Happy Mis-Mis!

"Happy Mis-Mis," says Soren. "Christmas" has some pretty tough consonants for a two-year-and-a-quarter-old tot. All the same, merriest greetings from our family to yours.

I'm writing at the end of a long Christmas day that began at 7:20 a.m. with Soren waking up the household, and it is not over yet at 10:15 p.m. as Jeff makes attempt #2 to put our stimulated child to bed and quietude.

But in between was homemade cinnamon rolls, present-opening (oddly, not of too much interest to Soren, but he is appreciating his new Thomas the Tank Engine toys and branded clothing), a walk to the beach, and fine dining out at The Belmont, a waterfront restaurant that dates to 1885. We all enjoyed a delicious meal and Soren was extremely well behaved and chowed down on various bits of shared seafood entrees. The clam chowder was a hit with him.

Ah, yes, we are celebrating with my parents (Soren's Nannie and Papaw) and my sister Nora ("Auntie Nono"). Sis Jill had to work a shift at her ER on Christmas Day and Jim and Gloria are fairly well snowed in in Eastern Washington.

These photos are actually from Thanksgiving weekend, when downtown Port Townsend rolled out the red holiday carpet. We donned elf hats to take a carriage ride down Water Street.

Our be-jingled horse, with the wedding-cakish Hastings Building in the background.

The model train in the lobby of the Palace Hotel provided much entertainment that day and tonight as well, after we finished dinner across the street. Soren can stand stock still for long minutes on end, watching the train repeat the loop. I always indulge him him when he asks to "go downtown and watch train."

As the holidays have progressed, the scene on the train tabletop has gotten progressively more wintry and festive, with fake snow added and little lighted Christmas trees and random wrapped presents along the tracks. No wonder Soren thinks it's wonderland.

Here's wishing you some holiday cheer delivered on the express. Choo-choo!