Dear family, why just be late for dinner when you can be an hour and a half late? Or, actually, two hours based on the fake time we told you.

Last year, when they were three hours late because they decided to visit someone else, HPF was a little upset. The year before, she was just confused.

Nothing near what others are dealing with.

Pix & ND that's so hard. Sheryl, I hope Gary's leg is ok.

Dillo is obsessed with his trebuchet.

He's also singing "Mary did you know" but he keeps wandering off the lyrics and mentioning Zeus, Cronos devouring his children, etc. His most common line is, "Mary did you know that your baby boy is the LORD OF ALL CREATION?" In a sort of sinister way. #oops #raisedbyatheists

Hee!

I am pretty excited to mostly do nothing tomorrow. So far today, I've opened presents with my mom (I got stuff so I can actually use my fireplace!), gone to Mass, seen my father, and visited with the family friends who usually come by our house on Christmas. Shortly, off to other family friends for dinner.

Kids and I had a big breakfast at the hotel, swam in the hotel pool for a couple of hours, and went out for Chinese food (like good Jews do on Christmas). Kids are napping now before we go over to my aunt's for presents and Christmas dinner.

Tomorrow, Legoland!

I don't think any Chinese restaurants around here are open. But I am enjoying my day of reading murder mysteries and eating all the cookies very much. About time to make some tea to justify more cookies, in fact.

That sounds like one hell of a day, Sheryl. I hope today is better!

Trebuchet! What fantastic gift!

We went out to see Into the Woods, which I thought was good but not great, and we finally agreed on a Chinese restaurant, so we're going out to dinner later.

Fresh from the oven croissant rolls, cheese fondue, cold water from a jug that I left in the car overnight, cold sausage in said fondue. Pretty damned yum.

Legoland=always fun.

I indulged with the first piece of bread I've had in three weeks AND a tiny sliver of cheesecake. My coworker keeps telling me that if I stay on the diet, eventually other stuff will not taste as good. Apparently that time has not kicked in yet, because I seriously wanted to then eat about six more slices of cheesecake.

Also, awkward: when my mom brings two things to Christmas dinner (my brother-in-law made the meat and some salad and bread) and both of them have walnuts in them. Which my BIL is allergic to. Oops?

Our attached neighbors set their oven on fire. All is ok but this is the second time in two weeks they've filled our house with smoke. We would like to move.