this christmas

Eddie's second Christmas was full of snow and presents. We went up to my parents' on the 23rd amidst a heavy snowfall. Christmas Eve highlights included Eddie building a snowman with his Dad and a dinner with traditional Maine lobster stew, which E3 and I prepared together, our first joint culinary effort. Christmas morning Santa came; E4 woke around 6:30 a.m. and we showed him his presents under the tree. He went for a big bouncy ball first and then slowly but surely discovered all his other gifts including Legos, a caterpillar pull toy, a glockenspeil/xylophone, a small Grover doll (because he loves the story "Monster at the End of This Book,") a Mr. Potato Head, a forklift truck and various books. Then my sister, Mike and Noah arrived and we went to the country club for an early dinner. Afterward we visited with family friends, the Duchelles. The 26th we celebrated our family Christmas with Noah and Eddie stealing the show for most gifts. Snow fell again and we all went sledding (or sliding as they call it in Maine). Eddie loved it. Laughed and smiled the whole time. Went sledding again on Sunday. And a magical end to an overall magical Christmas - after a busy morning of outdoor play, Eddie fell asleep on Gramps' lap...something he hasn't done since he was a newborn. He was watching the Packers play and just passed out in Gramps' arms...too cute.