We went to Santa again this year. And it was particularly funny, since the line for Santa was abut an hour long. And directly across the way at Redmond Town Center was a giant Menorah and was nearly empty. But there we were, in the Santa line, singing the Chanukah songs. The boys will be maybe just a little confused at holiday time about which line to stand in….  But Santa gave them little rubber duckies with sweaters on. So, Santa wins again this year. So, we cut the yak yak and make with the photos, shall we?

Gramps' lovely Menorah

Tamaryn and I took the boys to see Santa again this year. This year we had MUCH better results than we did last year. We even got a shot of them smiling!  Yay!

I’ve even decided that, are you sitting down, that we need to have a tree for them next year.  Not a traditional Christmas tree, though. Picture a cool, vintage aluminum tree decorated with blue stars that would be at home in Liz Taylor’s house in 1956. Totally cheating, I know. But jeez… they don’t make it easy to be Jewish when you compare Xmas to Chanukah.  Xmas is just more fun. So, I kind of give up. YOU WIN, CHRISTMAS! We’ll have the very first tree I’ve ever had IN MY LIFE next year. But the whole thing should look like this…

Not that I have high expectations or anything.

Wow, the boys have such generous family and friends! I wanted to show everyone how much fun they have with their new stuff. So, here goes!

Dave and the boys roll the super awesome Caterpillar trucks Gramps and Grannie Annie bought them down the hall.

All three guys play with one of the super fun toys from Gramma Char. Beep beep!

Nana sent Levi’s most favorite thing of all (this week). Hot Wheels! Wahoo!

Not sharing…. no. Not at all.

Great Aunt Phoebe and Unkka Don sent a whole fish themed gift! This is one of those fishies. We’re taking it to the aquarium tomorrow.

Milo LOOOOOVES the Yo Gabba Gabba gifts from Auntie E and Uncle Steve. He barely lets anyone else near them.

Milo is hoarding the new “Find It” book that Nana and Grampa Michael gave them.

Gramma sent the coziest pajamas EVER! See for yourself. Milo’s has trains and Levi’s has dinosaurs.

I know that we aren’t the Christmas type of people. But I am still not a person to pass up a photo opportunity for the boys. Note that though I said “photo opportunity for the boys” and yet there I am in the photo… Well, Levi didn’t want anything at all to do with Santa. He was terrified and absolutely refused to sit on Santa’s lap. It took the work of two elves, Tamaryn, and Zippy to keep him as happy as he is below. Which isn’t very happy. And, naturally, since Levi was miserable Milo was frowning in solidarity.

Even Santa looks grumpy.

After leaving Santa’s living room everyone cheered up. They even had fun sitting on the ground outside Santa’s house.“Come on, Levi. I heard that reindeer can fly. Maybe we’ll convince that one over there to take us for a ride.”

Snzzzzzzzzzzz………… Sugarplums dancing in their heads?

He was the greatest nondenominational St. Nick! His beard is real. We know this because Levi pulled on it nearly the whole time. He is such a cynic.

It is a strange first Chanukah. We’re had an epic snowstorm here in Seattle this week and had something like a foot of snow on our block. People are skiing past our house. Even for this Chicagoan it is a little much. Benny and KJ were supposed to arrive tonight and we were supposed to start our road trip tomorrow. But since the airport is a disaster zone and all the flights are cancelled the trip is postponed until Tuesday. Earliest. Fingers crossed.
In the meanwhile, we only have enough candles for 6 days of Chanukah! Can we make the candles last all 8 days? Will we have a Chanukah miracle? Wait and see.
The boys tear into Gramma Ellin and Grampa Michael’s awesome presents. The tissue paper was nearly as much fun as the books!

Fun fact: dinosaurs, made by Gramps, are both tasty and delicious.