Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas is finally over for us, ended last night. It was quite a marathon this year. It started on Christmas Eve, which is when our little family has our time together. One of our favorite traditions is having Christmas Eve dinner at The Olde Ship in Fullerton. I don't remember how this started, but we've done it every year since we got married. The atmosphere is a lot of fun, and they pass out Christmas crackers, so there are usually a lot of people hanging out with paper crowns on, some of them totally drunk. Fun. The food is so good, I always get the lamb, and this year I decided to try the bread and butter pudding for dessert. It's traditional English pudding, which means it was more like really moist cake, and it was served with hot custard on top, and it was one of the best desserts I've ever had. After our dinner there we came home and opened our presents to each other.

On Christmas morning we woke up and opened our stockings, then went to Nathan's parents' for brunch and presents there, then went to my parents' for dinner and still more presents. And since Steve and Arla and Dave and Julie and all the girls were out of town for Christmas this year, we all got together last night to celebrate, and the entire family was almost lost forever in the enormous mountain of presents there. It was all really fun and I loved it, but I'm pretty glad it's over and we can relax and enjoy the cooler weather.

In the midst of all this, we're trying to teach Judah what the real meaning of Christmas is, but I'm not sure he's getting it yet. He wakes up every morning now thinking we're going to open more presents, and he's convinced that the baby in the manger is not Jesus, it's Micah. Maybe next year it will click....

Here are a bunch of pictures from our various celebrations. Unfortunately, the camera got left at home both times we were at my parents'. So, no pictures from there.

Judah and me at The Olde Ship, waiting (impatiently, on Judah's part) for our food.

Judah downing his traditional Christmas pint. Just kidding, Mom. The glass was empty. Almost.

The Christmas cracker. One of our favorite parts of Christmas Eve.

Nathan Cowell: Magi or rapper?

Judah playing with one of his favorite gifts, a harmonica. He was so excited about it, and now he walks around playing it like the world's littlest hobo.

Micah, before he totally ripped into that present. With some help.

Micah hanging out with Auntie Jenna. Doesn't he look benevolent and jolly?

Judah and a few of the several thousand cars he got for Christmas. He was in car heaven.

And Micah as Saint Nick. Merry Christmas!