Christmas

Here's a photo update of our Christmas activities during the month of December:

Clara, Tighe, Cian and Michael (16 months old)

Thanks to Tracey for helping to make this photo happen.

Cian, Clara, Michael and Gramma at the Holy Spirit School Christmas in the Courtyard (otherwise known as the gym, not sure why they call it the courtyard). Fun-filled evening filled with crafts, pizza and cookies. Not really suitable for 16 month old kids. Thanks to Gramma for keeping the boys occupied so I could take Clara around to the craft tables. Tighe and Bryan were at the hospital for Tighe's tests (MRI and MIBG scan).

Strolled down to Lucky to pick up a Christmas tree.

Michael, Tighe and Cian in the Runabout triplet stroller. Good for walks around the neighborhood but not transportable in the van.

Meeting Santa at San Jose's Downtown Christmas in the Park. Clara asked for ballet clothes.

M, T & C at their 15 month checkup in early December (they were actually 16 months at the time).

Clara posing in front of our Christmas tree. She's started working the camera after going through a long period of not wanting her photo taken. The boys did great with the tree. They definately explored pulling ornaments off the tree and tugging at the strings of lights. But to my surprise the tree was never knocked over and we managed without a gate around it. Hopefully next year we can leave some ornaments on the bottom half of the tree.

Gigi, Tighe and Clara on our luxury bus ride with police escort over to the Christmas Fantasy Flight. Cops Care Cancer Foundation puts on a Christmas party every year for children with cancer. There were approximately 50 San Jose Police and Firemen in attendance. The event was held in the San Jose Police hangar at NASA. Santa Claus arrived in a helicopter and distributed presents to all the kids. Sharky, Tigger and Winnie the Pooh were there. Clara loved the Dora bouncy house. The SF 49ers head coach, Mike Singletary, was there with 2 other NFL players, Isaac Bruce and Sean Dawkins. We had a great time and felt very spoiled.

Santa arriving in the San Jose Police helicopter.

Tighe opening his presents from Santa. It was unbelievable!

Tighe with Michael Singletary, head coach for the San Francisco 49ers. Mike took a very keen interest in Tighe. He asked what Tighe had been through and spent a lot of time just intently focused on Tighe. Poor Tighe was completely exhausted, finding it difficult to hold his eyelids up. He fell asleep in his stroller about 10 minutes after this photo.

Tighe with Sean Dawkins, retired NFL player.

Tighe with the Assistant Chief of Police for the City of San Jose. What a great guy! My camera's flash was off and I took a couple unfocused photos before realizing it. He acted like it was no bother to him as I apologetically asked to take one more photo.

Opa Christmas at Jay & Rachel's house. Christmas party with the entire Becker family.

Cian, Tighe and Michael ready to be set free by Uncle Jay, after having their dinner in their high chairs out in the garage, where all the kids were hanging out.

Clara's turn at the kid's gift exchange.

The kids retired to Jay & Rachel's bed in their jammies to watch a movie. Back Row: Nick and Genna. Front row: Joe, Lucas, Clara, Lily and Maddie.

Lily, Clara and Maddie

Uncle James came to visit for a couple days after working in New Mexico.

Christmas Eve before heading up to Novato. The boys' outfits were a gift from James and Julia. Thank you very much. They looked quite dapper in them.

Cian

Michael

Tighe

Clara

Michael and Tighe

Michael cracking up. Love it!!

Michael, Tighe and Cian

Tighe, Cian, Michael and Clara with Mom & Dad at Gramma's on Christmas Eve

Clara getting the carrots ready for the reindeer. Note the antlers on her head. We baked cookies for Santa and sprinkled glitter on the lawn so that the reindeer could find our house.

Christmas morning. Tighe and Cian opening their gifts from Mom & Dad.

Michael with his gift from Mom & Dad. Clara loved the "I love you" singing Barney when she was their age. Like his hands-free bottle holding technique?

Clara changed into her ballet gear from Santa.

Christmas Dinner with Mom and Don. Bryan prepared a delicious Prime Rib. Clara even set a chair up for Sheepy, her hot-water-bottle-filled plush animal, sent over from Auntie Christina. Thanks Christina. Clara sleeps with Sheepy every night and the boys have their puppies in their cribs, using them as pillows.

Clara and Annie (Clara's classmate) hanging with Jesus after Christmas mass.

Tighe, Michael, Cian, Clara and Sienna at Gilroy Gardens Festival of Lights.