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The holidays were a lot of fun with Felix. He really got into them this year. Each day he couldn't wait to open his advent calendar(s). One of his best friends, April, is Icelandic, so in our holiday traditions this year we included the 13 naughty little Icelandic Santas that come each day before Xmas Eve. These Jule Lads included such names as Door Slammer and Bowl Licker. It was really quite fun to explore a new cultural tradition and I think we'll keep it up. Felix enjoyed checking his boot each morning to see if one of them had left him a treat. (The only day he actually deserved a rotten potato, as is the tradition, was on Xmas Eve, and I just didn't have the heart to do it.)

His first gift of the holidays was a pair of Transformer shoes from his big sister Natalie. This was the year of the Transformers and the only thing he told Santa he wanted was an Optimus Prime. When Santa asked Felix if he might want some trucks or trains, Felix said, "No, just an Optimus Prime Transformer." Then on Xmas Eve his Aunt Susie gave him an Optimus Prime and a Megatron so he figured everything else was just extra from that point forward. Christmas morning he opened a large Optimus Prime from Santa, wrapped in Transformer wrapping paper even, and exclaimed, "I got two transformers for Christmas!" Well, when all was said and done he had 7 transformers and mom and dad are becoming experts at transforming these sometimes too complicated machines, repairing torn off legs, and sometimes exclaiming, "He wants to stay a car right now." His last gift was a transformer lunch pail from his big sister Megan.

We spent Boxing Day (the day after Xmas) at my moms house and opened presents there, including, you guessed it, transformers. Mom hadn't even intended to give him some licensed transformers at first, she got him a Handy Manny truck that transforms into a workbench, but when he happened to catch her showing me the back up gift Bumblebee action figure hidden behind her back, she caved instantly. Now came the 27th and Felix woke and went to the calendar and his boot looking for what he might get next. Sadly, he cried like any middle class American boy, "there are no more presents for me to open"...he is now focused on his birthday in March.

A River Runs Through It

That footbridge is in a park across the street from us, it crosses the once tame Cedar River. The water level is normally at least ten feet lower than what you see in the picture. While we were there we heard a loud bang as a rather sizable fallen tree slammed into the center supports you see. I suppose that is why the bridge was closed. The flooding in our area closed Felix's school as the river engulfed the road and driveway leading to his school. Luckily, the school itself was unscathed, though it created a lot of anxious parents until we found out.

A little over a mile down the river from us sits the Renton library. It straddles the river. We had a great view of the debris that got ensnared in the flood water's grasp.

However, the flooding could not deter the spirit of the holidays as the school holiday concert (delayed due to Seattle Snow Storm 2008) was held at a neighboring school. With the holiday break, the snow days, and then the closure due to flooding, it's remarkable the kids remembered their songs. Felix thought the occasion called for a collared shirt, he even asked for it to be tucked in. This was Tru's first concert and he was a little tentative, but he made sure he stood next to one of his best friends at school, Jonah, and he was fine.

Our Holiday on Ice

We had a pretty busy holiday season, on December 20th we got together with all of Renae's family in Seattle. That was the first day of Seattle Snow Storm 2008. I don't know if that was the title the media gave it but it probably was. It was dry when we arrived at the hotel at around noon, but by 9:00 or so that night we had about six inches. Felix loved it.

We did some shopping that day, we trekked through the snow to the Westlake Mall. They have this display were an image is projected from overhead on to the floor. The image projected is interactive, I don't know how it works but the kids loved it. Look at that homeless guy sleeping on the floor in the background. I laid a dollar bill on the ground next to him.

The next morning we braved the snowy/icy conditions several blocks for doughnuts. Felix had his favorite: powdered doughnut chased with chocolate milk. In all my years of parenthood I have learned that kids really like sugar.

By Christmas Eve we received even more snow. More snow than I have seen in this area in the 13 years I've been here. Our house is in a bit of canyon and we tend to get a little less snow than surrounding areas, about two inches less. But you can see how high it comes up on Felix.

Before I get anyone telling me how little snow that is, and how they routinely experience several feet of snow, please note that in Seattle we don't see that kind of snow. We see maybe a couple of inches a year. Remember, this snow fall was given a title by the media!

Christmas Eve evening we went to cousin Rooney's were Felix scored an Optimus Prime, a Transformer. Transformers are Tru's new passion. That is what we play now when we wrestle; we pretend we are Transformers. But Transformers are not the "begin all, end all", they do have their deficiencies, such as not shooting black arrows. I only know that because Felix will stipulate that before play- "I am Optimus Prime but one that shoots black arrows".

Tru's sister, Megan, came for a visit over the Christmas holiday. He was very excited about her pending arrival and had a lot of fun with her while she was here. Natalie also stayed a couple of days. I had my first White Christmas ever this year where I didn't have to go somewhere else.

Later on Christmas day, we had family and friends over and I managed to capture not one picture, sorry. But here is what it looked like from our front door Christmas morning. I shoveled our driveway with a little hand held garden shovel. Not really.
Lastly, I've included this picture from Dec. 26th of Felix with my hat on solely because I thought it was cute. We spent Boxing Day with Tru's grandma and grandpa in Mount Vernon.