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.

breakfast at the diner and two of the Xmas Day movies are done. Saw Big Eyes and Hobbit. Liked them both, which I was hoping but not expecting to. Now off to Into The Woods!

It turns out that the phone has been quiet here because the line is totally out, which has made for a much more serene Xmas. Also the oven gave up the ghost, but my ex-chef cousin was able to improvise with some stove-top magic.

Even my attack of the gut miseries was fortuitously timed between opening Xmas presents (yes, most of the participants are nominally Jewish) and big holiday dinner. I took a much-needed nap once the tummy-quieting drugs had kicked in, so I was able to be a happy participant with several small tastes of entries.

Also, just got the news that my eldest nephew has gotten engaged to his long-time girlfriend, so 2015 looks like it could have some festive family time. Best news of the day, yes.