Three Little Nemos, Living in a Fish Bowl: Christmas Times Two.

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas~

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas,

Only a hippopotamus will do.

Not crocodiles, or rhinosauruses

I only like hippopotamuses.

And hippopotamuses like me too...

~Gayla Peevy

No I did not neglect my Christmas entry, I just needed to wait for Christmas to be over. You see, in our family, Christmas is a week long celebration. Okay, not really, but we do celebrate Christmas on its calendared day, as well as on New Year's Day. This tradition came about last year. 2008 was the year of adverse weather and new family obligations. It was the year that one grandchild was born, and the other was on its way. It was the year that we realized that the celebration of Christmas could very well end in disaster and loathing, if something drastic did not happen. And so, as fate would have it, our Christmas celebration would change forever. It would change for the better.

You see, last Christmas (2008), the Pacific Northwest Region of the United States experienced an extreme cold front. That extreme cold front lead to some even more extreme snow, snow that the city of Seattle (and all surrounding suburbs) was not prepared for. The inclement weather all but completely ruined Christmas. People were snowed in and loved ones could not get from their homes to the homes where the merrymaking was taking place. This lead to a reevaluation, if you will, of current Christmas celebrating practices. It was the year that Opa Rio and Grandma Sharon came up with their genius idea to celebrate the Christmas on New Year's Day. Brilliant. Thus, extending the gift giving and merriment for seven whole days.

I love it. It is so fantastic. And, in due time the boys (Sterwell and Maxling) and all children to follow, will realize that they are the luckiest kids in the world. To them, Santa will come not once, not twice, but three times. It was way too much fun. Oh, and Max learned to crawl (more on that later). Onto the photos:

First Christmas, with the Nemo side of the family: Nemo Christmas is always super fun. We go to Nate's mom and dad's house first. There, presents, stockings, and cinnamon rolls await us. Breakfast is always delicious, and the company isn't too shabby either. After we open gifts and eat, we head over to the big family function. It is usually held at Nate's uncle's house. It always consists of more gift giving and shoving copious amounts of food into one's face. It is one of the highlights of my year. This year was especially fun because we had added one new member to the Nemo family. Everyone always goes nuts over Max. And who can blame them, really. He is pretty adorable.

The tree at the In-laws was pretty jam packed. Guess we were good this year, or Santa is a sucker for a baby!

Papa and his boy.

Max's first present was this big white teddy bear.

Next, he tried his hand at unwrapping (he didn't quite get it this year).

But the bows, now those were delicious.

Wearing daddy's mohawk hat, that auntie made for daddy.

Playing with his stocking stuffers.

Sitting on Auntie's lap, wearing his Christmas Sweater.

Playing on the floor, with mommy and Grandma.

Sitting on Grandma's lap.

Sitting with his 2nd cousin, Mckenna.

The best gift of 2009.

Second Christmas with Mommy's family: Like I said earlier, this Christmas was celebrated on New Year's day, and I love this tradition. It makes the holiday feel calmer, not so rushed. There isn't that big Christmas "let down" after all is said and done. It is just wonderful.