The Contentment Of The Day After

A Thoughtful Hayden

Halle's Ready

Cosy In Their Christmas Blankets 

It's still dark here in Virginia at 7:00 and Drew has just come downstairs to join me in a cup of coffee and some Sports Center.  It's warming up here, cloudy but in the 50's and Chautauqua is also warm, in the 50's but rainy.  I wonder if any snow is left.

New Head Phones, Purse, And Hat

Some Of The Gang

Yesterday could be divided into three parts, the opening of Christmas presents, the consecutive viewing of three Christmas films as a family, then more football for Drew and me.  The girls actually slept in on Christmas morning, not getting up until 9:00, much to Halle's dismay.  She vowed to get up early.  So it was a civilized Christmas morning, everyone relaxed and well rested.  The highlight of course is watching the grandchildren open their presents.  And I must say, they seemed to love everything they received, no dour faces, and more importantly, they seemed to get everything they wanted.  There was no 'why didn't I get a this or that.'  They were just satisfied with what they got. How refreshing.  And it's a credit to Jill and Drew to know what the girls wanted and for the most part, got it for them.  No iPads or computers or iPhones this year as they already have them.  Just lots of clothes, shoes and boots, things they need.  The living room was cleaned up and organized by 10:30, in time for Evie to make crepes for breakfast, the request of the girls.  I think Hayden may have overdosed on them because she spent a good part of the afternoon sleeping them off.

Ivory Ella Sweatshirt

New Comforter

After breakfast and the organizing of the gifts, Drew put on Christmas Vacation, everyone's all time favorite and a film we watch every year.  Everyone laughed and loved it but when Scrooged followed, some drifted off like me to relax or take or nap, and reconvened to watch Elf, another favorite.  After the movies, I needed to wake up, so Halle and I took the dogs out for a walk, on a surprisingly sunny afternoon.  Jill, then, made up some guacamole and got out the chips and dip for an appetizer mid afternoon, our lunch more or less.

We were having prime rib for dinner, so Evie prepped it around 4:00 and put the two rib, five pounder in the oven at 4:30.  My sister Linda, by the way, had a mammoth 22 pounder for her four kids and 13 grandchildren.  So I was worried we might not have enough but it was just right.  We had mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts and a salad, and we devoured everything except one slice of beef.  Good planning.

Christmas Dinner

We then watched some more football, fell asleep on couches, surfed on iPads until Drew got out his lasagna dessert which everyone loved despite it being so rich.  Some even has seconds.  Evie and Halle played some cards, the rest of us too lazy or tired to join them, and most went up to bed just after 10:00.  Drew, however, a devoted KC Chiefs fan, stayed up and watched the second half of the Chiefs win over the Broncos and went to bed happy.

Today is our last day in Virginia as we will drive home tomorrow.  I assume today will be a day of shopping, looking for after Christmas deals, and making sure the girls and Jill have the appropriate ski gear as they are going skiing tomorrow and Wednesday in West Virginia with friends.  Our only must do for today is Halle's volleyball practice from 5:00 to 7:00.  We will go out to dinner after her practice, too lazy to fix another dinner.  And my sister Ellen and her husband Walt may stop over mid afternoon if they have the energy after a busy Christmas to drive to Bristow.