Ringing in the New Year

Much like last year, New Year's Eve involved some kind of organization of Aeden's room.  This year we said goodbye to the toy bins he has had for most of his life.  The bins were replaced with a bookcase to hold the multitude of anime/manga books he received for Christmas. 

After the reorganization we created our gingerbread houses and finished just in time to ring in the new year.

There were lots of silly pictures, fun Christmas crackers to open, and a shadow puppet play.  We hope that everyone has a wonderful 2013.

Gingerbread Houses 2012

Here are our gingerbread houses from this year. 

Poor guy was so tired!

 

Most Traditional

 

 

Most Animated

(apparently using pop rocks on frosting causes animation in some cases)

 

Aeden's is a hotel.   It has the area where you drive the car under to go and check in, a parking lot with cars, and a fenced in swimming pool (frozen swimming pool).

 

A few minutes after the pictures were taken the snowman was launched off the hotel by the force of the pop rocks used for decorations.

 







 

Most Artistic (realistic)

 

The red you see on the ground is the fire in the fire pit.

Some of us have decided that perhaps we should start planning now for the 2013 houses.  Especially since the competition is becoming fierce!



Christmas 2012 part 2

Aeden telling Neil & Jessie about the gift he came up with for them.

 

Jessie overcome with enthusiasm and joy.  :)

 

The kids playing...

 





 

Christmas 2012 part 1

Aeden checking to see if Schmutzli visited in the night.

 

My little boy has turned into a man-boy.

 

 

Aeden really enjoyed wrapping his gifts to Eric.

My boys

 



 



Looking for the pickle present.

 

Sad that dad won the present.

 



 

Christmas Music

Aeden and Tigtigs practiced playing Christmas music on the piano.

The next three are all the same shot with different processing. I haven't figured out which one I like best. Feel free to tell me which one is your favorite!



Aeden drumming

Aeden drumming

Drummer boy

Stumble

Aeden just tripped over his own big toe. He has gone up 1.5 shoe sizes since August!

Christmas Card 2012

I had good intentions this year.  I actually took pictures with a plan that maybe some of them would be useable for a Christmas card.  After taking them, I didn't like them.  It was probably the stress of juggling everything and being on a timeline.  Now, I have a couple of favorites. 

Please consider this post our Christmas card.  We hope everyone had a relaxing and joyful holiday season.  :)

 

Aeden decided to create his own Santa beard with tape.  

The cats were as cooperative as cats generally tend to be.  Blue was the most cooperative of the two.

Merry Christmas!

Recital art 2

There is probably some overlap between clips.

Recital part 1

Sadly A played on an electric piano and the pitch or something was not set to classical so it doesn't sound quite right. Given that he did a great job! We will try to record him playing on Eric's keyboard so you can compare.