Kelly and I made nog today following a Paula Dean recipe. We have leaded and unleaded. Mmmmm, nummy. Also have a pumpkin pie in the oven for dessert tomorrow.

Christmas morning the kids can come out of their rooms when they hear jingle bells. Then it is usually stocking time. I'm hoping that will be followed by breakfast of eggs and left over ham from the night before. And then the prezzies under the tree.

Around noon the kids will go over to KCD's place to do Christmas over there plus have Christmas dinner. Apparently I have been invited to a friend's house Christmas day (invitation came through the kids, not directly), so I may go over there to hang for a bit.

I will be using rum in place of brandy, and my sugar is not superfine.

Baby, your sugar is superduperfine...

Have people here tried Not Your Daughter's Jeans jeans?

I observed! I got lots done. I should have come in here and posted about it, but I was busy out doing my Onerous Tasks...

Extra sugar plums for minus t!

JZ's sibs, and their SOs are here. Or, were here, as they all took off to buy noodles and bring them back. Emmett and I (after two solid days of touring about the city) decided to just stay home and await their return.

Matilda was super excited to see her Aunt and Uncles.

I am pleased to report that one of JZ's presents that I had ordered and had zero hope of arriving before xmas, did indeed arrive. Huzzah the UPS!

eta: A minority opinion, I see.

Also, Emmett bought Matilda a Stitch doll at the Disney Store today so he's all done with his shopping.

Tomorrow morning I need to wrap things and then we go over to EM's house in the afternoon.

Christmas Eve dinner with her, and then we'll spend the night and do Christmas morning with her.

Then we'll come back to the city to offload, and change clothes and stuff. Then back across the Bay to an open house with JZ's greek cousins. Then Christmas night dinner at Jacqueline's Dad's house.

The social whirl is on. It's going to be a bit exhausting. But Matilda is in a flurry of excitement and it's more about the Holidayness of it all, rather than just acquisitive gift receiving.

Is Jilli around? I found a listing for Vintage Lace-up boots on Etsy and thought of her. [link]

My sara-like cookies are done but totally different -- I made sandwiches instead and I used smoked chipotle instead of cayenne. So I recovered from my epic cookie fail.

I have used over 8 pound of butter this holiday season and that's not including the 5+ dozen cookies I made for Noah's school party.

Tomorrow I have yoga and the cookie exchange there. Then home to relax.

Wow. Just got a phone call from a cousin of my mom. Apparently I met her when I was quite young. Beyond that, I don't ever remember meeting her. She had sent a Christmas card to mom last year and I had to send a note back breaking the hard news to her.

Anyway, I sent her a card this year and mentioned that we would be in California in May. Today was the first time I've talked with her and she sounds delightful. She mentioned something about the family tree and where she fits in it. I told her I had some genealogy records from my mom which included her side of the family. I need to copy those and send them to her. Sounds like she had a brother-in-law she didn't know about.

Hec, Tom and I were admiring Emmett's excellent fashion sense. Fezzes are cool!

So are bow ties.

I want to be Quorra for Halloween. Not sure why. I have little interest in seeing the movie. I don't like 13.

Okay, bedtime. Up early tomorrow.

OMG, there's snow and ice here on the ground here in Columbus.

But we're inside now and watching The Princess Bride!