Mele Kalikimaka
Carrie Fisher's in the ICU after a heart attack on a flight, George Michaels is dead, one of my BIL's best friends via WoW - her house burned down two days ago ... it's a lot of somber news for a holiday.
Speaking of - JKR had a lovely Christmas message for everyone who is struggling this holiday with difficult times. <3 I, too, wish all of you a Merry Christmas, with special love to those of you who may not be feeling so merry right now. ♥ Meanwhile, I also want to wish my Jewish friends a happy and light-filled Hanukkah. Sending all of you warm hugs, and if you don't celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, I send warm hugs anyway, because we can always use those. :D
As for Christmas on our end, it was delightfully laid back, given that our planned guests were only free yesterday, so we had six of Will & Rob's relatives over for the afternoon and evening, and today it was just us (and my FIL). We gave permission to Two that he could get us up at 7am; in reality he waited until nearly 7:25a, and even that was way better than getting up at 5:45a. :P
Of course, his first words were, "Where are our stockings?" Oh, shit. I'd forgotten to set them out before going to bed on Christmas Eve! I mean, they were all assembled and ready to go, but still in their hiding spot. Oops. But aside from that, things went smoothly. First the kids opened their stockings (once I set them out :-P) and then Two played "Santa," handing out people's gifts from under the tree. I was amused to see that every single gift for Two, regardless of origin, had been wrapped in penguin-themed paper (or penguin-themed gift bags). We all know his favourite thing! *g*
Anyway, everyone seemed pretty pleased by what they received, although I goofed and calculated that MiniPlu would mind white chocolate less than milk chocolate (she's not a huge chocolate fan) when I got _____-chocolate-coated Krispie treats for the kids' stockings. Nope, she would have rather had the milk-chocolate coating. But, ok, aside from that, everyone seemed pleased. R&K (well, K, specifically - she does the shopping) - spoiled me, given that we usually skip presents for the adults, or just give small token presents. But she got me this sweater, after I'd admired the same sweater in cream on my niece last month (I love lace-up looks), some pretty blue/white crystal snowflake earrings that match a pendant she gave me a few years back (she has the matching pendant and, now, earrings, as well) and a Kindle book (next in Jennifer Nielsen's Mark of the Thief series). My mom got me a couple of small items and this shirt I'd wanted, so now I can show my support to those who understand it, without being in-your-face and/or blowing Two's identity to those who don't. Two gave me a treat-tower of Ghirardelli goodies and MiniPlu got me the Moana soundtrack - although that's still on order, so it's coming. My FIL got me Outlander S2 on DVD. Will got me a GF cookbook I'd wanted for awhile now, Cassie's Tales from Shadowhunter Academy which I had accidentally seen already, and a new cell phone! I've got a Galaxy S7 now, still trying to figure out the changes, but at least the audio isn't cutting out every time someone tries to call me. :P
(Side anecdote: after my phone had cut out the audio 5 seconds into a call with my mom - probably the tenth time, at least, that this had happened to her - my mom said, "I hope 'Santa' brings you a new phone." Since she was on speakerphone at the time - I was making dinner - Two overheard her. Baffled, he whispered to me, "Can't you tell Grandma that we don't believe in Santa anymore, and she doesn't have to pretend?" I had to explain to him that she was kidding; it's stuff like this that makes me wonder if he's on the Asberger's scale somewhere, but it was still a pretty funny moment. My mom got a big laugh out of that, once I recounted what he'd said. :) )
As for the rest of presents: I got Will a Sudoku book, new warm gloves (he'd been complaining his weren't keeping him warm enough), and a new neckchain with replacement pendants to replace those that cannot currently be found, ever since his last neckchain broke, and a couple of things from my mom and the kids - tshirt, Stitch pins, warm socks he'd requested. Two got a game, art supplies, new stuffies, an awesome penguin long-sleeve tshirt, candy, new snow boots, charger cables, stuff like that. MiniPlu's main gift was a new iPhone 7 (we just sold the house, or there's no way we could have gotten two new phones at once); her phone was 3 years old and no longer holding charge very well. Also, in three years she had never once lost or damaged it, a fair feat for a middle school student, and we felt that kind of deserved the upgrade. I was a big geek in presenting the phone, though: I created a 3-part gift tower, with a chocolate-caramel apple in a tin on top, then a box with a tube of eye-puffiness-reducer (she's been complaining about puffy eyes on those early-am starts for school), and the phone (and case) in the bottom box: Apple. Eye. Phone. Because Mom is a big dork. *g* (MiniPlu also got a couple of smaller items - an inexpensive sweater from various people, a crossbody bag, a pair of supersoft joggers, but, yeah, the phone was obviously her main gift.)
