Merry Christmas!!!

Twas the morning of Christmas and all through the house-
Not a creature was stirring..... except Charles, who was up at 5 am getting Christmas started! He made coffee, let the doggies out, then woke me up... we watched a Christmas special (starring Rusty the Reindeer, the lesser known brother of Rudolph).

Then we woke up the boy, all snuggled in bed with the doggies (we let them back in)

Time for the Christmas Cuddle! Doggs and kitty, saying good morning... they got to open their presents first. Max ran off happily with his boney, but Bear was kinda clueless and more interested in the cats toys- flutter balls with feathers. Finally she got the idea and went off to the boy's room with her bone...

We took turns opening presents, starting with our stockings then moving on.... Grendel opened boxes of spices and ramen noodles, a crock pot for school (get the hint boyo?), his keyboard and programming book... then Charles told him to go unplug the lights. On the porch Santa had left the long-awaited puppy dogg chair!

The manz stocking was full of manz snacks- pistachios and licorice, and a sheriff's badge because there is a 'new sheriff in town' laying down the law! Movies from the boy, a red polo and a life is good shirt from me, and a painting of White Bear Whittington. Love the manz!

Must admit that my Christmas was the best- tea kettles from the boy, and the clever manz had a series of poem-cards that lead me on a scavenger hunt all around... things tucking in gourds, beside the mountain bear, hidden on the tree itself. Scarf and gloves, tights, gum, super 77 and new modpodge.... then the big surprise! Hidden in a bear ornament, the ring! Yay! Totally unexpected, beautiful, perfect.....

Just finished the manz-made breakfast, eggs with cheese, potatoes, hot sausage (that survived the great sausage caper of 2009.... three of my students were caught attempting to steal a truck load of sausage on Wednesday...) hot coffee. delicious.

This is the best Christmas- home with our little family, everyone close and having fun, loving each other. Later we will go over to Charles's parents house for dinner, call everyone that is far away, relax at home... the important thing is that we have each other, love each other and are making new traditions of our own. Here's to the first Christmas- may there be many, many more!

Merry Christmas Everyone!