Christmas Day

Tom and I were up early to see Corey off and deliver him to the airport.  After showering and getting ready for the day, I walked out to the street to get the newspaper.  What a lovely morning!

 It was the calm before the storm.  Many suffered power outages later in the day.  We were fortunate, but it looks like we'll have some yard clean up to do later.

 When I got back, Jill and the kids were up and checking out the goodies Santa left.

 We opened stocking while waiting for Jake to arrive for breakfast.

There was even a little down time for camera wars.

 Sausages, eggs and Christmas bread were on the menu. 

 After breakfast it was time to get serious about opening packages.  Isaac loves his Galapagos tortoise puppet.

 And Irene is ga-ga over scarlet macaws.

Jake got a new kidney.  Unfortunately it won't replace the real one he'll have removed in about two weeks.

 Webkinz Barred Owl for Isaac.

 New clothes made by Grandma.

 Grandma got gifts too.

Sounders soccer gear was included, of course.  Isaac is now an official member of the Emerald city Supporters.

 But maybe the hit of the morning was the box of old books Jake gave the kids - his collection of Far Side, Calvin and Hobbs, and Garfield books collected over many years in his youth.

 A sounders gnome for my garden!

 Aftermath, with some order amid the chaos,...

... order soon to be reduced even farther by the construction of the game tables.

 We pulled out all of the leftovers from the frig and enjoyed another complete turkey dinner early in the evening.  And then the six of us had a rousing game of Pictionary while stuffing ourselves with cookies and candy.

Somewhere in all of that I managed to bake three pies for tomorrow's big family party in Chehalis.


The kids are now tucked away in bed and the house is quieting down.  It's time for me to have an evening cup of coffee, and a few of those cookies I was resisting earlier.


Tomorrow is another big day. the Christmas pageant continues.