Please observe this idiot child of mine.  With sub-freezing temperatures, he deems nylon shorts an appropriate dressing choice. The fact that I stood outside in my bathrobe with a 500mm lens to shoot this image should be ignored.

Eskimo’s Marie and Sophia. Photo courtesy of my brother Mark, sent from their home in Minnesota.

Jeanine picked up a couple of live lobsters for dinner. Maya and I did some claw strength testing and can highly recommend keeping digits you favor out of range.

A close up of Shivers.

Nicolai coaches Kyle on the finer points of using the release mechanism. Maya is eyeing the bow as well. It won’t be too long before she gets into the act. Nicolai has been given permission to shoot chipmunks (they make for a tough target, and we would be happily rid of them).

Nicolai was able to put several arrows in the center circle from 20 yards. From 30 yards, he kept every arrow on the target. He ruined one of his new arrows when he shot the feathers off it with a second arrow (Robin Hood style).

Rather than spending $80 on a target, Nicolai and I built this one in less than an hour with scraps. We made a sandwich of styrofoam insulation, 2-layers of old floatation cushion, and 2-layers of carpeting on a plywood base with hinged legs. It works perfectly.

Nicolai gave his new bow a workout this morning. His Uncle Mark must have provided some incredible training because his accuracy and consistency is unbelievable.

Maya models the night gown and matching slippers that her Aunt Lauren made for her. Maya and the rest of the family can feel the love that went into this present every time she wears it.

And then there were two. Due to concerns over loneliness of the first pig we now have a second pig which belongs to Nicolai. Maya has named her pig “Shivers” (white one), and Nicolai has named his “Wood Chip”. Both are boys, so I am fairly confident the family has reached terminal size.

Kyle received an iPod nano and a large selection of Indianapolis Colts fan wear.

Nicolai’s big present was a compound bow that was carefully selected by his Uncle Mark. I am seriously concerned for the safety of all squirrels in the neighborhood.

Nicolai does his best tough guy impression to go with a toy he has converted into a helmet.

Maya’s big present this year was a baby guinea pig. Other than a horse (which is never going to happen) nothing could have made this child happier. Maya is a little nature girl just like her mother, and she loves all sorts of critters.