Christmas Day 2017 - Good Morning

Monday, December 25, 2017

This is not how it actually played out. Dale was up first so I didn't need to wake him up by jumping on him. I thought it was a cute Bitmoji picture and it illustrates that my exuberance around Christmas is more than Dale's.

I put Mary and Joseph in the manger scene yesterday but added Baby Jesus this morning.

Dale posted the following on his blog this morning:

I haven’t felt very Christmassy this year, but trying to get into the spirit today. I like watching college choirs on PBS - this one is Gustavus Adolphus - because choral music is kind of my jam.

Athena took one look at the forecast for this week and promptly curled up in our bed. This dog likes long walks but this week, we will have to take her on several short walks because she steadfastly refuses to let us put booties on her which would protect her sensitive little paws from the cold. But no. Five minute walks they shall be. Too bad too. She would look boss in the vibram sole booties we have.

Now to cleaning the house and preparing to host Joe’s mom and who knows who else for Christmas dinner (boeuf bourguignon!)

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!

Christmas Eve 2017 - Goodnight

Sunday, December 24, 2017

What a lovely day this Christmas Eve was. Time for bed though...

Christmas Eve 2017 - Greetings to Sam and Pete

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Shortly before Dale and I headed of to the Christmas Eve service I texted Sam and Pete the above picture. Sam texted back the following... 

...with the message that they ended up with a white Christmas. I texted back that that's pretty good for Kansas. Pete texted that they're doing cheese fondue at their house.

Christmas Eve 2017 - White Christmas

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Just after our church service ended I checked my phone and noticed Mike had texted me the above picture. He's in Arizona visiting Charisse's family and I took it to mean they're watching White Christmas. When Dale and I got home from church we put together a grazing tray of pickled herring, crackers, apples, pears, ham, swiss cheese and French onion dip.  We also put in White Christmas and I texted the following picture to Mike:

I also texted this one:

...with the message "I'll be Danny Kaye to your Bing Crosby." He's such a good sport to put up with me.

Dale and I started falling asleep on the couch before the movie ended (just as Rosie Clooney gets dropped off at the train station by the general after he misunderstanding with Bing). We decided to go to bed but I got a brief second wind and ended up reading The Polar Express before I settled in for my long winter nap. I find the story magical. It's copyrighted 1985 so I didn't grow up with it but I encountered it in the early nineties when I began teaching. It touched me when I first read it as it made me think about what it means to believe. 

Christmas Eve 2017 - Church Service

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Our Christmas Eve church service was lovely. The singing of carols beautiful. Dale and I were 2 of the 3 Kings in the Christmas pageant.  Here I am with my buddy Emma who played the lead angel:

After the service there was a visit from St. Nicholas. He passed out bags of treats to the kids. I took advantage of getting a photo op with him. Took 50+ Christmases to finally see him on Christmas Eve but I guess good things come to those who wait!!

Christmas Eve 2017 - Kalle Anke

Poured myself a Christmas Eve martini and...

Christmas Eve 2017 - The Tree

Finished decorating the tree after sweeping away the light dusting of snow that fell while we were away at church. Athena posed pretty for the picture.