Here at long last are our photos from Christmas of last year. I feel like I should have a few amusing anecdotes to share, but it’s been so long, and the intervening months have been so hectic, that I can barely remember what was happening last December.

There was a band concert—I remember that much. Joe was on better behavior in band during the spring semester, so he actually got to play with the advanced band this time. We’re definitely not out of the woods on that front yet, however: he continues to have intermittent (actually, that might be overly generous) problems managing his frustration when things don’t go just right, whether he’s having trouble with his clarinet, working on math problems, or playing baseball.

After Christmas proper, our college friend Mason swung through town with his wife Kathy and his kids Dylan and Ava. Joe and Dylan really clicked at our Rice get-together last summer in Texas, so Joe was really excited to see him again so soon. Dylan even asked his dad to buy a bag of barbecue potato chips to share with Joe on the way into town; if that’s not a real friend, I don’t know what is.

The Harts crashed at our place for the night, and we headed down to the Monterey Bay Aquarium the next day. The aquarium has added a number of computerized, interactive activities, so the kids were enthralled. They even seemed to enjoy the fish, as well.

Gallery: Christmas 2014.