Christmas

The Christmas season couldn't get underway fast enough for Cole, who found our most festive dog toy to help pass the time.

Before basking in the late sun light that can only come approaching the solstice.

Eva came and those Peloza kids could officially start. Celebrations involved eating cuisine from their cultures. Well, if Eva was Japanese. You see, first the sushi place had a wider range of choices than, say, the pho place. But when given the choice for sushi, Eva will forego just about any other kind of food.

Ahead of Christmas we all spent a lot of time in the living room playing cards. Our resident elf, shown here on the, made up some crazy rule that led to the longest Uno game in history.

Seriously, it was way over an hour. Things got a little cooky later in the game, as multiple people called Uno and then ran up a hand of two dozen cards. Hilarity ensued.

Of course we had more than our fair share of Christmas-themed movies. But only one was a favorite of Alexis, and the kids chose that one to bounce around behind the couch with the freebie balloons. The adults seem pleased.

We actually spent most of the holiday in that room, doing each others' hair and playing with those darn balloons. And recording for history the recovery from dad's eye surgery.

Not only a ton of time in that room, but on that front couch. Morning were especially lazy, given the robe culture in our home. Me and Eva would alternate left to right positions and swap in a new dog every now and then.

Eva also continued her holiday tradition of baking a pie with Donna (craftily photobombed by Cole).

Christmas Eve party is when things finally got real.

Finally, the big day arrived. First, the usual shot in front of the tree in the morning. Photo bombed by Calli. The first two are from the last two years (why was I not taking this picture every year before that?). People keep bending their legs, leaning, etc. so it's tough to measure just how short Alexis is getting over the years, but it's a thing.

Eva received her favorite food, sprinkles, along with permission to put sprinkles on 10 meals. Any 10 meals. So she had sprinkle toast almost every day. Based on the note that came with her gift to me, I think Eva appreciates it.

Both kids had slime-related gifts which they took to immediately, as well as some crystal-growing stuff that required some serious eye protection.

Some bonus time with Eva for an extended holiday and we find the time to drive 25.5 hours to spend 12.5 hours with nana! Totally worth it for an updated rocking chair pic and the chance to play on the same playground I played at when I went to school at their age.

Back home Eva and Alexis took up when me and Eva left off, lazing around on the couch. Looking at recipes, or cuticle care, or some such thing.

Further lazing during movie time on new years' eve. Staying up late and getting a little crazy, Levi first photobombs the pair but then learns the reality of the attack of little sister.

I joined them later in the afternoon after spending a few hours of this view of the grill on a rainy day. And another canine photobomb.

Another fairly uneventful birthday. Even boring by some standards. Of the two growlers I purchased late in the morning I had exactly two glasses of beer by the end of the day. But it was just like any other day, perfect.

Before heading out for Eva's trip down south, those Peloza kids made the most of every second together. One day they may be too big for this type of shenanigans. Nah.