We started hannukah early this year because we'll be traveling during most of it, and we wanted to do a special celebration at home. Jared really loved lighting the candles and even learned the first few words of the prayer ("Baruch ata Adonai"):
Of course he also adored opening presents, and not just his own - the thrill of opening presents for everyone else was nearly as exciting as getting the gifts:
His first gift was a Little People playset, and he decided that each individual piece of the playset wanted to have its picture taken:
It's been so wonderful to share this holiday with him. And he loves it too - just look at this happy face:
Happy holidays, everyone.
And think kind thoughts about us later this week - we're taking our first trip with two kids on a plane, we're so very very... um... excited. :-)
Good luck on your trip! That is so cute that he wanted to have all the pictures taken. My daughter really enjoyed her first Christmas & Hanukkah as a big sister, not because of the joys of giving, but because we let her open all her brother's gifts, too.
Posted by: landismom | December 20, 2005 at 04:42 PM
Can't wait to see you guys this week. Jared looks like such a big boy. Can't you just squeeze his little cheeks? He's gorgeous!
Posted by: Kristin | December 21, 2005 at 06:27 AM
Your photos are always so great! I'm very curious how you got the lighting so perfect here?
Posted by: Laura | December 22, 2005 at 07:45 AM
Thanks Laura! In these pictures it was a bounce flash... we always use an external flash attached to the hotshoe, and then we bounce it off the ceiling so that there's no direct light on the subject (which makes it harsh and blows out parts of the pic like the faces of those with light skin). In our house the ceiling is a brown paint color and so it gives it a kind of orangey yellowey glow, I usually end up fixing that up a little bit in photoshop after the fact.
Posted by: Cynical Mom | January 01, 2006 at 01:34 PM