December 26th

I'm loving this new 'make your photo a painting' app!  Steph might like it less than I do.

You spent the morning watching Fireman Sam and painting for Aunt Vanessa (who requested only a painting from you for Christmas...).  You and I collaborated on one too.  Her's is beautiful!  I'm so glad I take pictures of even the ones you give away...You really are quite talented with colors... My little PiKaiso...

After refusing to nap, we decided to head over to G&G's for our (late) Chanukah...and Steph decided to "stop quickly" at AT&T...an hour later, you were well into your nap and she still wasn't out. Group decisions are less effective when the group doesn't know about them. But.  You got a nap, that was needed...and you weren't quite over it when we got to G&Gs...so some good cuddling went down. Everyone played...we made sure that you got some good play time in with every person in the house... You are quite sensitive to moods, Kiddo.  You have so much of Papa and of me in you...it's amazing. I'm so glad you got so many of our good qualities!  You could've ended up super bullheaded and manipulative!  :)

<3

Speaking of...we're going to do a community service project once a month...starting this month with the food bank.  Sound good?  xxx

December 25th

Wow do you love Brennan.  I don't know that anyone pulls you quite as magnetically as that boy...and seeing you two together couldn't make me any happier...except, maybe, for seeing you two and Steph playing with Legos together.  That's pretty amazing.  I love our Christmases with Paula and Brennan in all of the different shapes they've taken.  This Steph and Mattie thing seems to fit right in with our usual (a good thing, since Paula and Mattie are engaged and Steph and I will be married by the next Christmas).  Big gay family...I love us.

We came home and you were pretty sad to be leaving Brennan, but we've made plans to go to a food bank with him next week. So, assured that you'd be seeing him soon, you slept for about half of the drive home.  We got home and Nana made us breakfast, and we all opened stockings and then presents.  You got so much, Man!  You are such a non-standard kid...You wanted to play with your old toys in the midst of opening things.  You gave us your things to open so we could be opening more...you're just the best kid...

We did a great job, everyone seemed pleased with their presents... everyone seemed happy with dinner and their company... What a lovely Christmas...