Christmas

I know I'm a little late, but hey, better late than never, right? We had a wonderful, relaxing Christmas with the Wards. It was amazing to have a three day weekend with Taylor, but it went way too quickly. On Christmas Eve we performed the traditional nativity with my family, as always. It is definitely a comical version. Here's my sister Emma as a wiseman.

And from left to right, Emma (wiseman), Me/Rachelle (Mary), Levi (Joseph), Lauriel (angel), and Scout (Jesus).

Levi opened one present on Christmas Eve; it's his new favorite book.

Auntie Em and Levi on Christmas morning; Levi adores Emma.

Grandma fed Levi fruit snacks all morning to keep him entertained.

Alec's handsome face (and new shoes).

Taylor with our present from Levi (such a generous son).

Don't you love flattering Christmas morning pictures?

Levi's new boots (that come with a little story later on).

After church, we visited Josh's grave to wish him Merry Christmas. It was cold and windy. Especially for Scout and Levi.

The day after Christmas we went handed out food to the homeless in downtown Seattle (another Ward family Christmas tradition). Levi was mesmerized by the park entertainer.

While we all handed out food, he stood and listened to the music for hours.

And here's our little family on Christmas, all ready for church.

Levi waking up to the joy of Christmas.

Grandma hid fruit snacks in all of Levi's presents; needless to say he was usually more interested in the fruit snacks than the presents.

And the boots. Here's the story I promised. I looked everywhere for boots small enough for Levi. He loves to go outside and is always getting all muddy and wet (the constant Northwest weather keeps the yard perfect for that). I finally found some and he loved them at first. But after that first tumble in them you see at the end of this video, they were petrifying. After the camera was turned off a full on tantrum about the boots that made him fall down ensued. It took three weeks until he got over it. (Just yesterday to be precise). Everyday I tortured him by putting the boots on for five minutes while he cried and refused to walk. Until yesterday he finally decided they were no longer scary and just decided he wanted them on and he ran around outside no problem. Crazy kid.