When the parents proposed a toast to welcome in 2016, neither child was interested. “Toast? I don’t want toast!” They knew we had sparkling cider and special ice cream treats and thought those much more celebratory than toast. After a brief explanation, kids agreed to a toast, but Ezri has requested we call it “a cheers.”

Here is a cheers to welcome the new year!

Ivan was convinced that the parental champagne had something to do with Princess Leia due to this image on its cap.

This last photo is because sometimes its nice to have a photo of the whole family together celebrating.

Ivan kept repeating throughout the day at intervals, “I love Christmas.”
When asked what he loved his answers included breakfast, presents, legos, and bacon.

In parenting sometimes we do things that are more effort than they are worth. But the delight to effort ratio on making reindeer and Santa pancakes was in my favor and may become a tradition. Eating Santa’s head and Rudolph’s antlers = yum!

The antlers are the first to go.

Whipped cream is delicious.

Ivan is big enough to really help deck out the tree this year!

Dad adding the spaghetti monster when the decorators have completed their task.

Posing with the finished product.

This one was made by Ivan and Jason. I helped and Eric whipped up some frosting.

This one was made by Ezri and Lori.

Here our teams are hard at work.

Ivan had so much focus for placing candies. I was surprised. He’s placed all the white M&Ms so carefully. While he did eat some candy, he spent more time decorating than eating.

The team finish photo with paper Ezri too.

Jason and Ivan’s team finish photo.

This new garden friend is very heavy, but Ivan is so strong he can pick him up with ease. He’s demonstrating here.

Ivan and Ezri loved opening presents and helping each other open presents. Ezri could read all the tags and Ivan started asking her who the presents were for.

Ezri and Ivan agree that bacon is great.
Does this pancake make me look like Santa?

There are lots of new things, but the best parts of the day were playing together (sometimes with the new things and sometimes without). We invented a new backyard soccer game thanks to warm weather. We took Ezri’s new Elsa doll out to see the holiday lights on an evening stroll. Elsa glitters beautifully in the street lamps. We had a long skype with grandparents in Montana who showed us their snow. Ezri let Ivan ride her like a pony down the hall. We snuggled for stories all together and the futon. We played on the swings at the park until Ivan forgot to hang on and fell. The kids played together on the rug while parents put together a tasty brunch.

Lighting the menorah

Basking in the glow

Storytime on the futon

Max monkey under the tree.

Our tree all lit up!

The first ornaments on the tree which were made by Ivan and Ezri.

The tree decorating team on their stepstool.