Holiday Wrappings

...errr....make that wrap up.

On this twelfth day of Christmas (lemme check. Yep, it's still January 6th here), my true love gave to me....many special moments with our baby. (Thanks, M!)

Here he is, prepping for the onslaught of merriment.

Dylan and his daddy, topping the tree.

Our warm little house all aglow.
(Can you tell we live in California, enjoying the porch in December?)

The halls are decked, the stockings are hung,
and we are ready to PARRTAY.

"Look deep into my eyes."
Dylan with his Granddaddy

My dad came down from Northern California to wish his grandson a happy first Christmas before heading back east to be with my younger brother and his family. We missed them all! But I was glad they could be together.

Grandpa Jack reading - rather dramatically - a favorite from
M and his sisters' childhoods, "The Christmas Mouse,"

(I have a feeling a new tradition has been born.)

M's family came over on Christmas morning for a great potluck brunch. We exchanged "Simple Santa Stocking Stuffers" - everyone gave each other the same gift of a nominal value, which made shopping so much easier and more affordable. And the gifts were great! For example, we all got movie theater tickets from M's sister, practical flashlights from his dad, and framed photos of Dylan from M (my personal favorite).

Dylan - in one of three adorable Christmas outfits he received -

with his silly Grandmommy

On the 26th we headed "over the river and through the woods" (actually down the freeway and toward the beach) to my mom's place. There we shared festivities with my older brother and his family, in the area from Arizona. After hours of opening wonderful gifts, we enjoyed a yummy dinner of mac'n'cheese and chocolate cake and took a quick stroll through the canals, with the fancy houses and docks alight and sparkling in the water.

Dylan with his great aunt and my counsin

With my dad back in town, on the 27th we went to his sister's place for our traditional Scandinavian celebration, complete with herring and meatballs (neither of which I eat, but I do enjoy the rice pudding!). Her house is always so cozy, and it was great to catch up with my counsins.

We had such a nice holiday season. We got to spend time with so many loved ones. (Is it my imagination, or did some of them want to spend more time with us this year? I wonder why. We ate and drank well and too much. We - especially Dylan - got so many thoughtful, creative, generous gifts, and we enjoyed the grateful reactions to those we gave too. This year more than most, we found ourselves singing; it's not something we do on a regular basis, and I loved it. For some reason, all of the carols about adoring a special baby especially resonated. It was certainly a Christmas season to remember.

I think my favorite memory will be of one of the simplest moments of the season: getting cozy with M and some hot cocoa on Christmas night, on the floor in front of our beautiful tree, with our jolly boy between us.

Here he is with the gorgeous stocking his Auntie L. hand stitched for him.

Happy New Year!
Best wishes for health, happiness, and
dreams come true in 2010!