*sigh*

First present was opened at 8:00am.

Last present was unwrapped at 3:30pm.

Relax.

Play.

Slow down.

Those were the words of the day.

I love this day.

Truly he taught us to love one another;

His law is love, and His Gospel is peace.

Chains He shall break for the slave is our brother,

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

-John Sullivan Dwight

At this Christmas season, may we remember those throughout the world for whom the quiet calm of peace is out of reach. As we remember the birth of Jesus Christ--that great event that brought light and hope to the earth--may we continually pray for His mighty hand to soften the hearts of the nations, bringing joy to the world.

Sometimes, you're so tired, you can't sleep straight.

Warning:
THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS

WILL INDUCE MUCH HAPPINESS.

Ian got a little surprise from Fireman Bob in the Stoneham Fire Department.

This was the most still he was all evening.

It might just be one of my favorite pictures in the world.

This, my friends, is the essence of Ian.

There's so much I love about this picture.

You know they were good cookies when the spoon breaks.

(Also: the butter helps.)

If I look at these two photos for too long,

my heart will absolutely burst with happiness.

I always wanted a CNC machine.

You know, I didn't really think I'd see the day when we'd have a Cumputer Numerical Control (CNC) machine at our house. No, Jen didn't let me get a computer driven end mill or lathe.

I guess regular printers are pretty much a CNC type, but this week we got a printer--with a blade. And so now we are playing around and cutting various materials in basic or intricate patterns. (Potentially, this could save us some pennies, as we have routinely been sending cutting business to paper shops and to a friendly workshop in O'Canada.)

My first project: A room label with my boy, Rudolf.
Of course, Jen contributed to the effort too, since she is likely to be the primary user of our CNC cutter (yeah, she's likely to call it a vinyl cutter or silhouette or something else not nearly as masculine).
And here is my boy in front of his newly adhesed bedroom door. Don't worry, it'll come off when it's time to move. I think. I hope.
I created the doghouse concept with Ian's tutelage, and Jen did most of the sticking.
Ian did most of the cheering and giddy laughing. I took the pictures. Here's to many precision cutting projects in my future! Cheers!

Fun fact of the day:

We are currently estimating Blake's weight at about 27 pounds.

He's awesome.

(It's 2-for-1 day here at Jackson Family Fun Facts!)

^He's totally loving avocado right now...

and when the avocado is gone,

it sure makes a great vehicle for apple sauce.

And here's how I found Ian and his friend, Makenna, the other day

(watching another *component* of our play date drive away):

^Aren't they awesome?

(especially after having done Christmas Crackers.)

And this certainly deserves some explanation:

Ian's favorite buddy is a dog named Chester.

Chester was acquired at a Seattle-area Target (thanks, Brianne!)

after Horsey was lost while we watched them throw the fish downtown.

Chester also happens to be Ian's favorite portrait subject.

(mostly because the rest of us can't sit still.)

A month or so ago, Ian presented me with my very own portrait of Chester.

(I'd like to make it clear that the ^picture is labeled FOR me

and not labeled OF me. That would most definitely be an insult to Chester.)

^Ian has done a great job of decorating the door to my desk.

He was also thrilled to adorn the tree with Candy Canes on Saturday:

And this year, I decided to hang the stockings on the stair rail.

A mantle, it's not.

But it'll do, pig.

It'll do.

For you today,

Three Things.

1. The Tree is up!

(there was a slight delay...but it was worth the wait.)

2. The Cards are done and en route.

(*big sigh*)

3. The Ian continues to impress.

(I guess the countdown to the 'No Girls Allowed' phase begins)

A Milestone has been passed.

It is a rite of passage for my children.

Ian did it at 4 months...

...and Blake did it at 8 months.

We're talking about pooping on the potty, folks!!

Also?

Brother bath time!!

And lest you feel like you're missing out,

here's your preschool update!

Today we did:

1. Pattern Blocks

2. Baking

(The kids made their own individual chocolate chip pumpkin muffins.)

3. Blake in all of his cuteness

4. Greater-than and Less-than

Oooooooooh.

I'm full.

I've done a lot of eating in the last 24 hours.

A lot.

But when you come from a family full of Kitchen Geniuses,

I suppose it comes with the territory.

Back in my blogging days, I made a yearly list of gratitude. It was always so fun to look back at my year and think of the silly and not-so silly things for which I was grateful. This year my heart is full of the silly and not-so silly things that I hold dear (from my kids to my coffee grinder to fat quarters and everything in between).

At dinner, Joe had us share something we were most proud of from the year that has passed since last Thanksgiving. For some, it was a new job...for another, it was getting new teeth. I liked the idea of sharing our proudest moments--it was a truly happy conversation. Ian was proud of his progress in reading and reverence at church (when you're a 4 year-old boy, both things don't always come easy, you know). Blake couldn't share, but if I'm intuitive enough, I'd say that his proudest moment of the year was taking 8 months to gain as much weight as it takes most babies 2 years to do. Joe was proud of his 180-mile bike Tour de Cape this summer with the boy scouts. And me? Well, I am pretty proud that I had a baby in my living room that late night in March (a 60+ degree day...a gift).

It's been a good year, saturated with things for which to give thanks.

For Thanksgiving Day, we celebrated in Maine with my extended family--

both related by blood and by friendship.

And it all started off with crafts for Ian.

We had to do hand turkeys. It's the law.

And Sean and Joe got a start on the 20+ pounds of potatoes we brought.

(we ended up having races to peel the things. I won EVERY TIME.)

And it still blows my mind how grown-up these kids are...

...And seating for 26 stretched through three rooms...

I'll be honest: Papa was already done with his carving duties when I went to take a picture. He was a good enough sport to pose for me. I love my Papa.

We forgot what well water can do to a baby's digestive system.

So four outfits later we decided to let Blake go au naturale

until his stomach calmed down.

Ahhhh. The Neighbor.

...wearing suspenders and a belt.

I reminded him that he should be proud of his sense of preparation.

He laughed at me.

The Spread.

Ian insisted upon having his first drumstick.

I'm 94% sure he wanted one simply because it was called a drumstick.

And then Megan got the sillies.

So did Sean.

A Mitchell Family Gathering would not be a

Mitchell Family Gathering if it did not involve

some sort of tech support.

Uncle Mike set up a mission-control-type arena to fix some sick computers.

I think this picture is hysterical. I'm pretty sure only my family would agree...

...I guess you had to be there.

And there are more pictures of our weekend to come. We head home tomorrow (Saturday), as Saturday is official GET THE CHRISTMAS TREE day. After a music downloading frenzy on Tuesday, we're all set for time to put on the brakes so we can soak in as much Christmas Spirit as humanly possible.

*sigh*