While we were opening gifts, my overnight cinnamon rolls were coming to temp and baking, which meant we all had scrumptious warm cinnamon rolls to dig into as soon as presents were over. Let's put it this way: there were 7 of us, and the recipe makes 12. I only had one, as my gluten splurge for the day. The rest were completely gone by lunchtime. *g*
The rest of the day was pretty relaxed, which we all needed. I took a short nap, then watched MiniPlu's two favorite Christmas episodes from Frasier while curled up on her bed, walked the dogs, played a game with Two, and diddled around. I did help make dinner - ham, potatoes, veggies, etc - with K, but it wasn't too stressful, and after dinner and chocolate bourbon pecan pie Rob and I had made, it was back to relaxing again. Currently watching some new animated Netflix show called Trollhunters, which is pretty good, although Anton Yelchin had been cast as the lead voice, so that's making me kind of sad. Honestly, except for the fact that I couldn't reach my dad by phone, it was a perfect Christmas day. Two didn't even argue today, which was a gift more precious than gold, if you ask me.
On a final note: Yuletide fics were posted: I received Real Genius fanfic; I asked for a story focusing on what happened to Mitch after the movie ended, and the author delivered nicely.
Big hugs to everyone on my flist. ♥
Speaking of - JKR had a lovely Christmas message for everyone who is struggling this holiday with difficult times. <3 I, too, wish all of you a Merry Christmas, with special love to those of you who may not be feeling so merry right now. ♥ Meanwhile, I also want to wish my Jewish friends a happy and light-filled Hanukkah. Sending all of you warm hugs, and if you don't celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, I send warm hugs anyway, because we can always use those. :D
As for Christmas on our end, it was delightfully laid back, given that our planned guests were only free yesterday, so we had six of Will & Rob's relatives over for the afternoon and evening, and today it was just us (and my FIL). We gave permission to Two that he could get us up at 7am; in reality he waited until nearly 7:25a, and even that was way better than getting up at 5:45a. :P
Of course, his first words were, "Where are our stockings?" Oh, shit. I'd forgotten to set them out before going to bed on Christmas Eve! I mean, they were all assembled and ready to go, but still in their hiding spot. Oops. But aside from that, things went smoothly. First the kids opened their stockings (once I set them out :-P) and then Two played "Santa," handing out people's gifts from under the tree. I was amused to see that every single gift for Two, regardless of origin, had been wrapped in penguin-themed paper (or penguin-themed gift bags). We all know his favourite thing! *g*
Anyway, everyone seemed pretty pleased by what they received, although I goofed and calculated that MiniPlu would mind white chocolate less than milk chocolate (she's not a huge chocolate fan) when I got _____-chocolate-coated Krispie treats for the kids' stockings. Nope, she would have rather had the milk-chocolate coating. But, ok, aside from that, everyone seemed pleased. R&K (well, K, specifically - she does the shopping) - spoiled me, given that we usually skip presents for the adults, or just give small token presents. But she got me this sweater, after I'd admired the same sweater in cream on my niece last month (I love lace-up looks), some pretty blue/white crystal snowflake earrings that match a pendant she gave me a few years back (she has the matching pendant and, now, earrings, as well) and a Kindle book (next in Jennifer Nielsen's Mark of the Thief series). My mom got me a couple of small items and this shirt I'd wanted, so now I can show my support to those who understand it, without being in-your-face and/or blowing Two's identity to those who don't. Two gave me a treat-tower of Ghirardelli goodies and MiniPlu got me the Moana soundtrack - although that's still on order, so it's coming. My FIL got me Outlander S2 on DVD. Will got me a GF cookbook I'd wanted for awhile now, Cassie's Tales from Shadowhunter Academy which I had accidentally seen already, and a new cell phone! I've got a Galaxy S7 now, still trying to figure out the changes, but at least the audio isn't cutting out every time someone tries to call me. :P
