oh come all ye faithful

we are getting ready to hit the hay after a wonderful christmas day. i have to say, the days leading up to christmas were more than a bit chaotic and didn't even feel like the holidays to me. i was a little down about it on christmas eve but today totally made up for it...just a nice, cozy, relaxing day at home with zack and thea...exactly what we all needed.

we kept the presents to a minimum as [1] we don't need anything and [2] don't have the space for one more thing around here and [3] are very aware that for future christmases thea will require much more than wrapping paper or an empty box to be satisfied! that being said, zack gave me a really awesome new laptop and i got him this cool water carbonator [thanks for the idea sue and kevin!], both of which we've already put to good use.

thea got a few things including an elmo doll. we've watched sesame street a handful of times and she is definitely drawn to elmo while watching but he is ubiquitous - on her toothpaste, her earth's best snacks and her diapers, to name a few - so she's pretty much in love with him and says his name 500 times a day.

note: thea's faux hawk is in full effect in this video and check out her new t-shirt [a present from her dada, chargers fan that he is].



for my family: here is our attempt at a christmas morning top-of-the-stairs photo, self portrait style. not quite the same without you all!



merry christmas everyone! we wish you much love and happiness this holiday season. we head to the east coast tomorrow night and are looking forward to everything but the g.d. cold weather. we're trying to prepare: