Christmas night with the Workman family

As is customary when spending Christmas in Fulton, the afternoon and evening are spent with the Workman family at Kristie's grandparents' house. This year everyone was able to make it (including some girlfriends of the older cousins) and, while there's an awful lot of bodies to fit in the house, we had a very nice time. Isaac was more or less in a good mood, our boys love to get the chance to play with the big kids and no one showed any ill effects from less sleep than normal and a day of presents and junk food. All things considered, it was a great cap to a pleasant holiday.

More smiles for How. From How's House

Quality time with Aunt Cheryl. From How's House

Pirate Doodle. From How's House

Batteries! From How's House

His first Christmas. From How's House

Also cute. From How's House

Taking an important call. In a cape. From How's House

Great-grandchildren are adorable. From How's House

Gift cards and matching neon. From How's House

THE FLASH IS BRIGHT.From How's House

Quality time with the nugget. From How's House

Christmas Day at How's House

As noted in prior posts, we drove to Fulton after the 7 p.m. Christmas Eve service. We rolled into town somewhere before midnight and, amazingly, got most of the children to bed somewhat reasonably. But, naturally, the real excitement happened on Christmas Day.

The boys are early risers, period, but not especially so just because it's Christmas. This is good because Aunt Kelly, Uncle Kevin and Uncle Kyle generally are pretty content to give the sun several hours of a head start each day when work or school doesn't beckon. No morning at How's House, even Christmas, is complete without a made-to-order breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage and whatever else the kids can convince How they need to eat. Somewhere along the way, Max convinced How he is able to help crack and whisk eggs (and he's actually not that bad).

Time to make the eggs! From How's House

For years now Jack has been "helping" Pop with the annual tradition of recording the gift-opening festivities. It's gone from him hanging on Pop and nosing his way onto the scene to now having more or less a full mastery of the technology and the freedom to just run the show himself. This year he opted for a fresh angle.

Getting ready to film the proceedings. From How's House

Sometimes when you're 2, life doesn't move as fast as you'd like. Good thing there are video games to fill in the downtime.

Playing Monster Ate My Homework. From How's House

Eventually, it was time for the main event...

Barely taller than his stocking. From How's House

Taking in the action. From How's House

One happy dude. From How's House

That, friends, is a Flipeez hat. From How's House

Finally, a new Woody doll! From How's House

Surrounded by his loot. From How's House

"I gots moneys?" From How's House

A view from Jack's video camera perch. From How's House

Post by Scott T. Holland.

He had a good morning. From How's House

Charlie, Kyle, Woody and Max. From How's House

The hat is a bit too small. From How's House

How and Isaac. From How's House

After presents, we had time for lunch and to get everyone dressed and ready for the larger family gathering that evening. And also for one more happy baby photo...

Smiles for How. From How's House

Christmas Eve at Pops & K's

This year we put a little twist on our recent Christmas tradition. Instead of going to the 7 p.m. church service, we hit up the 4 p.m. event, which is more kid-friendly. And instead of going home after church, we drove to Fulton. But we did hang out at Pops & K's house with them and Uncle Matt in the afternoon before church, then swung by after to open one gift each and say our goodbyes before the drive (which, blissfully, put Isaac right to sleep, a power nap that lasted several hours after our arrival at How's house). So while most of these photos don;t look especially Christmas-y, they're still pretty nice.

(Not pictured: The box of goodies Aunt Kim sent from California full of the things students gave her as holiday gifts without taking into account the types of foods she doesn't eat. This is one of my favorite holiday tradition, especially so now that some of her charges have parents who clearly know the good Bay Area candy shops.)

Once again, happy in a clean diaper. From Pops and K's

Uncle plus iPhones equals fun. From Pops and K's

Off center, but on point. From Pops and K's

All too happy to take a bath at Pops & K's. From Pops and K's

Checking the ornaments. From Pops and K's

Someone does NOT like his Christmas outfit. From Pops and K's

This is what passes for a good photo. From Pops and K's

Classic Doodle face. From Pops and K's

Think he likes it? From Pops and K's

A present for Isaac. From Pops and K's

Pops, K and the grandsons. From Pops and K's

Pre-Christmas

Just a few snapshots from between the baptism and the beginning of Christmas festivities.

After his morning diaper change. From Hollands at Home 2013

Horsing around before bathtime. From Hollands at Home 2013

A little couch time before kindergarten. From Hollands at Home 2013

Hey guys! From Hollands at Home 2013

This didn't last much past the picture. From Hollands at Home 2013

Baptism day

All right, it's nothing short of disgraceful that it's taken me so long to post these photos from Isaac's baptism way back on Dec. 15. In my defense, the holidays happened, as well as some crazy winter weather that forced us to adjust family travel plans on the fly. The good news is that thanks to Sunday school lessons, all the big boys are still aware of what baptism is and that it happened to all of them as well as Isaac. So that's a thing.

Here we all are, looking adorable.

Jack pours the baptism water. From Hollands at Home 2013

A family affair. From Hollands at Home 2013

There are SIX of us. From Hollands at Home 2013

Mom, Dad and Isaac. From Hollands at Home 2013

Boys will be boys. From Hollands at Home 2013

Showing off his duds. From Hollands at Home 2013

After church, and Max's Christmas pageant, we adjourned to Pops & K's house for a lovely Sunday afternoon and evening.

A little artwork. From Pops and K's

He spent a lot of time sleeping on How. From Pops and K's

A perfect time to trim the tree. From Pops and K's

The man of the hour. From Pops and K's

Brothers. From Pops and K's

Also brothers. From Pops and K's

The shadows obscure a righteous fauxhawk. From Pops and K's