Sorry this one isn’t quite as good quality-wise; I put the camera down to open some gifts and was filming from the couch arm.
The item is a Droid Tri-Fighter if you want a close-up; he picked this out for a cousin and coveted it. When we finally sent it in the mail, he declared his relief that he wouldn’t have to look at it (and not be able to touch it) anymore. So of course, he was thrilled to get it at Christmas himself. 
In this one, Ben opens a Santa gift, and Maya opens a gift from us and from the “Aunt-Cousins” (Susie’s kids). You can also catch a glimpse of the famously elusive Marti Martinez, lying prone after going to be at 2:30 a.m. and being awakened by joyous children at 5:30 a.m.
Enjoy!
Let’s see, here are the things I SHOULD be doing:
1. Wrapping final gifts.
2. Sending my second batch of Christmas cards.
3. Putting together a box for people overseas. And another box for people overseas.
4. Cleaning my house.
5. Baking stuff for Christmas.
6. Learning PHP.
7. Working.
Here are the things I WANT to do:
1. Play World of Warcraft.
2. Read blogs.
3. Read a novel.
4. Nap.
5. Open all my Christmas gifts, see what they are, and re-wrap them again. Quietly.
6. Eat (more) chocolate.
Here is what I have actually gotten done:
1. Teeth brushed.
2. Jogged a mile.
3. Walked dogs.
4. Finished novel.
5. Checked e-mail.
6. Cut Ben’s hair.
“Wait,” you say. “You actually cut Ben’s hair? That mass of unruly, curly hair that he hates to cut/brush/wash?”
Yes. Yes, I did.
Behold:
He is trying hard to restrain his joy.
And afterward, the bathroom:
The setting:
We are on our way to a company Christmas party; Maya is elated to have an excuse to wear a fluffy purple dress, white tights and white heels.
Ben is groaning, having been forced to change into new dress pants in the car after an emergency trip to Target — he wears dress clothes so seldom, he grows out of the pants EVERY TIME.
The moment:
We’re all hungry, and a bit frazzled after getting everyone into nice clothes (plus the emergency Target excursion). Ben hates getting his picture taken, and he REALLY hates getting it taken with his sister.
The result:
A snapshot of this moment in time, with Maya thrilled, Ben irritated, and a snippet of their childhood recorded in pictures.
