And den...
We came home and cleaned and cooked and went to church on Sunday. And den Big'ol's parents changed all of there plans around and decided to go to church on Monday morning instead of Sunday which got everyone's schedule all akimbo.
And den ... The Maryland and Connecticut family descended on our house Christmas afternoon for fun and merriment. I stuffed them full of cookies and fudge and a fabulous habanero-based chip dip I got in NM last time out. We had a nice ham dinner with lots of mushy vegetables for my FIL. He announced at Thanksgiving that I didn't "cook" the veggies I brought. His definition of "cooked" means that it resembles mashed potatoes. I believe cooking green beans or carrots to that point is a crime against humanity and a sin against All Creation.
And den...
Woke up in the wee dark hours of the morning to get Mom on her plane home. Stopped off at Tarzhay on the way back to pick up a party game for this evening because the Virginia family is coming to visit. I got to Tarzhay five minutes before seven and was amazed to see a line forming in front of the door. Turns out all of the Tarzhay Christmas accoutrements were on a 50% sale today. Tarzhay must not have gotten the message to do their after-Christmas sales before Christmas like every other store on the planet. I picked up a couple boxes of ornaments for next year's tree... but only because the ornament aisle was right on the other side of the game aisle. :) Those crazy women had hauled their yawning daughters and husbands out of bed to guard two and three carts that got fuller and fuller with every trip by the Moms into the fray. Arm fulls of *stuff*. It was crazy. Some of the ladies were throwing elbows in the aisle. Made me and my frazzled nerves feel quite serene in comparison.
And den...
I came home to grab a quick nap before doing the upstairs cleaning. A couple of the Virginia relatives haven't seen the house yet so my strategy of closing the upstairs doors won't hold today. Oh well, it will not hurt me in the least to tidy up up there. While I was sleeping, Mom called from the airport. Her flight's been delayed until about noon. She has food and water and two good books. So she'll be ok. So much for her good "travel Karma".
We didn't have as many gifts to open this year since we're unemployed ;o), but it was nice anyway, and the kids liked what they got.
#1 son got me a lovely brushed nickel look candle holder from Crate and Barrel; it hasn't arrived yet, but he gave me a picture of it. It holds seven tealite candles in votive holders up on graduated height stands. It will look pretty in the middle of my table. #2 son got me a copy of "The Joy of Cooking". He was scandalized that I didn't already have a copy of it. ;o) Clare got me a HUGH mixing bowl with a handle and pouring spout. Joseph was the first to use it when he mixed filling for an apple pie last night and proclaimed it cool! And he got me a Microplane long, slim grater for zesting citrus, and grating cheese. That one was a surprise because it was something for which I hadn't asked. When he and Clare were shopping, on Christmas Eve, he saw it, and remembered what trouble we'd had trying to make some lemon zest for some cookies he made last week. We can't wait to try it out!