(Side anecdote: after my phone had cut out the audio 5 seconds into a call with my mom - probably the tenth time, at least, that this had happened to her - my mom said, "I hope 'Santa' brings you a new phone." Since she was on speakerphone at the time - I was making dinner - Two overheard her. Baffled, he whispered to me, "Can't you tell Grandma that we don't believe in Santa anymore, and she doesn't have to pretend?" I had to explain to him that she was kidding; it's stuff like this that makes me wonder if he's on the Asberger's scale somewhere, but it was still a pretty funny moment. My mom got a big laugh out of that, once I recounted what he'd said. :) )
As for the rest of presents: I got Will a Sudoku book, new warm gloves (he'd been complaining his weren't keeping him warm enough), and a new neckchain with replacement pendants to replace those that cannot currently be found, ever since his last neckchain broke, and a couple of things from my mom and the kids - tshirt, Stitch pins, warm socks he'd requested. Two got a game, art supplies, new stuffies, an awesome penguin long-sleeve tshirt, candy, new snow boots, charger cables, stuff like that. MiniPlu's main gift was a new iPhone 7 (we just sold the house, or there's no way we could have gotten two new phones at once); her phone was 3 years old and no longer holding charge very well. Also, in three years she had never once lost or damaged it, a fair feat for a middle school student, and we felt that kind of deserved the upgrade. I was a big geek in presenting the phone, though: I created a 3-part gift tower, with a chocolate-caramel apple in a tin on top, then a box with a tube of eye-puffiness-reducer (she's been complaining about puffy eyes on those early-am starts for school), and the phone (and case) in the bottom box: Apple. Eye. Phone. Because Mom is a big dork. *g* (MiniPlu also got a couple of smaller items - an inexpensive sweater from various people, a crossbody bag, a pair of supersoft joggers, but, yeah, the phone was obviously her main gift.)
While we were opening gifts, my overnight cinnamon rolls were coming to temp and baking, which meant we all had scrumptious warm cinnamon rolls to dig into as soon as presents were over. Let's put it this way: there were 7 of us, and the recipe makes 12. I only had one, as my gluten splurge for the day. The rest were completely gone by lunchtime. *g*
The rest of the day was pretty relaxed, which we all needed. I took a short nap, then watched MiniPlu's two favorite Christmas episodes from Frasier while curled up on her bed, walked the dogs, played a game with Two, and diddled around. I did help make dinner - ham, potatoes, veggies, etc - with K, but it wasn't too stressful, and after dinner and chocolate bourbon pecan pie Rob and I had made, it was back to relaxing again. Currently watching some new animated Netflix show called Trollhunters, which is pretty good, although Anton Yelchin had been cast as the lead voice, so that's making me kind of sad. Honestly, except for the fact that I couldn't reach my dad by phone, it was a perfect Christmas day. Two didn't even argue today, which was a gift more precious than gold, if you ask me.
On a final note: Yuletide fics were posted: I received Real Genius fanfic; I asked for a story focusing on what happened to Mitch after the movie ended, and the author delivered nicely.
Big hugs to everyone on my flist. ♥