Christmas 2012

As promised, here's a glimpse of our Christmas festivities.

Aunt Katie and Uncle Dave spent Christmas with us (yay!).  We saved decorating the tree for Christmas Eve, as per tradition.  Uncle Dave, who is one of the few people who actually makes me feel short, helped hang all the really high decorations. Of course I have no pictures of that.

however, Mr. Pickles did get one of a ballerina decorating the tree

 

Andrew lent moral support by being cute

Of course we made Pulla.

Can you believe it took me umpteen years to turn the page in my Finnish Cookbook and notice all the awesome shapes you can make?  Behold, a Christmas star!

see?  see the star?  it's... five-pointed? ....just take my word for it, okay?

We toyed with the idea of Midnight Mass, but eventually opted for the Vigil instead.  Christmas morning was great.  Here the kids are waiting for their lazy mom to haul her sorry heinie out of bed so they can see what Santa brought:

beware the evil elf!

Eventually Dave and Katie came over and we had brunch, followed by a marathon family present-opening.  In our house we take turns opening presents one-by-one so we can all see and appreciate what everyone else got, and also so Mom can write everything down for the sake of thank you notes.  Now we might not ever actually get to WRITING said thank you notes...
 
This year we really, really will, though -- we got a good haul!

Lots of books:

Tintin, Calvin & Hobbes, and Polish picture books!  what more do you need in life?

 and lots of games!

thank you Aunt Katie and Uncle Dave!  you guys are the BEST!

We lazed around for most of the rest of the day and had a big Christmas feast -- you've already seen the pictures of The Aftermath.  Then in the evening we all headed over to some friends' for Christmas dessert.

It was a quiet (relatively), lovely day full of peace and joy and delight and love.  Thanks Dave and Katie for sharing it with us!