December 2007. This year's holiday activities have been particularly fun. We've had several shows to attend, lots of baking projects at home and at school, several snowstorms, and the joy of decorating the tree together. Julia's favorite room to play in these days is the music/wrapping room, where I actually can get wrapping accomplished with her happily at my side rustling and crumpling and reorganizing things. This picture was taken the day after my birthday during our Sunday afternoon "family time" when we stop doing chores, stop answering the phone and sit in front of the fire playing games and eating popcorn, followed by a slightly more elaborate homemade dinner than our usual thrown together meals. By simply giving this time together a name and making in a routine part of our otherwise hectic weekends, it has taken on a life to itself. Even Julia seems to get that it's special.