Merry Christmas, part 1

Christmas was great. It was nice to stay home and have company, even though we would have loved to travel and see all the rest of the family and all our friends.
My parents came to visit and Christmas Eve, after a dinner of sausages, roasted potatoes and sauerkraut, we were treated to an interpretation of the Night Before Christmas, a surprise Mr. Burli and JT had practiced each night for a week. JT got to open one present, "footy jammies," he pouted, "can't I open something else?" Already the dreaded response to the clothes presents! But he put the jammies on and went to bed in anticipation, putting out some cookies and a glass of milk for Santa and some carrots for the reindeer.

The next morning we feasted on proscuitto egg cups and cries of "Can we open the presents yet?" And then the presents were opened, the baby was passed around, presents were tried out, and lots of joy was spread.

Finally we got to the good part - cooking Christmas dinner... and many hours later, grandma and I emerged from the kitchen with beef bourguinon (my pictures don't do it justice - it was delicious!), carrot souffle, and salad, which we enjoyed on the deck, in true SoCal (Southern California) style.

And then many hours were spent washing dishes. That evening, my sister and her family arrived. The next Christmas celebration will follow...