Merry Christmas, Everyone!

It's been a happy week around the household.  The college students came home, the weather was seasonally cool, Christmas lights around the neighborhood provided cheering color and light. The Advent penance service was cleansing and calming, with candlelight and incense, a Gospel reflection, meditative Advent music, and lines that weren't terribly long.  Christmas Eve Mass at Night was beautiful and moving.  Everyone was full of hope and good spirits. It has been a lovely week.

With no cross-country travel plans this year, the holiday preparations didn't seem quite so stressful. Cards were mostly sent by Christmas day. I caved this year on Christmas cards and ordered photo cards. But I had a special gift to go with them! Linoleum block prints of the Madonna and child made by my son!

 I didn't have to do any last minute shopping on Christmas Eve - by the 23rd I was done with buying odds and ends and even had the grocery shopping completed so that on Christmas Eve we had a relaxing day around the house and neighborhood.  Kids watched a movie while I tried to get a head start on wrapping. (Santa and Mrs. Claus were still at work at 3 am..., but fueled by cheap Champagne and chocolate.)

My shopping helper: she sniffs out Frozen merchandise from aisles away.

We had a few pre-Christmas celebrations, but declined a couple of invitations, and, with no kids in a music class this year, also had fewer school events to attend, so the number of scheduled events was just right to get us in the Christmas spirit without feeling overwhelmed.

The local Christmas parade - fun with friends.

Finale of the parade was lighting the Christmas tree 

Easy peasy Christmas cupcakes for a party. 

A friend's clever holiday decoration

Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration, a big event at our parish, which has a large Hispanic population

Post Christmas concert dancers

She's got rhythm

A school trip to the senior residence

Early morning sunrise on a walk with friends.

College kids are home!

Gizzie returns perhaps for the last time

California winter fun

 With the college kids at home the week before Christmas, we planned a few outings, most notable a long awaited trip to Legoland. I think they have wanted to go since they were about six.  We watched a few of the free movies on base, notably Hacksaw Ridge, although the kids saw Moana and Mysterious Beasts and Where to Find Them.  The older boys have been surfing daily.

Tree decorating fun on the last Sunday of Advent

Christmas vacation trip to Legoland. Some friends gave us their free second day tix, and we got another free second day!

Portrait in Lego

Trading minifigures

Handmade reproduction of Neville's wand for a friend

Shhh

Mass at midnight. Why didn't anyone tell me the baby was picking her nose?

Take with the timer back at home

ready to open sibling gifts

The theme this year was hats

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Catholic beard balm, yum

    

Christmas dinner with cousins: the kids' table

The teenager table

Christmas sunset

Rock nativity

The Cousins' cousins' bus they drove from New York to Canada and down to southern CA.

The kids gave each other presents after Christmas Eve Mass and were very generous to each other. Opening one gift at night lessons some of the wakeful anticipation.  The Christmas morning gifts were a little underwhelming this year, but the kids were grateful and so excited about a trip to the cousins up the road a few hours for Christmas dinner that they didn't whine, but got right to devouring Christmas brunch and tidying up.  We spent a few days up north enjoying time with family and watching movies. I hung out with baby and my sister-in-law while the kids saw Rogue One and Sing.  The older kids got some good surfing in, and we all enjoyed an evening on the beach watching the sunset and seeking sea glass.  In the evenings, we've become lured in by The Crown, and I spent a few indulgent hours lost in an Agatha Christie novel.  

All in all, a very cheerful and satisfying Christmas. I offer my prayer that everyone finds the joy and peace of Christmas in their hearts and throughout the world.