As the world turns . . . so our update continues. Andrew's birthday, of course, could only provide so many of the festivities for Christmas Eve. That night, while Robert read the nativity story, the grandchildren, festively dressed in costumes provided by Trisha and Laurie, enacted--supposedly--the events being narrated. Jake made a rather serious Joseph (although you ought to take a close look at his face in this second picture--it's priceless), and Katie was charmingly earnest about her role Mary. It should go without saying that the shepherd, far from adhering to his calling, was more prone to stray than any errant sheep. Lydia, as the angel, was perfectly calm and serene, if somewhat prone to eating her tinsel.







Following the rendition of the nativity, Sarah's kids were each allowed to open a present from their parents (pajamas, naturally!), and then the three youngest children were sent to bed. Once we were sure that Jake was also asleep, we were given the dubious honor of being Santa's helpers. This meant, essentially, that we put together Lydia's tent, arranged Katie's shopping cart and dress-up box near her stocking, and--most importantly--assembled the megablox Pirates of the Caribbean set that Jake got. As it took six adults nearly an hour to assemble the darn thing, I can only imagine that Sarah was grateful to be at her parents' house, where such help was available, rather than at home with only Aaron to help! Although I will say that putting together the water-wheel occasioned the worst fight between Dan and I of the entire vacation (Sarah said she was just about to kick us out!). My version of this story is that Dan put the wheel together wrong--he insists that he didn't. (As it turns out, I was right--and as the editor of this particular blog, I get the last word).



Since Dan and I gave Andrew his presents before we left, Robert and Trisha graciously let their gift to Andrew serve as his present from Santa. Appropriately, this little walker/rider is a fishing boat! We think Poppy is trying to train him young. Below, a close-up of Andrew on his boat.



As you can see, Santa definitely did well by Sarah's kids . . . Jake got the full Pirate experience: a ship, the water tower, a skull island, loading docks, etc. Katie got a shopping cart, princess dress-up box, play cleaning supplies. And Lydia got her own tent--not that this provided much protection from her rampaging older sister and cousin.







Not, of course, that eveything was smooth sailing. As with any family gathering, there was bound to be a few upsets. In this memorable photo (below), we've captured a blatant error on the part of that Santa Claus fellow. In a clear moment of Santa senility, Mr. Claus put a "Davy Jones" action figure in Matt's stocking--although he surely must have known that said action figure was destined for Jake's stocking. Jake, of course, blamed Matt for the switch. (Little did he know that it was really his mother's doing). The outraged youth cried, "That's not fair! That's mine! You stole that out of my stocking!" And although this photo is not a good depiction of the "facial sensation that's sweeping the nation" (Dan's phrase), Jake accompanied his outcry with a pretty fair sausage (crinkled brow, pouting lips, the whole nine yards).



Most of the remaining terrorizing, I'm sorry to report, was due to Andrew. With a typical toddler sense of property, he naturally thought that anything interesting was his--which not unnaturally upset his cousin Katie a fair bit, as Andrew laid claim to just about everything she'd just been given for Christmas. To be fair to Andrew, however, Katie did the same thing with Lydia's presents. Below, we have documentary proof of Andrew playing with Katie's cart, and Andrew and Katie occupying Lydia's tent. Katie, no doubt, thought Andrew's usurpation of her rights made it only fair that she retaliate in kind--I think she had more fun with Andrew's boat than Andrew did (and those are MY shoes that she's holding).







The remainder of this entry is dedicated to capturing some of the more memorable Christmas moments. (Well, or perhaps more accurately, those moments that we captured in film. As our photos were rather haphazard, I'm not sure they are the best chronicle of events). Below, we display Matt's present to the men of the family--a T-shirt eulogizing the gone (but not terribly lamented--except by Matt) Hinckley Eves, the family cat who disappeared somewhat mysteriously a year or so ago. (Or not so mysteriously. Trisha knows, but she's not telling).



Sarah and Laurie both showed off their seamstress skills at Christmas. Laurie made beautiful bags for the women of the family (unfortunately, we don't have pictures of these) and Sarah made matching aprons for the different couples. Below, we have Laurie, Matt and Robert modelling their aprons (Robert is also modelling the fishing hat he got from Jake, I believe), and Trisha revelling in the latest edition to her teacup collection.









And last, but not least, at the end of a long-day of revelry, the whole family joins in for a moment of rest and relaxation. (Andrew in motion in the foreground was pretty typical of the entire vacation. If he was awake, he was moving).