Christmas Eve PWYC

[Twins' Mom]

I've honestly not had the bandwidth to CUOP today. I appreciate all the wonderful birthday wishes!

I was up at eight and we've had things to do...addressing the last cards that we're dropping off to neighbors, wrapping one small gift for dneighbor and three small things for the gift exchange dirty Santa with M and S's family tonight. And dh and I picked up dcousin and we had a wonderful nice lunch out - ds came also - and I got to choose a free dessert on my birthday too.

Talked to dd this a.m. too - she was working from home. Glad we weren't getting into logistics of getting her here. Birthday flowers from her just now, a neighbor left a succulent for us too, and a birthday self-care gift from dcousin.

Next up I need to write the note for dneighbor M's cards and take it to her as I walk the ddog. We need to leave in less than two hours for M and S's home!

[lucylee]

Happy birthday, Twins! I hope you have a wonderful day!

I love the Norad tracker, blessed! DGS and I were LOL about it -- he's so into geography, you know, so he knew exactly where Nambia is, and he said, "Boy, he's moving fast." Even DGD knows the truth about Santa now, so it's lost a little of its magic, but it's fun to play along, even when you're old. DS said he was the only person at his house who still believed -- LOL -- dh always told him if you don't believe, you won't get any presents.

So my day is unusually calm. I've baked cookies, put together citrus salad for myself and DS/family for tomorrow (grapefruit slices, mandarin oranges, cherries), gifts to take to dbil's are already in the car, all my presents are wrapped, and dgs has had a shower and is dressed so nicely in khakis and a green polo shirt. Dmom came out to get the last of her groceries, and she and I rode out to the cemetery -- she had not seen dh's stone yet. She said she thought it was beautiful. I still wish I had gotten one a little larger, but I know dh would have wanted me to be thrifty also.

All I need to do is fill stockings before we get back from dbil's -- I better do that before I shower.

Dfriend -- the elderly man who is estranged from his daughter -- called me to wish me a merry Christmas. I feel so sorry for him. I have moments of great awareness that I am alone now, but he is really all alone... his grandson is 31, I believe, and I'm sure he will see him during the holidays, but the grandson has other obligations too, I'm sure. There is a young couple who have sorta adopted my friend, and I imagine they will make sure he has Christmas dinner.

Waving to all!!! Merry Christmas to all!!!

[CathyS]

I have been doing little jobs that I have been ignoring extremely well. There was a pile of summer things on top of the dryer. I put them through a wrinkle away cycle and then I put the stuff away until next summer. There were a few pillowcases and one bottom sheet that also went through the wrinkle away cycle and then got put away.

Large utensils are all done and drying in the dish rack. I still have one large cookie tin to wash.

Little, ignored jobs become invisible and then together they make for a sloppy looking laundry area.

Presents are all ready to be presented. Of course, with only 2 of us, I didn't need gift cards. I also bought way too much for dh's stocking.

Supper isn't even started yet, but neither one of us is very hungry. There are too many snack type things right now. Way too many, actually.

[Nancy]

I have washed the ddoggo.
s2s for me happened as well.
Dog towels are in the wash.
I've gotten ddoggo 1/2 way done blow drying taking a bit of a break to let the blow dryer cool off.
Ddoggo actually enjoys her spa day!

Had my lunch
-----
CI
I had to turn on the dryer again put the rug in it this time.
Had dinner did up the dishes and spiffed up the kit. counters.
Ddoggo is pretty much dry so that's a relief.

[CathyS]

There is a fire in the fireplace.

Christmas lights in the bedroom windows.

The Christmas tree is the only other light in the living room. Tonight I will plug in the angel at the top of the tree.

It's peaceful.

No snow at the moment, but the sun shone all day, so it was cold. Not too windy.

Gifts will be unwrapped sometime between now and when I go to bed. Currently dh is bringing my stuff into the house. He has requested that I "go play on the computer". so here I am.

[Harriet]

Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas!

Cathy, your description of a peaceful Eve at home sounds warm and cozy.

Nancy, smiling to hear of "Spa Day" at your house.

We had a lovely gathering here. Lots of help from dd27 and dsonil to get ready, for the couple of hours before all others arrived. Dsonil took all the cards and the Scotch Wall Tape and made a card wall "wreath" for us. So nice to cook with dd27 again. Ds and family came to the front door, which was funny and had everyone smiling. (it faces their path to our house, in a way, but so seldom really used.) Ddolder was almost late with her family, but we didn't think much of it. Out of character. Later, dgsC told us she was barely getting her pigs-in-blankets and sausage balls out in time.

I was able to do the thing needed in a hard year, in which everyone has not always gotten along with each other, in which health problems and relational problems have worried. Matriarch. In charge. (totally propped up of course, by everyone's suspension of disbelief, lol. I had to nap immediately after they all left!) Changed tone of voice and asked the blessing on the food in my strong SS teacher voice. Ds was grinning at that.

We did have music for the first part of the time, and interestingly folks wanted the 1950s crooners style rather than other choices. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. But during presents most folks were saying they'd rather just listen to the kids having surprises. I think everyone got something they were hoping for. Ds' present to HRH was a little emotional for him, so I covered that quickly by opening one of mine fast. I got one duplicate gift, but can see how one can be returned easily. One gift was slightly broken, but it's glass and dd27 is an expert at glass because of gallery work and saw exactly how to fix, so she will handle that. DangerBoy almost threw away the money in one of his gifts, and had everyone laughing while we all pointed and gasped.

Wassail was scoffed down, one batch then a second. Boys were standing with mugs held out to HRH for that. So funny, because he doesn't even like it and somehow became the Wassail server.

Yes, Mystery, it smelled so festive. I think dd used a whole spice jar of cloves stuck in the orange slices!

We'll be rather quiet here tomorrow, I imagine. A calm day.