With countless toddlers with noisemakers, we once again rang in the “noon year” at the Durham.
Des not impressed with the band
Waiting for those balloons
So many balloons to catch/stomp
And confetti!
Eleanor hanging out with Lindsay and mom
…and with Billy and the girls
Des says, “hi” to the gentlemen viewing the arrivals and departures board
Walking out on 2016
Spending the last night of 2016 with friends
High fives to the new year!
Early morning Des
Des ready for “HOCKEY!”
At the game with ma and pa
A glimmer of smirk
What makes getting up at school-day times worth it on holiday break? When pulling into the zoo for Penguins and Pancakes, and asking Des what we’re going to do, he shouts, “PENGUINS!”
The first time mom and dad went a few years back, they borrowed cousin Liam for their child stand-in. Lesson learned, the magic move this year was still getting the picture with the African Penguin while the line is short, then grab pancakes later.
After a stack of cakes and a few craft projects later, it was time to explore the aquarium. Another unexpected benefit was getting early access before gates opened, with very few people around.
Des had the jellyfish exhibit all to himself.
He rarely spends more than a fleeting moment at this display, but Des was entranced this time. No one quite knows the reason. Perhaps it was watching Finding Nemo and Finding Dory recently. It could be, perhaps, it was just the pancake coma settling in. But, whatever the reason, the movies or his pancakes, he stood there on this morning watching the fish.
Excited about more penguins (!)
Des doesn’t always stand still long enough for the traditional tropical fish portrait, but he kindly obliged this morning.
Look closely…
Spotted the baby Gibbon born last October
“I can get it. I can almost reach it, Dad…”
The boys happily exploring the jungle floor trail
Desmond trying out the new training chopsticks that Santa brought him (on the best pad thai in Omaha)
Practicing the slurp
Trains and poinsettias, like peanut butter and jelly
Holiday celebrations wore everyone out
Goofing around with dad’s new grabber multi-tool. In the bath, as you do
Christmas morning began at 6:47am. Des wasn’t quite ready to start the day, so he lounged in mom and dad’s bed for a while, then watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas for the third time this season while the lightning storm passed. About an hour later, he was ready to shuffle downstairs and see what Santa brought. Or go get a pretzel.
All things “rocket ship!”
Des balanced being very thankful with wonder and distraction. About right for a toddler.
Eleanor slept through most of the morning activities, but woke up in time for breakfast
Desmond was most enthralled by his new train set
Assembling and reassembling, then further reassembling
After waking up from his nap at ma and pa’s house, Des was ready for round two. Proudly holding the R2-D2 ornament from aunt Megan, Viv, and Liam’s recent trip to Disney World.
The rainstorms continued, with 25mph wind gusts
More swirly, light-up toys
Ella relaxing with aunt megan
Playing with Liam’s new race cars and trying to bump each other’s riders off. “OVERBOARD!”
Back home, Des shows off his train to grandma
Ella, before everyone was just tuckered out.
A wonderful Christmas together, the first as a foursome.
Dad and Des wake up early (well Des normal, dad early) to begin baking pretzels
Ella doesn’t know what she’s missing out on yet
All bundled up and ready to go to great-grandma Jan’s house. Des also sporting dad’s special, once-a-year Christmas scarf.
While most of the toys at great-grandma’s house are several decades old (standing the test of several Meysenburg generations), Des is fascinated with newer Hoberman Sphere. Could also be because he’s up two hours past his bedtime.
Off from Daycare, Des spends the day with Viv, Liam, ma, and pa
Eleanor finds a snuggle friend, Buddy, ma and pa’s new puppy
A Shreffler tradition, making pretzels (dough) with dad
Mom’s fancy stand mixer makes it a breeze!
Getting every last bit. “Yummy!”
After everyone is asleep, dad works on this year’s “some assembly required” gifts
