Between Times

We're back from our Christmas stint in Canada, and are looking forward to spending New Year's in Colorado. It's good to be home.

Highlights, in no particular order:

• Gingerbread house: It's been a longstanding tradition that we construct gingerbread houses from scratch. Usually very large houses with obscene amounts of candy. This year, Mom got a kit (good!) and wanted Anna to decorate it (questionable). I wasn't sure Anna could exhibit enough/ any self control, and was anticipating numerous candy related meltdowns. But she surprised me, and although candy was certainly consumed, the vast majority ended up on the house.  
  

• Sledding: This is the first year Anna has exhibited interest in sledding, so we checked out a nearby mini-hill. The first trip she'd only go down once, the second three times, and the third outing saw numerous runs. As for Isaac, he was restricted to a mellow ride in the rail sled. The first trip saw angry faces, the second a frown with scattered smiles, and during the third outing he may have laughed. This has not been confirmed.
  
• Teeth: In an attempt to keep up with Anna, Isaac sprouted a "pirate tooth." Top lateral incisor, all alone up there.
• Christmas Eve candlelight service: Anna and three other darlings danced along the aisle throughout the darkened service. It was magical.
  

• Nutcracker: Anna's first ballet. She made it almost to the end. I didn't realize what an odd story it is until I tried to explain it to her. As Jon noted, it's more of a dream sequence than a narrative. Speaking of dreamy nonsense...
•  Beatles Rock Band: Did you know that it's "I am the egg man" not "I am the ape man" in I Am the Walrus?
  
• Jon's B-day, Dec. 23: We went out for a fabulous lunch, and then he went to see Avatar with my brother. A good day, even though it's a tough time to have a birthday. We'll be home for Christmas next year, so I'm hoping we can have an actual party. 
• Food: Mandarin oranges! Turkey-and-cranberry sauce sandwhiches! Stuffing! Pumpkin pie! Chocolates! More chocolates! Mulled wine!
  

Lowlights. Not many.

• Weather: Not! You thought I was going to say weather, didn't you - what with it being Canada in December. A reasonable assumption, especially since last year saw temps hovering between -20 and -40 centigrade. But it was actually quite balmy, relatively speaking.
  
• Isaac's non-sleep: I slept in the same room with Little Man and (a) he snores, (b) he knows I'm there, and (c) he doesn't adjust well to new surroundings. All this added up to a decided step backwards in terms of him learning to sleep for long periods of time between feedings. But we soldier on.
• Illness: Everyone got a bad cold except the kids (!!) and my dad. Jon got it the worst, which was the saddest thing of all.
• Anna's doctor visit: Did you know that old bruises on one's abdomen can suddenly explode in  size and develop underlying hard lumps? Well now you do.
• The trip back: This deserves it's own section...

Overall, a good time was had by all. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.