Letter From Santa

Letter From Santa
Originally uploaded by randallhayter

As all small boys must, James woke us up today. He didn't want to open presents Well, not yet anyway. He wanted to show us a letter he got from Santa and eat the peppermints that were with the letter. It seems James left Santa some drawings and a joke (Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side!) and Santa liked them.

Thinking Of Presents

Thinking Of Presents
Originally uploaded by randallhayter

James doesn't wear his glasses very often, but when he does, it always looks cute. He needs them so that he can read the name tags on his presents. Good thing he put them on - the one he was getting ready to open was for the cat.

Exposition Christmas Song

Exposition Christmas Song
Originally uploaded by randallhayter

James calls "Jingle Bells" the "Exposition Christmas Song" when he sings it and goes really fast. Today he is going at King Kamehameha super fast speeds usually only seen in interplanetary spacecraft. Why is it that small boys move faster when they are tired?

Snow Bush

Snow Bush
Originally uploaded by randallhayter

The great December snow of 2009 ended here late Saturday night/Sunday morning with about two feet on the ground. Sunday afternoon we had a Christmas party at the house and almost everyone who had planned to attend made it just fine.

Christmas Dudette

Christmas Dudette
Originally uploaded by randallhayter

James did the Christmas tree decorating yesterday. I think he did a great job. Once the angel is on, the tree is done. Tam made this one in 1992.

Dr. James

Dr. James
Originally uploaded by randallhayter

When I got home from work today, I was met by a curious sight. James had his lab coat (and glasses, which he almost never wears) and was performing an experiment on the kitchen counter. He had green dyed hydrophobic sand and some water so that he could investigate its properties.

He said I needed safety glasses so I shoo-ed myself away.

All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth

All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth
Originally uploaded by randallhayter

OK. When he lost one tooth, he was proud. Now he's REALLY proud and will surely have no teeth at all soon.

Radiate Me

Radiate Me
Originally uploaded by randallhayter

I don't get much of a chance to quote Tom Roland and Merle Haggard, but even though today is the warmest we've had in a few, it feels cold:

If we make it through December
Everything's gonna be all right I know,
It's the coldest time of winter
And I shiver when I see the falling snow

I'm glad that old radiator is pumping out heat.

Lost a Tooth

Lost My First Baby Tooth
Originally uploaded by randallhayter

Yesterday, James lost his first baby tooth. He was quite proud of himself and is looking forward to having no teeth at all. I can't convince him that teeth don't come in all at once.

Christmas Polar Bear Sled

Christmas Polar Bear Sled
Originally uploaded by randallhayter

Nothing like a little traditional Christmas decoration to put you in the holiday mood. Lets make sure everything is covered:

Prezzies - check!
Snow - check!
Elves - check!
Sleigh - check!
Polar bear sled team - check??
Tropical plants - ??

Christmas Crystals

Christmas Crystals
Originally uploaded by randallhayter

This is one of those "Magic Growing Crystal" cardboard trees. It took about 4-6 hours to grow after we added the Mysterious Magic Water(tm).

"CAUTION: To be used under Adult Supervision. Proper Laboratory Safety Procedures Should Always be Followed!"

James and His First Snowman

James and His First Snowman
Originally uploaded by randallhayter

There is a icy-cold, wet snow falling today. The first snow of the season and James is old enough to make snowmen on his own. So far, he has made three.