This is winter on Vancouver Island

Striking a manly pose and clad only in a diaper and a pair of slippers, Milo soon grew accustomed to the unfamiliar surroundings of Gramma and Poppa's house.

Look at those strong rock-hard abs!


Although last year's visit to Santa went off without a hitch, we saw enough Santa-photo-ops-that-constitute-child-abuse (or at least ones that probably scarred the kids for life) that we thought a substitute Santa would be safer.

This Santa can be barfed on, kicked, bitten, and get his beard pulled with no ill effects. Plus his breath doesn't smell like Jack Daniels.

Hey, by the way, it's Milo's first wrapping paper tube! Slobbered on! And is he doing a "hang loose" sign or what?


Christmas morning, wearing a new bib and checking out an indoor wagon.


And outdoors, on the front porch, looking pensive. Pensive? Time for a haiku...

Hear the seagulls' cries
Echoing across the waves
Smashing clams on rocks


Is that Poppa coming? Screw the poetry, time to be cute, dammit!