Christmas 08 part 4

A little piano time with Liam and Ima, waiting for Christmas dinner. Gareth calls Liam "lima" and Liam calls Gareth "gare-gare." They have a blast together. Hugging, wrestling, playing, trying to get the other one to play what they want, etc.

Christmas 08 part 3

Eric and I got him a OU football uniform (jersey, pants, shoulder pads, helmet and chinstrap). He's a sports boy-other gifts this year include a golf set, a bowling set, and ABC football and baseball books












After a few weeks of use, Eric and I are now believers in the electric toothbrush. It'll change your mouth...











If Gareth can't hold a belly button while sucking his fingers, Mama's mole will do (unusual I know, but just the way he is-I keep telling Eric he will grow out of it)
















The fire truck was a very big hit













Cowboy Gareth














Oh, the goodies that Santa brought :)

Christmas 08 part 2

He insisted on wearing his Santa hat to bed













Matching Christmas pj's. Difficult to get a still and happy picture that late at night












With Liam. They are even cuter in person













The one he got to eat after decorating one for Santa












The Hughes side (missing Aunt Kirsy)













The Hocking side

















Our family after the Christmas Eve service at Grandpa's church












Building a snowman with the cousins














Wrestling with Liam

Christmas 08 part 1

This Christmas Abba, Ima, Aunt Ashley, Uncle Jeremeh, Aunt Mikayah, Liberty and Liam drove up (in the ice and snow) to Wisconsin to celebrate with us and Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Josh and Aunt Kirsten (and Lisa and Metta). We had lots of fun-snowmen, decorating Christmas cookies, Christmas pj's, opening presents, Christmas dinner, a trip to two museums and a birthday party. All in 6 days!

Decorating the Christmas Tree

This Christmas we invited our neighbors over to help decorate the tree. It was a win-win. Eric got out of decorating, which is not his favorite task. I got company, which I always enjoy. Gareth got friends to play with. And our neighbors got to decorate a live Christmas tree, something they don't get much back home in Singapore. The above picture was the one that turned out of all three of them. Trying to get them all holding still at once was a feat, we didn't even worry about them looking pleasant or smiling :)

Circus

Gareth, Mama and Daddy all had the opportunity to go to the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus in December (thank you Abba and Ima). It was Eric's and Gareth's first circus. We got to sit on the front row and ride in a little tea cup car around the ring, watching things from up close. Our cautious son spent the first 2 hours on Mama's lap listening to us explain everything and taking it all in. In the last 5 minutes he finally understood it enough to relax and then wanted to get down and dance to the music.

Thanksgiving

This year (well last year now) we celebrated Thanksgiving at the grandparents' in Wisconsin, with lots of friends and family. Our next door neighbors from Singapore came, our friends from Korea (by way of mission work in India) and our Israeli friends (by way of Ukraine and Belerus) came, too. We had a great time together and everyone really enjoyed it. We also brined our turkey and it was fantastic. I highly recommend it, even though it is a pain.