Merry Christmas ~

"For one human being to love another: that is perhaps the most difficult of our tasks; the ultimate, the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation." Rainer Maria Rilke

Out with friends

Christmas Eve

2007

Kris & Dennis

We went to eat at Californina Dreamin ... downtown Columbia. It was a fun Christmas Eve dinner. Here we are, pictured with Michael (Michelle's brother) outside of the restaurant after dinner. What GREAT food this place serves! Michelle and Michael's parents flew in from Maine earlier that day, and we were glad to get the chance to meet them and to have dinner together. Thanks for sharing your pics Erica. We will miss you when you move to Alaska in January.

*****

We all had a nice evening and then we went home to await ... SANTA! :)

Whoo Hoo --- Santa time is near

z z z --- time for bed --- z z z

Joshua went to bed right away around 9 pm, but Dakoda couldn't sleep and was up until almost midnight. He worried that Santa would come in and take him to a "new home again". We reassured him that wouldn't be the case ... but his little heart pitter pattered as he shared his concerns with us. I rubbed his head and he finally drifted off to sleep.

When they woke up (very early Christmas morning) the first thing he saw was his bike. His buddy Gavin had given his bike to Dakoda since he was getting a new one. It was very generous of them. Thanks Vasquez family. We were supposed to pick it up from them, but Santa was kind enough to bring it over to our home while he was out delivering presents. This will be a great bike for him to learn on, and then he can get a bigger bike when that time comes. Dakoda loves his new bike! Hey, maybe he and Joshua (LOL) can learn to ride at the same time. Bike riding hasn't been something that Joshua is too interested in ... but hopefully he will want to do it now that Dakoda has a bike of his own too. : ) Joshua loves to draw, and now he has a cool new eisle to use. Thanks Nanny and Paps!
Dakoda's prayer today: "Dear God, thanks for my new family for all of this food and stuff ... the end". He really liked his toy from Grama and Grampa and his fuzzy new blanket from Aunt Carol. Also, he went to Build a Bear workshop from Meme and Pappy and is enjoying his new Art eisel that he got from Nanny and Paps. He wants to be a "good artist" like his Bubba Joshua he said.

We opened presents and played with the kids for a while. It was a fun morning together. What a blessing it has been --- having this family and getting to spend this precious time together.

Santa brought BIG CANDY CANES for the boys. Yummy! LOL ... that is all that Dakoda asked for, for Christmas ... "I want candy canes" he said. The "Tommy 20 Gun" ... an automatic machine gun that shoots nerf bullets. We like to play "Army" here at our house, and now I think the boys have the upper hand for sure. We'll have to hide from them or they will surely "win the war" next time we play.
Joshua, age 7 *** Koda, age 3. It was a great Christmas morning. The boys had so much fun opening their gifts and playing with thier new toys. We all had a very nice morning! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Our two are definitely spoiled from our friends and family. They loved all of their gifts and played with everything that they received.
...

I was thinking back to when I was little, spending Christmas with family in Pittsburgh PA. We always had so much fun. Besides all of the yummy food, what I remember for sure is constantly pulling up my tights. Tights to pre-school, tights to Grama's house, tights - tights - tights. Don't worry Mom, I forgive you for putting me in those things. Ha, Ha, Ha. :)

Kris, age 2 *** Christmas day ***

Mom, you found those pictures! ? ! ? ! ? Wow. Ok, so here is the proof. Man, check out those chubby little arms! It seems like yesterday and now I have my own little ones. It is surreal!

Mark (my big brother), me, and David (my little brother) my best buds ... Pittsburgh, PA 1975