Everybody has cleared out except Matilda and the air mattress was just deflated and rolled up. I loaded the dishwasher, and it's sloshing away with a comforting sound.
Xmas Eve Dinner was a big success. EM has been very stressed out with her long path trying to get a diagnosis on the neuropathy in her hands and wobbly gait, so she imbibed a bit more than usual champagne and got emotional a few times. But that was all wrapped in and around gales of laughter and a simple, but perfectly executed meal.
EM made a full tenderloin with a horseradish sauce, and a very rich pot of creamed spinach and I made Au Gratin potatoes (Comte, Sharp Cheddar and Gruyere). Best Au Gratin potatoes I ever made.
Then I successfully recreated a dessert that Emmett and I used to love locally, Park Chow's warm gingerbread cake with pumpkin ice cream and caramel sauce. I had to look all over to find a ginger cake (not gingerbread) and had saved the pumpkin ice cream from Halloween, and very nearly the real thing with the warm caramel sauce. (The flavors were spot on, but the original gingercake was moister and airier.)
In the morning I was the short order cook as I made a different breakfast for everyone (mostly variations on steak and eggs, though Emily had fried eggs with caviar). Coffee and tea were consumed and we got down to the business of stockings and presents. Matilda was the champ gift giver this year with something perfect for everybody. For Emmett, she had thrifted a SF Giants jacket with the 2012 championship patch on back, and it fit perfectly.
In sum: lots of laughter, great food, love and affection, thoughtful presents.