Christmas is over, already?

Yes, Christmas is over. I love the excitement, activities and preparation leading up to the event, but never the cleaning up to follow. Our house is still decorated. As V says, "We'll take down the decorations next weekend, to make it worth the effort". It always seems to be more of an "effort" to clean it up than it is to decorate, right? I did most of my shopping online this year. It really made things more pleasurable. Although my neck, shoulders and wrists were sore for most of the month, at least I didn't have to find parking, walk the gauntlet, and fight the crowds at the mall, which I'm still avoiding. The rain is gone, the weather spectacular, kids are occupied with their new toys. We had Christmas dinner with friends (turkey, prime rib, mashed potatoes, stuffing, 5-cup salad, asparagus, corn, green salad and three different cake/pie desserts). They had lots of appetizers before we got there. Vu and I cooked prime rib for the first time! The outside looked overcooked, but the thermometer never lies. When we cut into it, the blood started pooling on the cutting board. Stacey's mom took the "end piece", I wasn't too sure, so I took a slice from somewhere between the middle and the edge.

Oh, the (sticky) joy of Christmas!

Christmas eve the kids made a birthday cake for Jesus. The pink blob in the corner is a heart! One candle for each kid to blow out.


"Elmo Live" for A


Baby Alive goes on the potty now! Kinda freaky looking doll (Chucky-like).


Nascar race track was a dud (Thanks Santa)


Some tears over the Little Pony stuff

First Barbie-surprise, she's a princess!

A's new PlasmaCar- I just noticed today it was red! I ordered pink!

The rest of the weekend was spent putting away stray toys, picking up wrapping paper, taking pictures (both the girls got digital cameras-talk about candid shots!), drying tears (the cheaper toys didn't last long) and "practicing" tennis and bowling on our new Wii. We needed lots of "practice". I had to brave the stores in order to buy two more remotes and steering wheels, so we could play together with the kids. There are still more toys and games to play with. N got a dart board, now we just need to find a (safe) place to mount it. Santa got him a chess game and book, but Mom will probably be the one to play with him. Yesterday A's gift from her aunt showed up. She received a lovely ballerina jewelry box. Something I would have died for as a child. Believe me, there were many tears from the other one. So I think she'll be getting a similar one from V's parents with the money they sent her for Christmas. What a pleasant surprise opening another gift! Next year we'll have to hold back a few gifts until the morning after, or the morning after the morning after.


A pleasant surprise, the most beautiful musical ballerina jewelry box.

I've never had such a great showing on my birthday before! I received a couple of cards, 6 phone calls and 10 email wishes. Usually it slips by without much notice. Here at home we had our own little birthday party. Probably sick of cake, V opted for a cheesecake assortment instead (boy was he dead-on with that one...mmmmm!). I got my requisite Starbuck's gift card and coffee, a beautiful (and spacious) new Dooney & Bourke purse from my sister, an Animal Crossing game for the Wii, and a KitchenAid hand mixer to replace my burned out one. (We've been doing a lot of baking around here).

My cheesecake "assortment". Ah look, it's my sweet 16!

Made more cookies this morning!