Glod Bless Us, Every One!
First if all, happy birthday wishes to thor_2005 's momma, Mrs. whip_lash , the lovely raphaela ! Hopefully you'll have a delightful day free of emotional politics and guilt. :)
Well, to quote my little boy, it's finally "Mis mis"with all it entails. David is off picking up the lovely honeybaked ham for tomorrow and we'll hang here at the homestead with the kiddies until late this afternoon. I'll somehow manage to bathe and Christmas-ify the two of them. Johnny is going to look so handsome in his little shirt and tie! It'll likely be too much for me but I need to work my way up to him in a little tuxedo for the wedding in August--already picturing that in my mind and it's plotz worthy! Miss Reagan will be in a very pretty embroidered top and velveteen and satin overalls. To. Die. For.
We head to the Orgy of Appetizers just before 6, eat all manner of nummy and likely cheese filled things, get the two kiddies out of their finery and into Christmas pajamas and then the tearing open of the gifts commences! After the chaos ends, we pack up, head home and get the wee ones to bed. At that point, the Santa prezzies get wrapped in the festive Elmo with candy canes paper and artfully arranged under the tree. When Reagan gets up for her wee hours bottle (usually about 2 a.m.) I'll start the cider mulling in the crockpot so it's ready for us a few hours later for breakfast, which we'll have with lovely pannetone! YUM! More nuclear family gifting, and later in the day Paul will be here for our Christmas feast: aforementioned ham, baked sweet potato and apricot casserole, mashed potatoes, cranberry relish and for dessert, ,a lovely triple chocolate cake.
I really debated about going to mass this year with the tots, but Johnny will not be still for that long yet, and in full cold and flu season, I'd just as soon not expose Reagan at just 8 weeks old. The second part of that is purely cautionary or selfish on my part, depending on how you look at it. That said, I love Christmas services and don't see that spending all of it in a crying room benefits anybody, and I certainly don't want to distract anyone else at the mass. We should be able to get to mass next year. :)
Merry Christmas to all who read this! Enjoy your family and loved ones! See the wonder in a little one's eyes and feel it again in your heart!
As you unwrap a present, remember the reason for the season and the gift we were given.
Blessings to all!