Garrett got a couple of puzzles for Christmas. They were both about 100 pieces and we figured that Garrett might like to do them once or twice, with a lot of help.

Well, we helped him a lot with the first. We helped him a little with the second. Since then he has redone each of those three times on his own. We borrowed a puzzle from our friends and he put it together twice in 2 hours.

Nate optimistically pulled out the last puzzle we own - a tiny 1000 piece puzzle we bought years before Garrett was born. As Nate and I separated edge pieces and felt a little regretful about spending our free time putting a puzzle together, Garrett made 10 matches. 

Eventually, discouragement settled in and our neighbors happily obliged us with a yard sale full of 100 piece puzzles. Garrett has worked through 4 of those entirely on his own and has two more to do. Thus begins the Great Puzzle Era.

My favorite part of this picture is that it describes his day perfectly. It started out with a bowl of yogurt with granola (see bottom right). He then put together the dinosaur puzzle. Afterwards, he took a break and had an orange for a snack. Finally, he moved onto his Toy Story puzzle. I can't say that I mind the fact that he spends hours diligently and quietly working on puzzles.

If only we could teach him to pose for the camera. Oh well. We'll eliminate male model from the world of possibilities.

Meanwhile Carlie, not to be outdone, composed three Sonata's and an Aria.

This past Sunday was Garrett's first day in Sunbeams!* He's really getting old on me now. Is this the face of someone you would like to have in your Sunbeam class?

*Children 18 months to 3 years go to Nursery in our church. In January of the year they will turn 4, they start to go to Primary which consists of an hour joint singing and learning with all the children and then another hour for their own Sunday School. That youngest class is called "Sunbeams"

Whew! What a Christmas! We had a jam-packed full of fun month this December. Although I was exhausted through most of it, largely due to a lingering cold, I can't wait to do it again next year. The number of truly magical Christmases like this one are limited after all. Everything is so exciting when you're three years old.

We finished off the countdown with a video phone call to Grandpa in China and our lengthy Christmas Eve celebration which included fondue, watching old Christmas home movies, watching the church Nativity movie, eating figs and pita bread in front of the fire, and singing our favorite Christmas songs.

On Christmas morning, Santa left a scavenger hunt for the kids to run around and find their presents. Garrett was speechless when he saw Buzz Lightyear. Isn't it great when you can ask for one thing specifically for months and still be shocked when you get it? Even when that item is bit scuffed because it was bought used?

This was our first Christmas by ourselves in our home on Christmas morning and I have to say, I'll never go back. We really enjoyed each other's company. 

Here's a video of my favorite reaction by Carlie (you don't have to watch the whole thing, but I don't have time to edit it right now. The first 30 seconds are the best):

We had Christmas dinner with friends and later on had a visit from my Mom and brothers. We wish there was a place we could live to be near all our family.

I hope everyone had a Christmas as wonderful as we did!And I hope you've been enjoying our Hilarity Ensues. I just wanted to mix things up a little bit. I'll probably post new ones occasionally, as funny exchanges occur.