I forgot to write about Christmas

Somehow I managed to pull off Christmas.  I didn't put garland on the bannisters, I had minimal decorations around the house, and the tree consisted of only ball ornaments and lights.  I didn't think the kids even cared until Stephanie labeled this year as "unconventional."  They didn't like that I put the tree in the living room instead of the family room.  I couldn't be bothered to move around big furniture to accommodate a big tree so take what you get kid.  

They are lucky the presents were wrapped.  

Usually I miss having "little kids" around for Christmas but I'll tell you what, this year the whole big kids who want to sleep in and don't need to be surprised by the magical appearance of presents under the tree gig was not so bad.  I even made the boys carry the presents downstairs for me.  So I killed their magical moment.  Whatever.  Nick launched a "let's open presents on Christmas Eve and sleep in until 1:00 on Christmas Day" campaign that was quickly vetoed.  Jack negotiated them down to a 9:00 wake up.

We had to skip our annual Christmas Eve dinner at my aunt's house.  Erik wasn't into wearing a mask all night and it felt sort of rude to leave him home alone.  We had tacos.  You heard me. This is what the children wanted.  I cringed and died inside just a little.

We had the Wieland family over on the 23rd for an old fashioned authentic English Christmas feast.  Like Charles Dickens.  It's all about the theme people.  I tried to get Jack to open the door when they arrived, in all his 6 feet of glory, and use his best Tiny Tim voice to say "A Merry Christmas to us all; God bless us, every one!"  He told me I needed therapy and wouldn't do it.  Anyway, I learned that Yorkshire Pudding isn't pudding at all, and the old fashioned English people use about two ingredients total:  flour and lard.  I didn't have any duck fat laying around but I made due.  

If it's good enough for Princess Kate it's good enough for us. 

It was a fun little dinner.  The best part?  Erik and John were both healthy, happy and pain free.  That pretty much makes up for not opening our boxes of real decorations this year.

My view on Christmas morning while everyone was still sleeping at 8:30.  Ten years ago we would have been done with presents AND breakfast way before 8:30.  This kids growing up thing does sort of have some perks.