oh, that eyebrow

be sure to click on the picture to enlarge the stroesslerness.

or click here to see an earlier episode.

cleveland christmas

you wouldn't believe how much santa loves shu & the cousins:

how can you not??

he stopped by on christmas to personally hand out
one last round of gifty goodness:

shu was decidedly unsure about the big man at first...

but was willing to receive a little something :)

he was only able to get so close, though...
so we jumped in on the North Family picture:

the Sobieski Duo:

Lusnias of Forest Ridge:

the Greats!
(GreatNana & GreatGrandma)

so, dear Santa,
should you happen to read this blog
(or, say your lovely mother does and directs you to it...),
please accept this
big huge thankyou
from all of us.
you are the best :)

Christmas Eve

our new decoration: a painting from mark's dad, hans.

helping dada

eating "bug" cookies
(one particular cookie-press shape that baked out
to be more Paramecium than Snowflake.)

cheese, literally and pictorially.

coloring with uncle spud

kyle judges the coloring contest

shu scores a dino!

santa makes a surprise dropoff!
the doorbell rang & when the kids opened the door,
there was a bag full of fun left by the big man.

aunt carol passes out the presents...

...shu tries to be nice and give it back...

...but eventually decides to open it.
(sidenote: anyone seen christmas on sesame street?
shua opens his presents like bert.
"now, let me see...if i take a scissor...")

a new dino book

alison helped shu unpack his new Tubby Tater.
thanks, great grandma!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE.

puppies like avocados, too

thankfully, they don't like the pits.

GiGi bells

the movie Elf is much loved
here in stroesslerland.
among the many quotes we
use year-round, we love:

"the best way to spread Christmas cheer
is singing loud for all to hear."

our child, like a good little man,
has taken this elfin principle to heart.

what we 'humans raised by humans' love is that,
in his little two year old brain,
the words to Jingle Bells are slightly altered
to spread some cheer to one particular person.
his grandma, Gigi - marks' mom.

Merry Christmas, G!

the tree

on the way to the farm

refusing to walk. again.
although it is hard to resist when he asks,
'dada, hold you?'

stroessler men: the profile.

tree, warm car, requisite book in hand. roll out.

post-tree snack.
plus, The HICCUPotamus by Aaron Zenz.
order today. its fantastic.

hat head.

our leggy, too-big-for-his-own-good, please-bear-with-me puppy
looking quite mountainous by the tree.

** question: has anyone seen a wall or tabletop ornament display in any stores this year? we held off putting up the 'good' ornaments (for two very young, very accident prone Reasons), but i'd still like to have them out...

homework w M