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JWS is 6 months old. This was his first Christmas. We didn’t see him until Christmas Eve, because during the first week of our visit he and his wonderful parents were in Arizona visiting his other grandparents. Once he reappeared on the scene, though, the cameras started snapping.

He’s too young to be talking but he likes to communicate with his tongue. This means, Hi, Look at Me!

We witnessed an early experiment with feeding him rice cereal.

Christmas Eve had not a dull moment, with so many aunties

uncles

and even Mom to give him attention.

He was determined not to miss a single moment. In fact, he refused to take an evening nap (Why would Mommy and Daddy think I’d be able to sleep with a party going on downstairs?) But, he behaved very well for the most part, and stole the show in his starring role.

Lest you think that I didn’t take photos of anyone else unless they were holding JW, here are some other scenes from our Christmas Eve party (hosted by my brother and his wife in their lovely new home.)

I’m excited for next year – another nephew is on the way!

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

EAA is nine months old. This was her first Christmas. Highlights of our visits with her (and her awesome parents) included:

High-fiving Uncle B

Taking Miss G. Beagle to the dog park

Going to Christmas in the Park (a San Jose tradition since the 1970s)

Drinking water out of Daddy’s glass

Exploring at Grandma’s – under the tree, the winter-wonderland singing centerpiece, and playing piano.

We also got to visit with some friends who are newly mutual – J&M met our friends M&A when they were in birth classes before the arrival of their daughters. E’s meeting with KGP got off to a bit of a rocky start but with some diplomacy on the part of their parents, they ended up getting along well.

This Thanksgiving we were at Tahoe with BN’s family.

Playing down by the lake:

Skating at NorthStar:

Some new snow fell on Friday, so we got to go sledding. There was a intense wind, and it had whipped the snow into carved and fibrous shapes.