I'm sorry, ita.

Happy Christmas/Yule/low traffic Friday to all! I'm sitting around watching my sister assemble a coffee cake. (I did the dishes so she'd have room to work, so I haven't been too slack a house guest. Besides, I wanted sis to have room to bake.)

Good morning! We have been up since 5:45 (yawn!) and already into the Building Giant Lego Sets phase of Christmas. Things that are awesome include Trader Joe's chocolate croissants (how did they get a French baker in my freezer like that?) and a brain-shaped Jello mold from Nutty - giving new excitement to the traditional Jello salad. Also I adore my recycled-bottles tablecloth that feels like fabric and is machine-washable, but liquids bead up on it!

I hope everyone is having a peaceful and/or joyful morning.

I'm sorry ita, I hope things improve rapidly.

So I got up at the asscrack of dawn to beat the boys up...and everyone is still asleep, or at least still in their rooms. Which is good, just funny.

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate and happy 25th to those that don't!

It's sleeting here in B'ham.

The cats got us up shortly before seven! But Sara followed soon after. Presents have been opened, bacon is on, and the coffee cake is ready to cut. Yay.

Merry merry to everyone celebrating, even if it's just a day off.

Merry Christmas! I'm the first one up here (I was asleep by quarter to ten last night). Matilda was a bundle of nerves last night, declaring herself too sleepy for stories and then popping up every 90 seconds for a drink of water or a potty visit or just to stand at the window looking out and saying mournfully, "Oh, Santa, why do you come so slow?"

I am loving getting caught up on everyone's Christmas eve (or random mattress-delivering Friday night) and very grateful for all the small Christmas miracles of improbable UPS deliveries and good IV lines and margaritas and well-made cookies and spouses stepping up and friends sending the right card at the most-needed moment. I wish we could have big giant miracles too, but the little ones are still joys.

Merry Happy Peace, beloveds.

mac up at 7, all in all not bad. we held off until about 7:40, but stockings are now done.

Looks like the (still sleeping!) boys will see some snow flurries today. 1-3" predicted for tomorrow in Baltimore. Eh, I guess I'll take that over...well, more?

Waiting for the carnage to commence.

Aaaand, we've got one up and moving....

I can't believe I might have ruined my computer for christmas. I am grinchy McGrouchypants over here. I want to go home.

And some kid is getting spanked for touching my stuff. Oops.

Christmas report! (Christmas is over. I'm sorry. I don't know what to tell you.)

Since we moved to this neighbourhood, Wallybee has been looking for a suitable church. Our research into local schools led her to a Lutheran church attached to a school. We all attended Christmas services in the morning. Wallybee is making plans to invite the pastor over for lunch sometime. Church: WIN!

Roasted for lunch: beef, pork, potatoes, pumpkin, sweet potato, onion. In addition: rocket and capsicum salad with cashews and an orange and ginger dressing. Yorkshire pudding. two mustards, horseradish cream, applesauce. Gravy! Forgot to buy gravy yesterday. Found it at a service station (supermarkets all closed). Gravy included mustard, red wine, and in the words of Paul Kelly, a dollop of tomato sauce for sweetness and that extra tang. Dessert included apple pudding and brandy custard. Lunch: WIN! Wallybee: DOUBLE WIN!!

Ryan received pressies from multiple sources. Favourite was a ride-on wagon with many sound- and music-making buttons and knobs. His attachment to it may be measured by the intensity of the meltdown he underwent when separated from it for lunch. Other gains: Sesame Street luggage packed with a large stuffed Tigger, Sesame Street-themed shapes bowl. Alphabet and number books "found on the island of Guam". Pressie: WIN!

My brother Brendan came over for dinner, stuck around for dinner and games. Ryan got up from his nap, came out to see his uncle (whom he's met before, I should state) and burst into terrified sobbing. Refused to eat his yoghurt or his dinner in the same room. Uncle: FAIL!

Presents from the parental unit: D sent me a pen set and some Ralph Lauren cologne. He sent Brendan an identical pen set and cologne. Wallybee received fridge magnets. Parental pressie: FAIL!

Aside from that hiccup, though, Brendan was great company. We played Odin's Ravens. I took the first game with some cunning Odin play, and the second in a straight race. Third game clinched it after a marathon effort. Conversation was as usual wide-ranging and rarely dull. Oh, and he brought a couple of very palatable wines, a sparkling shiraz and a noble riesling for dessert. Sibling: WIN!

We've toned down our own presents this year, largely courtesy of having to shell out some unexpected big bucks to fix our hot water system. For the day itself I gave Wallybee a mix CD, large with the schmoop. (Opening track: broke out the Bruno Mars.) Musical schmoop: WIN!

Ryan, meantime, was quite adorable all day, and continues to express more and engage more. Except with his uncle. Especially delightful at bedtime, with songs and giggles. Little Man: WIN!

All up, this was a great Christmas. And now, off to bed to prepare for Boxing Day aftermath. Happy Christmas all!