Solstice

Spoiled by the Grandparents and Uncles this year, we gave some of their gifts on Solstice (spread out the fun!), providing P with an impressively ringed tree Sunday morning. He was timid, just as on his birthday, and wouldn't enter the room until BB was by his side.


After wandering around the room making overwhelmed noises and faces he finally settled under the tree to paw over his presents. The kid really savors it all, no thankless rushing here. He had to look at them all wrapped and talk about how pretty they looked. Then he started to open, very, very carefully, trying to preserve the paper. Eventually, overcome by his excitement, he turned to rougher removal and enjoyed the ripping sounds and falling shreds.



He spent the day happily doing experiments (yay yeast and germs!)



and demolishing i- beam towers with his new crane. The construction set really required a table for proper skyscraper building so E and I tossed one together from the old castle parts and P was in heaven. (Not to be left out, BB received presents for Solstice too. P gave him a tiny candy cane and a tiny box and told him it was the deed to the construction site. BB was now the proud owner of a crane and skyscraper parts. BB said he couldn't possibly take P's new toy, but P insisted. Unfortunately, the construction workers were uninformed and mayhem ensued requiring a pirate ship that shoots canon balls to settle the argument. All ended well - well, until BB was "accidentally" left in the demolition site... see video below.)


He also received an amazing people-powered, fully recycled exploration vehicle that thrilled him to No End. He must have burnt a zillion calories that day pushing the damn thing around to get it to talk :) Of course, little BB fit in it perfectly and joined the headlamp wearing explorers as they perused the Amazon in search of jaguars (of which BB is petrified.) We went to sleep that night with the bedroom gently lit by the jeep's headlight, charged by P's enormous energy, and surrounded by his satisfaction. New toys and a full day of play with both Mama and Papa - who can beat that?

Here's a video of the demolition. The little thing that flies off the side mid-video is BB. P thinks BB is trying to escape and sticks him back Into the falling building. Love, true love.... :)