Well.....

Christmas Eve morning, I did a little last-minute shopping for stocking stuffers. I also bought the Giant Puppy a new doghouse, and got a discount on it because the bonus door was missing. (since when does a dog need a door on a doghouse anyway?) Put on Christmas movie and finished wrapping gifts. Called a friend with a Christmas singing telegram.

That evening we went to my mom's for supper, joined by my stepbrother and his wife and their FOUR children. Actually they are all pretty good kids. Only the baby is... well, a baby. Cute, but fussy and into everything. My eldest nephew is almost 16, and has become a handsome, smart young man. The next one is a little hoss - there's probably football in his future - but he also plays the cello in the school orchestra, and loves his baby brother. The girl is very sweet and polite.

Christmas morning, Mister and I woke up early. Being a weekday we would be up at 5:30 anyhow, and the dogs don't understand about sleeping in. So we got up, built a fire, and opened presents. We have a friend who started leaving gifts for us overnight on Christmas Eve several years ago - like a visit from Santa! - and lo and behold, there they were again. They have had some troubles this year, and brought us goodies anyway: a Civil War book for Mister, and a fleece blankie with woodland animals on it for me. I fixed us breakfast, then we went back to sleep for a little while!

Went to Mom's again to hang with another group of family. This is usually the breaker for me. But I had a little glass of madeira first. :-) We ate, sat around waiting on my cousin (who had to work till noon - he's in radio) and watched Pleasantville in the meantime. (Excellent movie. I had never seen it before. So many interesting implications, but that's another story.) When Cousin arrived, we started in with gifts. Mom usually gives us all money, which is all right. (I ain't going to tell her I'm going to get a new tattoo with it.) But she also has this habit of buying things just because they're on sale, so Christmas is always a surprise with her.

This morning I slugged around in bed again, and now here I sit with the Giant Puppy at my feet. I think he has irrevocably attached himself to me. :-)