Christmas day

These angels are a longtime favorite of Julia's and should be of Ben's, when he gets out here to see them. Maybe we can get him here for a while next week. For those who wish to add them to your Christmas arsenal, they came from the Vermont Country Store. Charlie remembers some from his childhood, but they seem to be lost and gone forever. Ditto the snow globe. I ordered one this year from VCS, but arrived broken, boo hoo. They'll replace it, but it's arriving next week, and will not be the design I wanted.

A few flakes of snow today, but mixed with a little rain. Enough snow on the ground to count as a white Christmas, for those who care.

Nice time yesterday at Mom's. Good big area for tree, opening presents, and playing with presents. Ben did well, considering the level of excitement. At one point we were in the bedroom together. He was sulking a little because Julia, who had been napping in a chair, told him, after he'd yelled "WAKE UP!!!" in her ear, to go away. As we were sitting on the bed he said, "I don't know, Grandma, I just miss you all the time." I was impressed. Though it's quite possible that his other grandma had said something rather like that to him in the morning. I still liked it though. He's quite the little parrot. He amused us all by announcing to their recipients the contents of the presents he'd picked out and wrapped with me (from him) as he handed the present to each person. He now gets the idea that people give each other presents, but the secret part escapes him so far. In fact he'd already told Marty what he bought for each person the minute she got home on our shopping day.

Anyway, it was a lot of fun. Last night Charlie and I had spareribs, a Christmas eve tradition in his family. Baked potato, broccoli, and hollandaise (not a tradition) completed the meal. Today we're eating dinner at the Woods', where we'll have a rib roast and whatever goes with that. Last year we had lutefisk there, but this year Dave has lost his good source of it, so it's beef. Florence (who did not go last year, though invited -- she did not know the Woods yet, and circumstances were, to say the least, very difficult) is not at all unhappy about the menu. If Charlie and I decide we want lutefisk we can make it sometime this week. We also should make some lefse. Wish we'd thought about it in time to make some to take to Ruth and Dave's.

I need to hang this up, since I have to make a dessert for today. The Woods had an enormous cocktail party on Friday night, their family dinner (at their house) last night, and us today. Insanity. Then Ruth goes to Georgia for a week (her brother is ill) and I take over her students, then with a friend to Machu Pichu the following week. I'd burn out if I behaved like that!

Merry Christmas to one and all, and best wishes for a fine year in 2006. A banner year for Suzy!