Christmas, 2008 - The Goods

We had a very nice Christmas.  I think David really relaxed and enjoyed himself.  This is a hard time of year for him, for various reasons.  But I think he really got into the spirit of things.  Having his sister here probably helped - gave him more of that "family" feeling, which is good.

We all got a chance to sleep in a little, but by 8:15 or so we were all in the living room ready to open presents and bring on the cheer.  David was so excited last night, he was downright adorable.  He wanted everyone to go to bed so Christmas would come sooner.  For a 54 year-old he does cute really well.

David said that tradition dictates that we start with the Christmas stockings, so we did.  Everyone got chocolate, various toiletry items and some cool stuff.  I got Aaron a very neat dragon pen that I found at the Grand Central Station holiday fair.  David got me a beautiful maple leaf pin from one of my favorite jewelry makers, Michael Michaud and a heart necklace from the same holiday fair.  It isn't really my style per se (a little too glittery) but he picked it out for me so I love it.  He also stuffed my stocking with a block of yummy Cabot cheddar - Extra EXTRA sharp and various little things like purse tissue packs and things like that.

I must say, I had a pretty nice stack of presents, mostly thanks to David.  Aaron got  me a great Wallace & Gromit calendar, which I will take to work with me.  Sarah got me a book I've wanted (Little Girl Blue, by Charles de Lint) but the best was a painting of a sunset she made for me over the summer and had hidden since then in her room.  What she wrote on the back is even more special than the picture itself.  I got all sniffly.  Then proceeded to rip into more stuff.

Laura got me a lovely v-neck Lands' End cashmere sweater in a pretty dark purple.  So soft!  She also got me a copy of The Stand by Stephen King.  I've been wanting to read that, but MAN is it LONG!  Really teeny tiny type too.  Have to get out my reading glasses for this one.

David got me way too much: a Sony 7" digital picture frame that I have been lusting after for at least 2 years, a handheld gadget that lets you do NY Times crossword puzzles anywhere (I am a crossword addict) and 5 DVDs: The Pursuit of Happyness, Sweeny Todd, Mama Mia, Hellboy 2 and Shea Goodbye (a tribute to the lamented former home of my beloved Mets). 

All in all, I don't think anyone was disappointed even though I didn't get a bonus so people got the B list presents rather than the A list I had hoped to buy.  It was really nice feeling like this is becoming a tradition for us: decorating the tree, making a special Christmas dinner, watching the same holiday specials together.  We combined it with the Hanukkah traditions each night (well, almost every night) and it was really wonderful.

And now I have to get ready for work.  Blech.

Christmas, 2008 - The Goods

We had a very nice Christmas.  I think David really relaxed and enjoyed himself.  This is a hard time of year for him, for various reasons.  But I think he really got into the spirit of things.  Having his sister here probably helped - gave him more of that "family" feeling, which is good.

We all got a chance to sleep in a little, but by 8:15 or so we were all in the living room ready to open presents and bring on the cheer.  David was so excited last night, he was downright adorable.  He wanted everyone to go to bed so Christmas would come sooner.  For a 54 year-old he does cute really well.

David said that tradition dictates that we start with the Christmas stockings, so we did.  Everyone got chocolate, various toiletry items and some cool stuff.  I got Aaron a very neat dragon pen that I found at the Grand Central Station holiday fair.  David got me a beautiful maple leaf pin from one of my favorite jewelry makers, Michael Michaud and a heart necklace from the same holiday fair.  It isn't really my style per se (a little too glittery) but he picked it out for me so I love it.  He also stuffed my stocking with a block of yummy Cabot cheddar - Extra EXTRA sharp and various little things like purse tissue packs and things like that.

I must say, I had a pretty nice stack of presents, mostly thanks to David.  Aaron got  me a great Wallace & Gromit calendar, which I will take to work with me.  Sarah got me a book I've wanted (Little Girl Blue, by Charles de Lint) but the best was a painting of a sunset she made for me over the summer and had hidden since then in her room.  What she wrote on the back is even more special than the picture itself.  I got all sniffly.  Then proceeded to rip into more stuff.

Laura got me a lovely v-neck Lands' End cashmere sweater in a pretty dark purple.  So soft!  She also got me a copy of The Stand by Stephen King.  I've been wanting to read that, but MAN is it LONG!  Really teeny tiny type too.  Have to get out my reading glasses for this one.

David got me way too much: a Sony 7" digital picture frame that I have been lusting after for at least 2 years, a handheld gadget that lets you do NY Times crossword puzzles anywhere (I am a crossword addict) and 5 DVDs: The Pursuit of Happyness, Sweeny Todd, Mama Mia, Hellboy 2 and Shea Goodbye (a tribute to the lamented former home of my beloved Mets). 

All in all, I don't think anyone was disappointed even though I didn't get a bonus so people got the B list presents rather than the A list I had hoped to buy.  It was really nice feeling like this is becoming a tradition for us: decorating the tree, making a special Christmas dinner, watching the same holiday specials together.  We combined it with the Hanukkah traditions each night (well, almost every night) and it was really wonderful.

And now I have to get ready for work.  Blech.