Picking up the kids after mom and dad’s date night, the cousins are engrossed in a full-contact round of Hungry Hippos
Some primo lego action going on
Eleanor getting in on activity time with her new crayons, though mom assisting with the mechanics of coloring
Walking downstairs Christmas morning to see that Santa had arrived
…and ate the pretzel left out for him the night before. And the reindeer somehow ate most of each petite carrot, but left just enough crumbs behind to remind the faithful of the plate’s original content. Christmas magic.
Eleanor, either happy about the orange in her stocking, or just excited to be awake
“Mom, can you open both of these like right now?”
R2-D2 and Stormtrooper plushies for the win (in hand going to sleep most nights since)
Desmond presses forward, Eleanor pit stops with a pouch
TWO oranges? Woah!
Pretzel break.
Desmond opening his first gift from Santa, a barn puzzle!
Sister opening her very own set of crayons
Beyond excited to tug at bows and rip paper
Sometimes you just need take a breather
Brother and sister opening Chutes and Ladders together. These two <3
Des modeling his new Cars robe
This time, the injustice was her inability to get her new forks out of their packaging instantly
Trial run with the new spoon- it works.
Desmond surveying the pair of new LEGO Junior sets (brilliant product, by the way)
Des and his new big boy camera
Christmas lunch with great-grandma Kathy
Cousin Viv supervising the first lego build, Des happily the assistant builder
Viv carefully studying the build instructions
…though occasionally pausing for a photo shoot as Liam puts Des’ new camera through the paces
Upon returning home for nap time, Desmond felt his new Lightning McQueen lego car need to be tucked in for a nap as well
Desmond and Cal continuing the Christmas cheer
Eleanor walking over to mom, and judging from the look on grandma’s face, the first time she saw Eleanor take more than three steps. At 13 months, Ella is practicing more persistently than her brother, who after initially discovering his walking ability, shelved it until a few months later
Squeaker/shaker toys… for babies!
Grandma and Des, reading his new book Here We Are
Aunt Kellie, grandma Anne and dad’s first Christmas together in seven years!
Grandma offering structural engineering advice
Snoopy Bob Cratchit watching after the house, it was so fulfilling to enjoy the first Christmas together as a foursome. Complete.
Eleanor more than happy to rip into the wrapping paper, with the help of Buddy and Callie
Ella is ready to mash buttons, though this one won’t dial 9-1-1
Pa helping Desmond figure out his fancy new water bottle
The Christmas ornament from ma just happened to have Darth Vader’s voice at the press of a button- his new favorite, clearly
“Talking” on her new phone is fun, but just not enough to let go of that empty lens filter box
Cousins and ma figuring out the new game. It’s like a horizontal, spring-loaded jenga?
Celebrating aunt Megan’s BSN graduation
Yum corn!
Cousin hugs
Desmond and mom raking up the pods before dad dethatches. The overhead of the additional “help” is notable
She is utterly convinced the spinning portion of the drill is removable, as attested to by her persistence in trying to grab and pull it while whilst operating the drill
Eleanor’s new habit is to grab the remote and go fetch a blanket. While not much TV watching goes on to mimic to begin with, she just likes turning the remote around and pushing buttons
Eleanor practicing her new face, clearly excited for the tree lighting at the Durham
Des was a bit nervous to meet Santa last year, but was an old pro this go-around. He also asked Santa for “a barn,” though Santa could only laugh, having not heard that one yet this century.
Stepping into the map, near home
Exploring the Zoom Into Nano exhibit
“On your head, for a hat”
Desmond exploring the inside of a silicon wafer
After a night at ma and pa’s house, everyone goes to Liam’s hockey tournament (except dad, he was busy installing the new dishwasher)
Corn cookies from a friend are toddler approved!
Celebrating Viv’s birthday at Mama’s Pizza, great-grandma Jan offers some coloring advice
Nope, don’t look a thing alike
Des sucking down onion rings like they’re noodles
Front-row seat for present opening with Aunt Megan
Ella putting a ring on pa’s finger. Then taking off, putting it back on again, then…
More watching all the lights and noises than playing, he still had fun
Playing with Viv and Grace. Shirt: “It’s my birthday!”
Ella, big fan of balloons
Des watching the first-year slideshow
Not knowing what was going on with the crowd staring at her, needless to say, Eleanor was taken back by the spontaneous singing
With prior cupcake training complete, Eleanor knew to eat the cake
…one tiny, non-smashing pinch at a time.
Desmond eating his cake and ice cream, with a side of Halloween candy. Someone found extra treats…
Even with demonstrating a lot off effort towards self-restraint, Desmond flirts with doing a majority of the unwrapping
Ribbons don’t get any easier later in life either
So happy
Opening her presents from mom dad- a tent/ballpit
and a new winter/indoor tricycle (there are days dad thinks Eleanor isn’t looking out the window at the trees or cars, but rather pining after brother’s blue tricycle on the front porch)
