'Tis the Season to be Merry . . .

Well, we survived Christmas and finals. If everything goes according to plans we should only have one more finals period to get through and then the Bar Exam. While I was "away" for finals, Tracy and Hooch went to Discovery Bay for the Boat Parade (the boats are decorated with Christmas lights and parade around Discovery Bay). I think they had a good time, and I got in some study time at home.

Here is Hooch and his mom trying to stay warm while watching for the boats.

As Christmas quickly approached, we realized that Hooch hadn't seen Santa. He did okay last year, but we were a little concerned with how he would react this year. We decided to go to the mall early on the Saturday before Christmas. We found Santa waiting for visitors; I was ready with the camera.

Here is Hooch right when his mom dropped him on the guy in the red suit. As you can see he doesn't quite know what is going on.

He didn't last long. Santa told Tracy to go stand by the camera, and Hooch didn't really like that idea. In case you are wondering, the only thing Hooch asked Santa for was to go back to his mom.

For Christmas Santa brought Hooch a Lil' Kawasaki quad. It has a button he can push to make it go. He is pretty good until he has to turn. We end up having to pull it away from the walls so he can continue on his way.

Here is the present and his stocking waiting for him. Didn't Santa do such a good job putting on those awesome decals?

Hooch and his dad opening a present. Hooch is wondering why he got a box of Christmas Tree lights.

Christmas morning Hooch got a little too excited and fell on his face on the tile and got a fat lip. After some love from his mom and some presents he started to feel better. He had a good Christmas despite the fall, and really loves all his new toys.

How Lovely are your Branches

Ta Da! This year we have graduated from a Charlie Brown tree to a real and a little bit expensive tree. We went to Apple Hill with all of the Busath Family to get it, which is always a little crazy but a lot of fun. If you can believe it we put the Christmas tree inside our car to bring home. We thought we were so smart and even put a tarp down. But afterward we found a spider in the car, so I doubt that will be repeated. I tried to have Charles help me set up the tree but all he wanted to do was pull off the lights and play with the ornaments. So I had to wait until after he went to bed. I was smart and created our tree in layers. Toy-like ornaments on the bottom, then ornaments still in his reach that if they got broken I would be okay with it and then ornaments I would have a funeral for if they died. Sad, but true; I am very attached to a lot of my ornaments. My Grandma Healy gave me one each year until she passed away and now because Hallmark still comes out with a Crayola one (at one point my grandma started giving me a Crayola one each year) my mom buys me that one each year. My mom has also picked up where my grandma left off and buys her grandchildren one each year. I’m very lucky to have my mom because the silly ornaments are a big deal to me. This year’s ornaments are featured below. Lights are up on the tree, in the hallway, around a window, and on the balcony. We are officially all decorated for Christmas. The tree pictures are with the flash, without the flash, and Chad's creative picture.

Christmas Barnyard Dance

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