Family Christmas

1st photo: (R to L) Steve, Beth, Tim, and Murielle gathered around the Christmas tree.

2nd and 3rd photos: We went out to some sand dunes for a Christmas Eve picnic. We only had one flat tire and got stuck once -- not bad.

Inspector Gadget

Steve is forever thinking of ways to improve things around the house. For the last year or so, since we got our new water filter, we've had to separate the top reservoir from the base, then put it under the tap to refill it. Since it's a 10-liter capacity, it was almost impossible for Beth to refill it herself. She had to rely on Steve or Joseph (our cook) to do it. So Steve designed a hose-and-pulley system to open the lid, fill the reservoir, and replace the lid. It's like a game to try to balance the lid on the top again, using the pulley, but life is more fun with a game or two built in, right?

Growing up: 2 1/2 months

Timothy is starting to smile, and one day he's going to realize he can reach out and swat the toy we've suspended from the handle of his infant seat.

Manicure

For the last several weeks, we've been getting our necks all scratched up by our little boy's attempt to climb out of our arms to who-knows-where. We tried to trim his little fingernails, to no avail -- they're just too tiny. So when "Aunt" Murielle, who happens to have owned a nail salon several years ago, came over for her weekly Saturday evening visit, we asked her to give Tim his first manicure. He loved it -- can't you tell?