Merry Christmas!

Christmas has always one of my favorite holidays. I enjoy teaching the Christmas story in Sunday School (and to our little ones at home), spending time with friends and family, as well as all the yummy things we get to eat. Oh yes -- presents are nice too, but it's more fun to watch the kids open theirs -- rather than opening any of my own.

Last night, while The Varmints 3 slept, I laid out a 6' x 8' Thomas the Train track for them and Hunny Bunny finished wrapping the last few presents. This morning's squeals of delight were neat... even more so since I could laze in bed a little longer while they had their fun. We did have some trouble getting the video camera working properly (we use it "so often" you know), but finally got it set and working (we think) in spite of the occasional message plastered across the LCD screen: INSERT CLEANING CASSETTE. (We don't have one yet -- I just turned it off and back on to clear it.)

After opening all the presents, we let the Varmints 3 play awhile before I made blueberry waffles. Hunny Bunny and I had a (rare) leisurely breakfast by ourselves while they played. As they got crankier (and Sugee Boogee began mooching more), we decided to feed them too. All told, the Varmints 3 were done unwrapping presents and finally started breakfast around 10.30 this morning. (Nothing short of miraculous -- they normally MUST eat by 8am.) After playing a little longer, they took early naps and we went next door around 2.45.

This year, we were invited to our neighbor's house -- she had quite a spread: a honey baked (spiral cut) ham, a turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, fresh cranberry sauce, green bean casserole (we're Baptists, I think "GBC" is a requirement for all "Baptist-get-togethers"), sweet potatoe casserole, corn, hot rolls, mac & cheese (mainly for The Varmints 3), sliced pineapple, layered raspberry/apricot jello (had crushed pineapple in the lower raspberry layer, and the apricot above that) & whip cream on top, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, sugar cookies, white cake with chocolate frosting, and we did start with salad. Since I can get salad at home, that usually doesn't count. =)

Of course, I topped "a little of everything" off with a 20 minute massage in the Shiatsu chair -- I really like that chair -- I could spend an hour a day in it.

We started on "lunch" around 3 this afternoon. Normally Sugee Boogee is done in 5 minutes or less, and Tank a few seconds behind her, with the oldest (Little Bear) bringing up the rear. Today however, Little Bear surprised everyone and inhaled his food -- he was done well before I was, which is unusual for even the speediest of eaters. Tank and Sugee Boogee dillied and dallied until Daddy showed them that "Aunt Bea" & "Uncle Jerry" DO have a very large wooden spoon in their kitchen drawer, too. Funny how just knowing it's there can be such great motivation. =) Daddy did offer an alternative to "finishing everything on their plate" -- with no added consequences -- but neither of them wanted me to eat their pineapple and cookies -- so "not finishing" had no appeal.

When we finally came home (6-ish) I was stuffed ("to the gun'nels"), sleepy, and had decided I was skipping supper. Hunny Bunny was already glad we'd brought home some leftovers... but then, she is eating for 2 -- and can't eat large meals anyway.