On their way…
Christmas morning I was up at 7AM as I’d been up late Christmas Eve. Someone was NOT pleased, until I gave him his duck for breakfast. Then he was still not pleased because he usually gets a 5.5 oz can of food and the duck was only 2.5 oz. He says he should have had 2!!
I got the fires going but as I’d left the lights on all night I didn’t have to deal with windows. I got the kitchen cleaned up and started setting up stations for various food prepping.
Then I made the fruit platter for snacking and filled the mixed nut bowl, also for snacking.
(These photos are a mix of mine, Tom’s and Kelly’s.)
I was ready by 9AM when they said they’d be here. But I knew none of the kids liked getting up that early, so they’d probably be late. So I sat down to wait and rest.
They arrived about 9:45AM and we got started heating things up and making tea. Only 4 of us wanted eggnog, and my brother had brought home a quart, so I just used that.
Tom had made a bowl with pomegranate seeds, raspberries, blueberries, mango, oranges, apple and a couple other things to put on waffles. I made a huge bowl of whipped cream to put on waffles.
Soon it was all ready and we all sat down for a feast. After a leisurely meal, we decided to open presents. My brother headed out for his long ride to Vermont.
Tom facetimed his oldest daughter in South Carolina. They were outside where it was nice and warm down there. It had warmed up a bit here, enough so most of the snow had melted.
We visited for a while, and they helped clear the table. But I left the dishes in the sink. I’d load the dishwasher later.
Just as they were leaving, my son woke up and appeared. So once they had headed out to other family, my son and I did our presents and stockings. He disappeared back downstairs.
I went in and started reading one of my new books from my sister. My brother got home around 4:30PM and he opened his present then headed upstairs.
Larry finally woke up and so I did his stocking with him. He adores the new toy my son got him. And the pile of paper was just the thing! Not to mention boxes…
I had put catnip inside the wrapping of his presents and soon there was a nipped out cat flat on the floor. He had a grand time playing with his toy off and on for the rest of the day.
I sat and watched a Christmas movie then headed to bed after tending stoves, shades, and window candles.
My cough wasn’t any better and I had a hard time getting to sleep.
It was a lovely day and such fun to have Tom’s family here. My #1 intern says they should plan to spend every Christmas Day here!
On Friday my helper friend will be here at 8AM and besides a couple chores and errands what we will be doing is polishing the good silverware and putting it away.
I’ll probably just rest the rest of the day. I hope the cough is better…