Nerd Alert!

Shortly after Christmas, the Mayor got it into his head to make some Lord of the Rings swords.

For the kids, you know.

 The Mayor with one of his helpers down in the workshop.

Boookie's sword, Anduril, ready to be cut out

The Mayor and Boookie with the roughed-out Anduril (Aragorn's sword)

Here's the sanded and sealed Hadhafang (Arwen's sword) for Ela.

 Here are the completed Elvish knives.  Above are Legolas' two knives and below is Hadhafang.

 Sindarin inscription on one side: "Macil i Arwen" tr. Sword of a lady

 Sindarin inscription on the other side: "Eruwaedhiel Meldiriel" tr. Elizabeth Ruth

Merry Christmas!

For a wonderful Christmas, cue tree...

Cue gifts...

 Cue lights (with a remote control that eliminates a trip out into the cold)...

Cue family (here are some of the Mayor's family, meeting up and sneaking presents under the tree in the lobby of the Mayor's office building downtown)...

 

 Cue snow!

 

 

 ...and finally, cue LEGOs and Christmas morning joy!

Not a complete chronicle, but you get the general idea.  Merry Christmas from Michael Delving!

snow day

at mommy's urging that he remove one of his many, many bundled layers rather than become overheated:
"super-good idea mommy!  otherwise i might get too warm and melt all the snow around me."
-boookie, age 7

upon losing her first tooth

"mommy, are teeth famous?  because, you know, everyone knows about teeth."
ela, age 5

"wow, that's an odd and disturbing question."
boookie, age 7