We decided to spend the day yesterday at the Blue Mountain Recreation Area, sledding with friends. I have some girlfriends who have never tried cross-country skiing or snowshoeing or snow tubing, so your dad and I loaded up all of our gear and invited everyone to meet us up there to try it all out. We even took a tub of firewood, because we knew we'd find a great spot with a fire pit.
Hagen, you fell asleep on the way there, but Laney was raring to go. As she went tubing by herself, we let you continue sleeping in the backseat of the car, parked next to the fire. After an hour of solid fun, I leaned into the backseat and gently shook you awake. "We're having great fun out here," I said, "Do you want to come out and play with us?" "No!" you said, "I just wanna stay here in the car." So I left you there.
Every few minutes, I'd wave to you through the windshield, and you'd shake your head "Nopenopenope." You did not want to participate. This came as no shock to me, because your teacher Miss Julie - who was there sledding with us - has sent me a whole photo portfolio of "Hagen Does Not Wish To Participate" moments, including "Hagen Konks Out During Storytime" and "Hagen Relaxes His Way Through Recess."
(you're the little cozy brown blob, on your teacher's right).
I went back to the car and tried again, "Don't you want to sled? Or see the fire? Or eat a toasted marshmallow?" "No. No. No." "Okay, what if you get out and Miss Julie snuggles you while you sleep?" "Okay." So...you WILL participate if there's a pretty blonde lady who will snuggle you.
Then, of course, your best friend Finley showed up and you were ready to party. Or at least stand by the fire, talking like old men and eating half a bag of marshmallows.
_______
The snow had melted and frozen over so many times on the hill that the conditions were super-slick and there were a few times I thought we'd have to chase you both down to I-90. Your dad did so many great runs with all the kids, and a fantastic afternoon was had by all. See:
December 2015 was a whirlwind of holiday activities. Seemed like every day one of you had a themed event at your school that required an outfit or a prop or the attendance of one or more parents. You both had Holiday Concerts at your school on the same day, two hours apart.
First, Laney:
That's you in the second row, with your hands up in the air, under the "Be Responsible" bulletin board. Last year, you surprised us by having a solo. This year, you told us you weren't going to be singing by yourself. Instead, you shocked us by having an xylophone solo to an uptempo number about Hanukkah. Did not know you could play the xylophone. I don't have a picture of it, because you were on the ground in front of that guy with the long braid and I couldn't see you, but you sounded great (or as great as a 6 yr old xylophone player accompanying a bleacher full of elementary schoolers shouting about spinning dreidels should sound).
...And here's your class singing "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" -
Then, we went back to your classroom to ooh and aah over your Christmas crafts, including this Christmas tree made out of an inverted ice cream cone coated in green frosting.
I also got to see you with your best friend (as of 12/21, 1:32pm - subject to change without notice). Please note that I married your dad because I knew I would be getting a lifetime of love and support, and NOT because I thought I'd be getting tall children.
Then, it was on to your school, Hagen:
Pains me to admit it, but I told your dad to skip this one. Last year, you sat in a circle with the rest of the kids in your class, but looked around like you had NO IDEA why everyone was singing or why you were there. In 2014, you greeted your Holiday Concert with a 1000-yard stare, like you were trapped in a bad flash mob, and we counted the minutes 'til we could grab your stuff and go. I figured this year would be a repeat performance, and it was safe for your dad to go back to work.
NOPE!
This year, you hollered out the words to every song, and did all the choreography, plus some.
After every song, you ran to me in the front row and yelled in my face, "CAN YOU HEAR ME SINGING UP THERE?!?" "Yes, baby, now go sing some more!" "I'M ON IT!"
And then you'd run back into position and belt out another Christmas standard.
I love love love in that last photo how that boy behind you is stuck in his shirt.
____________________
You two spent most nights in December sharing a bed. We put Hagen's old crib mattress under the bed in Laney's room and used it like a fake trundle bed. But many nights, you just climbed in bed together.
Two Burbachs, dressed in fleece, wrapped in a blanket and snuggled together can top out a thermometer. Your dad pulled back the blanket one night and said, "It's so hot and sweaty in there, it's like they're trying to make kimchee." It was an absolutely disgusting thing to say, but I laughed for half an hour.
_________________________
I wanted a family photo for our Christmas card this year, so one day in late November, I loaded up the family and the tripod and made your dad go to the park for a DIY photo session.
I had to shoot my own Christmas photo with a remote control (as seen below). The cobbler's children have no shoes blah blah blah.
___________________________
Christmas morning was a great, low-key affair.
For the first time since Laney was born, we didn't have company on Christmas (Grandma Sue doesn't count, since she lives 198 steps away).
Once again, Laney set a speed record for opening presents, while Hagen opened four or five and said he was done. He left the rest unopened under the tree for most of the day - I would almost suspect he was doing it to make his sister bonkers.
Laney got the panda sleeping bag she wanted and Hagen got an assortment of Transformers and everyone was happy. I got your dad a Fitbit, so I've pulled him into my walking competitions, and he got me a Kindle, which I'm LOVING.
Peg Peg got you each some Santa pajamas, and asked me to take your picture, so here goes:
