Xmas Bells and Boots

We were happy that the hard weather couldn't discourage the family members who'd planned to join us for the festivities, as well as the turkey that my cousin Arnie had nourished all last year, in preparation for such a meeting. (Unfortunately, there were quite a few days when the camera didn't even come out, so I have no pictures of Uncle Dale's visit, for example. Or Jean and her boys. Or, or... Shucks. Well, I did manage to get a few good ones of the Hogan-Sveningsen visit, below. Whew!) There was much good cheer, to be sure!

The gang's all beered! (excepting the chillins, who were milk-and-cidered)

Left: Great-Gramma & ze boys ("She's GREAT!" "Yes, she is!" "YEAH! GREAT-GRAMMA IS I LIKE HER, BECAUSE SHE'S GREAT!")
Right: Buzz mesmerises the boys. Again. And again. And...

The boys were little angels all Xmas day, beginning with their unwitting help in making one of their Grandmother's oldest wishes come true: a morning-long opening of gifts, with little or no 'tacking and alot of appreciating. Opening the Spider-Man fun kits their great-aunt Kathy sent them first certainly helped the boys in this (albeit, as I mentioned, unwitting) endeavor to please Gramammy, of course...

Above: Tradition! on the night before and the morning of...

Below: Wishes coming true. And Barb being snea-eaky...

Xmas Day was one of the most beautiful I've seen in all my life. Perfect weather for a chilly, snowy scramble about the neighbourhood, followed by fortress-making, followed by warm things to eat and drink, followed by the longest hand - ever - of Zombie Fluxx, followed by a good winter night's deep sleep.