Jack, the tree, and a mountain of presents.

The Rajczyk family annual Christmas picture.

Riley opens her first-ever Christmas present, but seems a little unclear on the process.

...and a Lightning McQueen remote control car and a Spider-Man t-shirt and a...

Riley's not so sure about this Santa guy.

Jack gets a couple of yellow balloons then gets busy on his own art project.

Jack's first school recital. The kids sang and performed carols in French.

Jack and his classmates singing Jingle Bells in French.

Mama and the Girl Child at the Botanic Gardens. (Thanks for driving, Eddie.)

"Daddy?"
"Yes, Jack?"
"Why does Santa like the cold?"
"Well, he's used to it."
"Because he's a jolly old elf."
"I would imagine that's part of it."
"And he lives at the North Pole, where it's always cold."
"That's true.  Who else likes the cold?"

"Polar bears."
"That's a good one.  Santa's like a polar bear."
"Santa's not a polar bear; he's an elf."
"You're right.  But he's like a polar in the way that they like the cold."
"And they both live at the north pole.  They have that in common."
"That's right."

"Daddy?"
"Yes, Jack."
"Weeee have a lot in common."
"We sure do.  Like what?"
"Uh...math and counting, we can both do that."
"That's true.  What else?"
"We both like decorating Christmas trees and playing in the snow."
"Yes we do."

It was the first sizable snow of the year and Jack was determined to make a snowman. I was his accomplice.

Snippet from an actual conversation I never could have imagined:

"Mommy?"
"Yes Jack."
"Can I wear your beard?"
"You can wear the beard when Mommy's done with it."

Penny (and Page) near the finish line of her 5K.












Appropriately bundled against the season's first snow storm.

The boy child.














The girl child.

Daddy and Riley. The first snowfall of the season, and Penny ran a race dressed as Santa Claus, white beard and all.