2008 - CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

The area had some frigid temperatures in the days leading to Christmas.  Wind chill was below -10F one day; precipitation was minimal, but pond surfaces were covered with a skim of ice.  And in the early morning hours, so were roads.  Not great for traveling to Grandma's house by car, train or plane.  By Christmas Eve, however, rain showers had settled in, but they didn't dampen the holiday mood.

Although Brandon is almost 9 and Sophia is 6, they still want to take care of Santa, overlooking the possibility that his bottom may be burned by the embers when he comes down the chimney.  This year, as always, they put out a plate of cookies for him.  However, the reindeer were ignored.  I understand that it's the female reindeer who have antlers, so perhaps Brandon and Sophia acknowledged the possibility that as females, they'd be on diets and wouldn't want to eat anyway.

I stayed overnight at the Valentines so that I'd be there when Brandon and Sophia woke up.   They went to bed at 10:00, Sophia on a pallet on Brandon's floor because she was afraid Santa might come into her room.  She went right to sleep.  Not Brandon, though.  While Dawn and I sat in the living room and Papa Elf slumbered in his bed, Brandon tossed and turned.  He came to the landing more than once to announce his inability to go to sleep.  He did some jumping jacks to burn off the energy that wouldn't let his mind rest.  Brandon also tried some warm milk, but after tasting it, decided he'd rather be awake!  Finally Dawn went to lie down with him and Brandon dozed off sometime after 12:30 AM.

The next morning, Sophia and Brandon woke up at 5:00 and were promptly sent back to bed.  But they were up for good at 6:30 and the day of celebration began.

In the week after Christmas, holiday decorations came down in preparation for the arrival of 2009.  Our final tradition capped the holiday -- the Valentines came to dinner to sample New Year's fare.  On the table were pork, sauerkraut (Dawn and I will eat it; the others shiver with displeasure), black-eyed peas, cornbread and green Jell-O salad (in place of greens).  Most important, however, is taking the annual family photo.

The Valentines - New Year's Day 2009

Brandon's birthday follows New Year's by just a few days.   Brandon wanted cupcakes and he wanted to decorate them all.  I don't think he gave much thought to blowing out the candles to make his wish come true.