Julie - please note the t-shirt she was wearing, even if it clashed with her pink sweatpants. Daddy dressed her, what can I say?)

We actually got out to visit the Mesones on Christmas day. Jorge, Mandy, and Natalia were all doing pretty well, though it seemed like Natalia lost a few toys, though there were a few new ones about. (Actually, they're just rotating them a bit between rooms. That, and they were just barely moved in and living out of boxes when I first (and last) saw their home).

And last but not least, the Pace Family Christmas came together quite nicely. Here's a lovely shot of the Pace Women, though as Al has pointed out...none of them are Paces anymore! (They'll always be "the Pace Women" to me.) As I said at the beginning, we have been blessed by this wonderful and supportive circle of family and friends. We could not have gotten to where we are today without their help and encouragement. Thanks to you, we are looking forward to a truly Happy New Year! We love you all and look forward to seeing you soon.

Santa's Wish

We made the journey to Santa's lap one fine day - daddy was able to take an early lunch to help mommy and V find the North Pole. We aren't sure what Veronica asked for - she used the barest whisper when she responded to Santa's question, but we think she said.... "I want presents!" She'd make a great little Who - is Dr. Seuss recruiting? Something tells me she'll get her wish, though we're getting a little worried that she's going to be found on the naughty list this year. Where do you find coal, anyway?

Now whether she's been naughty or nice - she looks sweet...maybe we should post some of the other looks from her... We still aren't sure where she picked up her Miss Bossy routine, but there's a certain look that goes with it. Daddy's pretty sure she comes by it honest... (Can't tell who's writing this, eh?)

Gingerbread House

With time and an increasingly demanding toddler on her hands, Jen decided to start a new "Chrissa-mass" family tradition of making a Gingerbread House. In retrospect, perhaps sugar was not the best additive for a demanding toddler (sugar and spice and everything nice...right!). Made for a cute picture though - can you tell she's not camera shy? All daddy saw, besides the photographic evidence after the fact, was the collapsed house in a zippy bag where mommy and other scavengers would continue a long disposal process for the ill-fated and suddenly demolished house. It's funny how many fingers found their way into the bag, despite claims of the gingerbread not being very tasty!