Happy Birthday, Owen!

The littlest Miracle is a baby no more. Owen turned 2 today and we celebrated his birthday on Saturday with a train-themed birthday party. 

Charlie and Evan's homemade cardboard train

My homemade chocolate cake train

Getting in the spirit

Hide . . .

. . . and seek!

Wheelbarrow ride with Grandpa

Sneaking up on Omi & Opu

Omi's turn to drive

Chugging along with fellow train-lover Carlos

No caption needed - that face says it all!

Eleanor climbs on board

 Blowing out the candles

Surrounded with love by Opu, Omi, Grandma, Grandpa & "my Charlie"

Opening presents, which was much more exciting than last year

Reading a new book with Omi

Charlie & Gabe mug for the camera

One last ride with Charlie & Isabel

Owen the Hobo's First Haircut

Well, first official haircut. I had trimmed his bangs, but the Pig Pen-esque cloud of hair was getting ridiculous. It was time for the real deal.

Before


During


After

Happy 2012!

Boxing Day

On the 26th, we headed to the Museum of Life + Science to check out their train display. Owen was in heaven!









Checking out the tornado exhibit


Inside the space shuttle


Little drummer boy


Digging for fossils


In the butterfly house

Christmas Day

Santa did not disappoint this year! Charlie had asked for the Luke's X-Wing LEGO set, and Owen got a new addition to his train set.





Taking a snuggle break with Grandpa


Mom's new yarn doubles as Princess Leia's honey buns


Gorging on chocolate Santas




Trying out the new basketball hoop from Omi & Opu


Making ocean collages from Great-Grandma and -Grandpa Miracle


Strega Nona story break with Grandapa


While in grad school, Sarah and I decided to take on Martha Stewart's zuccotto recipe. We were somewhat notorious for not reading a recipe all the way through, and missed the "refrigerate overnight" instructions for a cake we were planning to serve in a few hours. It all worked out in the end, but this time around I was prepared and started on Christmas Eve. Here Charlie is helping me with the final step, coating the inverted cake with ganache.







Owen's contribution was adding the finishing touch: One raspberry!


Ready for bed with his new bear and matching PJs!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was its usual whirlwind of activity. In order to incorporate both German and American holiday traditions, we open family gifts on Christmas Eve and Santa presents and stockings on Christmas morning. Needless to say, there is a great deal of excitement and lots of status checks: "Is it time to open presents yet?" So we try to build in lots of distractions to help keep the kiddos (and us) sane until the sun sets.

Charlie hanging out with dad in anticipation


Hard at work peeling his clementine


Gingerbread house construction


Showing off their gingerbread men


The boys give Grandma & Grandpa the family tree they helped make


Both boys got stuffed lions from Chris & Shana. Owen snatched them up and said, "My two lions!"


Complete pandemonium - Owen wanted to open the box of every gift he got. The result: Duplos, Mr. Potato Head pieces, and trains all jumbled up.


Post-present moments of calm




Cookies for Santa - note Owen's completed stocking on the far left! :)

Santa Party

We were presented with a rare opportunity this year to have an audience with "Santa" at our friends' house. Owen wasn't particularly interested in Santa George, but Charlie pretty much recited the entire LEGO Star Wars catalog for Old St. Nick.