And I have a tornado's leavings in my living room to prove it! Our holiday started off on Christmas Eve day with a small gathering of friends (Woodmills, Arnolds, Hunts and Angel). We ate a hearty brunch and kept the children from killing themselves (though a chair did its best to off Tess) and we partied until the children became cranky.
After the guests departed Angel's mom, Somone, came bearing gifts. Thus began the present opening part of our holiday. Isabella received her princess piano and dress up trunk and Lucca received the first of many Transformers. Angel was given a sticker book and a Barbie and then Somone and Angel went off to enjoy the rest of their Christmas.
Mike cooked a Christmas Eve dinner of Shrimp Scampi and we watched "It's a Wonderful Life". Before it was too late we bundled the kids in their jammies and read, "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and The Birth of Jesus from the Bible. We then put the kids in the car and drove around Livermore listening to Mike's Quiet Carols and looking at Christmas lights. Thankfully, both kids fell asleep and were easily transported to bed. Mike and I drank some egg nog, finished "It's a Wonderful Life" and completed our Christmas Eve wrapping and whatnot.
Kids were up at 6:45am and ready to see what Santa had brought. Torturously, I made them wait in the bedroom as I drank my coffee, fed the cats, took pictures and Mike set the music going. When it was time the kids burst out into the living room and immediately started playing with Minnie Mouse and the Hulk. Before too long the kitties got their mouse and treats, Mike and I opened our stockings and Lucca, our elf, handed out packages pausing to open his as he found them. (Often without knowing who it was from so if there are mistakes on the thank you notes, you know why!)
After presents we ate breakfast and then played some more. Mike continued making delightful yummies to take to John and Ann's (foodie friends) while the kids played and I tried to straighten (haha!).
During this festive time our neighbor came over to report that one of the van's vent windows was wide open. Fearing theft, we went to check it out. Nothing was missing and despite rain all night there wasn't too much trouble with water in the car. I closed the window and decided to wait until after breakfast to deal with it. Oops. The stormy wind blew open the window again this time taking it off the car and causing it to shatter all over the driveway. We took the van to the shop today and are awaiting the estimate.
Mike left early for John and Ann's and the kids and I took my now-ghetto van with the bag taped over the window later in the evening. Our feast was Rack of Lamb en croute (Lamb Wellington with bones), brocolli rabe, potatoes and Zupe Anglaise (English Trifle with an Italian twist). We were all shocked to see so many little kids running around John and Ann's (Lucca, Stephanie, Isabella and Sadie, with Baby Michele asleep in Jeff or Joann's arms). The kids of days past (Roxanne, Cody, Ian and Casey) have all entered the teen years and young adulthood. Gifts of books and home jarred foods were exchanged and we were home by 10:30pm.
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