Despite the bugs that kept rolling through our family, Christmas came. We celebrated in the predictable, treasured ways: Christmas cookies for Santa, presents under the tree (several times), Christmas dinner made by Mom, family gathering and lots of laughter.
With family together, “Holly Season” was in full-swing. The goal of Holly Season is to bombard me with endless jabs until I melt into a lump of babbling goo or explode into a rash of profanities. This year, my Dad upped the ante, offering $50 a pop to the one who can dish out the most impressive blow.
This is the same “The Night Before Christmas” book that Dad read to Skip and I when we were little. It was followed by my Dad throwing rocks on the roof and ringing the decades old antique family sleighbells in the backyard (“Hear that, Will? Better get to sleep! It sounds like Santa is nearby!”) Growing up, my brother and I never went to sleep faster than when we heard those bells…
Kate handled the events of the holidays like any other day. She used the presents as opportunities for climbing, did her best to taste every ribbon and bow, and loved all the fun attention. She is showing incredible independence and a frightening sense of curiosity. Presents are great… but doorstops and electrical sockets are tops!! Yikes.
Emily and Skip shared in the holiday illness funk… no all-night Catan sessions this year!
Our happy girl! Climbing on everything she sees…!
Little man, in a very rare pause.
My Dad covered video and let me have a ball taking pictures. I got to play with a ton of settings and learned a bunch… (more on that later).
Christmas cards and presents finally went out. FINALLY. There are two more that I’d like to send, but at least the big stuff is done and out. Whew!
Chew, chew, chew.
Will loves his super-cool CAMERA. He takes it everywhere. We haven’t uploaded any of the pictures yet… keep an eye on Will’s photography blog for updates!
The kids also opened music instruments! Including a REMO gathering drum (like in Music Together) and NINO percussion sets. Whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on!
What a wonderful holiday!
Mobile is the home to the Gulf Coast Exploreum, a science center with exhibits, toddler play area, and seriously awesome IMAX dome theatre. I love IMAX dome theatres.
On Friday, we all visited the Exploreum (hooray for memberships!) and enjoyed “Roving Mars” about the twin robots, Spirit and Opportunity, that landed on Mars in 2004. It was pretty darn incredible, both the film and the theatre. 
The kids did great. We knew that loud noises would not phase Kate; although I did almost take her from the theatre when she tried to engage the Rovers in chatty conversation near the end of the film. Will liked the rockets. 
The majority of the time at the Exploreum was spent in the Wharf — a fishing port complete with boat, lighthouse, and a sea of blue and green balls with lobsters, fish, and crab ready to be caught in nets and brought to market.
Kate enjoyed rolling around specially designed padded areas for crawler playtime. We hope to go back during our next visit to Mobile — a great place for kids to play.
