Christmas 2022

We kicked off the holiday season with a drive to a Christmas tree farm in the Santa Cruz Mountains to cut down a fresh tree. There was a bit of misty rain and it was very atmospheric and magical. 

However, the boys were primarily cold and annoyed. At least there was free hot chocolate. 

Jack in the blue jacket, Henry in the yellow jacket with the look of death on his face: 

The boys perked up a bit as we set out into the rows of trees: 

Upon arriving home, the boys got to work decorating.

Henry selects ornaments while Jack, perched on Steve's subwoofer, hangs them up:

Henry, being very Henry:

Henry provided evidence that he hasn't been adequately introduced to world religions when he, upon being asked what he wanted for Christmas, requested a dreidel. 

Jack and Steve build a little Lego Christmas train:

Steve's Christmas Lego this year:

My parents arrived, and Henry was ready to greet them with demands to play board games:

Wearing Santa hats does not, unfortunately, speed up Christmas' arrival: 

Steve and I developed a habit of making jokes about what was required to get Santa to bring gifts, which left Henry exasperated. "You just keep making up rules to make us do what you want!" Uh oh, he's on to us.

Steve got to open his Christmas gift early (selfishly on the part of me and the boys, so he could cook Christmas dinner with it):

A new smoker!

And a Henry!

Dad's assistant Jack helps assemble the smoker:

Fast forward to our delicious Christmas dinner, Steve cuts the smoked prime rib:

In the foreground is Yorkshire pudding Steve made that was truly phenomenal. I've never liked Yorkshire pudding, but I tried Steve's to be polite, and it was outstanding. I think I ate most of it.

Delectable sides: roasted broccoli, homemade rolls and Mormon "funeral potatoes": 

Rewinding to the boys' agonizing wait until Christmas...

The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History hosted a modest but fun model train display that we visited on Christmas Eve. It was a great way to kill some time. 

Grandpa in green in the foreground, Henry and Mom in blue, Jack in orange: 

Jack controls the train around the bend while Henry and I look on:

My dad's edits to my Christmas decorations (Lego stormtrooper holding up my Christmas penguin):

The boys open new pajamas and robes on Christmas Eve: 

Jack, reading by the Christmas tree: 

Christmas morning arrived at last!

The boys do some early morning raiding of stockings: 

Henry shows off his finger lights: 

After the traditional breakfast of sausages and sweet rolls (cinnamon rolls this year), it was time for presents.

Santa Jack, Henry and Grandpa look on as Steve opens a gift:

Grandma poses with her decorative glass houses (apparently the answer to the question, what do you get the person who has everything?):

Grandpa with his latest Snoopy (which delightfully shakes maracas to Feliz Navidad... I managed to stop myself from buying a second one for me to keep): 

Jack (in awesome Christmas monster truck shirt) and Henry (in his new plaid robe) rip into some presents:

Jack unwraps his Buzz Lightyear starship set from Dad: 

He was totally thrilled, to the point of not being able to hold still for a picture until later:

A steadier Jack and his spaceships: 

A delighted Henry opens an adorable stationary kit from Dad (a gift he has loved and used often since):

After opening his stationary, Henry exclaimed with delight, "It's too much! I'm going to be a writing guy now!"

Henry was just a teeny bit excited about his new game-watch (thank you Costco clearance sale for allowing me to check that one off the boys' Christmas list):

The volume associated with this moment was as intense as you'd imagine:

A tired, but still kinda cute, little family:

Then it was time to really surprise the boys with this year's big gift: new bikes from Grandma and Grandpa!

Complete with big red bows!

Jack, testing out the new wheels:

Henry was excited to take his new bike out right away, while Jack took a little more time to get used to the idea. But Jack's initial reticence gave way to excitement about the new wheels, and he's been enjoying them. These bikes are the boys' first that have hand brakes and gears, though the most exciting feature to them seems to be the kickstand.    

The boys were of course not forgotten by Steve's mom, who got them adorable wearable animal blankets.

Snuggly Henry:

Cozy Jack:

Grandma Loveridge also got them a bath art set (with colorful bath bombs and "paint" soap) that they've absolutely loved. They've been harassing me to buy more bath paints as they use up their favorite colors. 

I had to get caught up on work (after missing so much time due to assorted kid diseases), so Steve took the boys to visit Grandma Loveridge, with some bonus relatives in attendance too! 

Aunt Jessica (rocking hair color expertly applied by the boys) guides them through an art project, constructing adorable felt Christmas tree ornaments:

Grandma stops in to supervise: 

The boys delight in playing Uno with Cousin Michael:

All in all, we had a nice Christmas. We did get my parents sick (because of course we did) but they (eventually) recovered and we were glad to be able to host them.