Christmas Day

Merry Christmas! Our Christmas day was spent mainly in pajamas. It rained all day so we got up (the boys at about 6:30 and then watched Brady Bunch reruns in our bed until we let them get up) a bit after 7am and made hot cocoa and started a fire before we opened gifts. Our camera died last Sunday so these pictures are from Chris' phone. Luckily, Chris gave me a phone for Christmas. The battery had to charge, so only the last photo on this post is from the new camera.

Christmas is a great time to stock up on new housewares for me. Like new sheets...
new stoneware.....

and new blankets for the beds. Thanks moms!

And, as Chris is tapping his inner backpacker, he got an ultralight insulated sleeping pad so he doesn't feel all those back country rocks digging into his hip on his trips with Davis and the scouts.

Here Nathaniel is about to open a gift from Uncle Mark and Aunt Annie. Oh yes, strawberry shake flavored pop tarts! Of course they go with the toaster (see below).

Deluxe four place with bonus bagel setting toaster. Thanks guys.

Davis is trying out his new internal frame backpack and (no, its not a rocket launcher) thermos. That thermos will come in handy on New Year's Day before the parade starts. Mmmmm... hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls.

But the most popular gift had to be the Wii Fit,

which took up most of the rest of the day. The boys are Wi Fit-ting and I'm just lounging by the fire.

Now that Christmas Day is done, it is time to move onto the Rose Parade (seriously). I'll be putting away the Christmas decorations today or tomorrow. We are excited to have a visit from Chris' brother Brett and his family next week, so I'll be getting the house ready (new sheets, blankets, towells and toaster. Sweet!). I'll make a trip to the farmer's market tomorrow morning for local winter produce (grapefruit, dates, kiwi, apples, lettuce) and I've arranged to get passes to Huntington Gardens and have planned the menu for the week. We love having guests for the New Year.

The rain has moved out and its clear and sunny. 70 degree weather is forcasted through the New Year. It is so much better going to a parade in Pasadena, CA when its sunny and warm with happy,friendly western parade goers, than going to the Macy's Thanksgiving parade in NYC in a sleet storm in Novemeber with New York's finest (police force) directing crowds up one street and down another, but you never seem to get closer to the parade.

Here's an artist's rendition of our town's float entry for the parade. New Year's Eve we'll walk over and help decorate it.

Keep checking back for more posts counting down to the parade!