We started off the Holiday season with a visit from Gran and Opa Mader. Ashton was very helpful in assisting us all in selecting and setting up our 12’ Christmas tree. He liked watering the tree most of all. His efforts in removing the decorations (balls, as he referred to them) were a bit premature though. Ashton liked to grab the decoration “balls” and throw them across the room. Saint Nicholas also visited us while Gran and Opa were here. Ashton received a new drinking cup for being such a good boy this past year on Saint Nick’s day.
On Christmas eve, we went to Seattle Center to ride the carousel, watch ice skaters and watch the toy Christmas train. Ashton loved the carousel and got a huge grin as soon as he got on. We also went to hear Christmas carols at a nearby church. Ashton couldn’t sit still and wanted to explore the church, so we left before Xmas mass started.
Santa visited our house as Christmas finally arrived. Aston received a lot of surprises again this year. New PJs, a snack cup, a funny hat and his first taste of candy (say “NAN-dy”) just to name a few. Similarly to last Christmas, it took all day to open his presents.
On New Years eve, we stayed with some friends (Max Warborg’s parents) in a cabin near Mount Rainier and Ashton went sledding for the first time and hated it. His maiden sledding trip down a slight incline seemed a little too out-of-control for him. Most of all, he enjoyed eating the freshly fallen snow and shaking it off of tree branches.
