Christmastime

*this post marks the last of pictures taken with my old camera, which was letting in too much light and due to a software problem, creating strange effects on photos. Next post--new year, new camera. Thank you for suffering through another post that makes you want to clean your glasses.

After services in his new velveteen Christmas outfit mama made (look for a future post showing off this one), Gus enjoyed his lefse and fish.

For his present from mama, he received a corner of the playroom decked out as his own secret garden. Auntie Susan got him the large fountain, which was filled with rocks from Port Angeles beaches, and mama made a waterproof vegetable garden rug with wool grass, a tiny bench, flower pots filled with felt counting flowers, a tiny concrete garden goose, and (not pictured) on the shelf above, a couple of tiny live trees. He has since spent A LOT of time in his spot washing rocks, reading, and sitting and talking to his goose.

Dad made Gus a kitchen made entirely from a wardrobe box and plans from an artist on the internet. There is no glue--it's all measurements and joins. Gus made us lots of what he called "butter bread" and likes to remind us that the oven is hot.

Of course, thanks to our zoo's 365 open hours, we had to tell the animals 'Merry Christmas.' This trip, he walked all over the zoo, on his own (no carrier) for the first time, like a big kid. He did get a bit tired, but at the end the flamingos made a surprise winter appearance that he talked about all the way home.