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Now on to the family. We had a wonderful Christmas at home. It was all about us as the Beck's were away and we chose not to venture out on the roads and grace anyone with our rowdy presence. We fared well by going to a local living nativity at a Christian church in town. The camels were cool. It was cold and we had a bit of snow to add to the atmosphere. I'm a sucker for snow at the holidays for those who don't know... We saw a few movies and ate out as a family. If the kids truly appreciated time with their parents they would see that this was their best Christmas ever. Shani was open present-crazy, not especially interested in what was in them right off, but more the act of ripping, tearing and discovery. Grayson just knew there was an elevated sense of energy in the air and joined in. He ran through every room messing and destroying. His arms flying. Broadway hands whirling. It was exciting. Shani broke it to us on Christmas eve that Santa was going to bring her a kitty. Wow. We had to intervene strategically and get ahold of Santa to intercept that inquisition. He agreed that we wait a little while longer. Shani laments the absence of a box with holes in it under the tree, but still has high hopes for the nearest future possible.

We also went up to Camp Zarahemla for a night before New Years to see some real snow. The camp is in the southwestern shadow of Mount Ranier and spectacular even under 36 inches of snow. We had a one-room cabin that was heated and cozy. The kids loved the snow. Shani was infatuated with a full-size igloo someone had built and wouldn't ditch her acquired 'seal' persona and come in from the cold. Grayson had a hard time keeping his mini-mittens on and finally fell in the igloo and scraped his nose up good on the icy sitting bench inside. He did enjoy the sledding when warmth homeostasis was inline. We'll try to go back soon.

The new year has started off well. We've had a week of relative peace. It's never easy to get back into life after the time off and all of the fun. Shani has spent much of the year on all fours, convinced she's a kitty (her name is "sparkle" now - I had nothing to do with the choice...poetic, no?). Shani also has problems eating veggies. Once we pry them in, she has to waltz around her chair in order to chew. I'm lost to where this came from, but we indulger her. Grayson is hilarious to watch with one of Shani's kittys. He picks them up and makes an adorable "aaawwww" sound. He even pets Shani when she's in the feline zone. What a pair. You can't script this kind of dynamic.