Kieran's first Christmas

It's been a fun holiday season around the house this year. What a difference having a baby with us as we decorated the tree, wrapped and unwrapped presents, and enjoyed all the Christmas lights! Kieran loved all of it. Once the tree was up Kieran's first order of business every morning was to make sure the lights were on. He'd tromp right over and crouch down where the switch was and wait for me to turn it on. He'd grin every time we lit it up.

We spent Christmas eve with friends at Carrie and Duff's house. It was a fun evening. So fun, in fact, that Kieran was worn out after a couple of hours and had to recharge on the couch. I wish he could sleep this hard at home! He was back up an hour later and lasted until his mom and dad were feeling the sleepies too. We managed to get home before Santa showed up at our house. Whew!

In the morning Kieran noticed immediately that there were lots of new packages under the tree, plus a nice toy or two right on top that he pointed to from across the room, accompanied by his characteristic "Ooooooooo!"

After checking out the most accessible toys under the tree he raided daddy's stocking. Peanut butter cups...he's got good taste!

Kieran had his own stocking, of course, and he made quick work of emptying it out once we gave it to him.

"Ooooooooo!" He loves his new squirty bath fish.

Poor Rachel was one of the victims of the stormy holiday weather in Seattle. Luckily, her flight was cancelled out of Fairbanks and she was able to spend Christmas with us instead of in the Seattle airport (with the several thousand unlucky travelers stranded there for days before and after Christmas). She may have been feeling less lucky on Christmas day when she her cat allergies got the best of her and sent her outside into the cold to clear out her lungs. Next time Santa needs to leave Claritin in her Christmas stocking!

Kieran was very happy with his new backpack. We're hoping to log some miles this summer in the backcountry and this should make those miles a lot more comfortable for everyone. He especially liked the rain cover. He played peek-a-boo pulling it down and letting it pop back up. Funny baby.

Riding around on the deck was even more fun with lights hanging on the railings. The temperatures have been pretty brutal lately, but that hasn't kept Kieran from his daily deck outings. Here he is on his frosty bike after lots of plowing through 5 inches of new snow.

Typically, he isn't happy to come inside. Poor kiddo. If only he could reach the lock. "I wasn't done yet!"

I love the look on Kieran's face here. Max stuffed him into his stocking creating a "merbaby" and Kieran was not amused. I imagine Max must have honed his stocking stuffing skills at an early age, creating lots of "merkitties" over the years (all wearing this same expression on their faces, no doubt). We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a good start to the new year! Speaking of the new year, Kieran rang in the new year - and his second year! - on the 31st with a fun birthday party with all of his best girlfriends. We'll post pictures asap!

Finally, we had another ski race the week before Christmas. Here's Max and Kieran during the medal ceremony after their third place finish. It looks like Kieran might have been hoping for second :) Cute.