6 Years, 5 Months

The boys have decided they like sushi, so we ventured out to dinner (something Steve and I rarely do since policing children in a busy restaurant is not our idea of a good time). The boys were well behaved, though, so maybe we've finally gotten to the point where they can act like civilized humans, at least for short periods of time.

Jack weaponizes his chopsticks:

Okay, relatively civilized. 

On the lookout from anyone who might steal his sushi:

Henry, too busy stuffing his face to pose for a picture:

We also ventured out to Ikea (a 45 minute drive to East Palo Alto for us) to pick up a table for the space in our living room formerly occupied by a large rabbit condo.

Folds up tiny:

Half folded out:

It's already been a great addition to keep the boys' assorted projects off the kitchen table.

Speaking of projects, Jack made this with packing peanuts:

I thought it was modeled after a church, given the topper, but he corrected me. "It's my hammer tower! I put my valuable stuff in there and anyone that tries to take it gets hit with the giant hammer!" I see.

My sweet, darling Henry:

With claws:

With even bigger claws (which he eventually let his dad trim since he admitted they were making life a bit difficult):

Henry is a clever little imp. We received a card from a friend that featured pictures of their child from the past year. Steve and I were trying to remember how old the child was now, and Henry sighed like we were being very dense and said we should count the candles on the child's birthday cake, featured in one of the pictures. He didn't actually say, "duh," but it was heavily implied.

Jack having fun with bath art supplies from Grandma Loveridge:

Sweet boy usually draws hearts and rainbows. 

Jack does his own hair:

I took the boys out to the local children's museum for kindergarten classmate Annabel's 6th birthday. 

Jack clams up:

Henry and Jack after the liquid nitrogen demonstration that included making ice cream:

This particular party was well-attended by the boys' entire kindergarten class, unlike a previous party for a girl in their class where Jack and Henry ended up being the only boys present. I did notice that there was greater gender segregation in the groups of kids running around than I'd seen at preschool parties, which struck me as a shame, but I know it's often part of growing up.

Jack doing his best homage to Pan's Labyrinth while home sick with (yet another) cold:

An elaborate game set up by Jack, the rules of which were not entirely clear to me, but Henry and I did our best to play along:

When you can't take one more complicated game or sibling fight, enter... technology!

The boys zone out on the game watches they received for Christmas:

After holding out for the first 6 1/2 years of their lives, we caved and bought tablets for the boys. They were, to put it mildly, delighted. 

Screen addict, Henry version:

Screen addict, Jack version:

Screen addicts, Jack and Pirate Henry version:

Jack, the headphone fly:

Like father, like son:

To be fair to Steve, he was reading work e-mail, but I was still amused by the visual.

More screens! Henry cranes his neck to watch PJ Masks with Jack at the dentist:

Yet MORE screens! They're everywhere! On a trip the Home Depot, the boys enjoyed playing with the fancy fridges. 

Jack:

Henry:

Henry asked me to draw him a heart to color in, which kept him entertained for quite awhile. Maybe the smart fridge people are on to something.

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.