What I did for my Christmas Vacation

Happy Epiphany! Or Happy 10th Day of Christmas! We celebrated yesterday with the church, although I didn't feel quite ready, and we kind of surprised the kids with it. Surprise! The Three Kings have been here! Of  course, only one small person in this house believes in Santa and the Three Kings and other magical visitors, and her belief in them is tenuous as she hears her siblings talk about returning and exchanging their gifts. But she hasn't quite lost the magic. I have sometimes wished we were one of those families who doesn't do Santa Claus because it would make it easier for me to buy gifts, but then again I love the delight and magic. The kids sometimes do get their Christmas wishes - this year's requests: air pods, kitchen knives, a GPS watch, fancy shoes, art supplies, and a swing. 

All month I thought about sitting down and sharing some thoughts on what I was reading, what we were doing, what was going on in the world, but time for musing has been slim, what with end of the term grading, Christmas shopping, cards, and the arrival of the college kids home.  Because our travel was limited this year (except the trip to OKC, which now, three weeks out, continues to be blessedly without illness) and because we had no Christmas parties, no Christmas concerts or performances, no cookie exchanges, no Church events, no extra gift exchanges, I felt like we had  more time to do family things, although those, too, were limited to walking around the neighborhood to look at lights, playing games, and watching a lot of TV together (mostly the Chef show and Broadchurch, plus the regular Christmas movies).  I did join with some of our little kid friends to carol around the block - although I think this was illegal. And we took a couple of hikes and met up with the cousins for a beach picnic that included a turkey cooked in the air fryer, squash and potatoes roasted on the campfire, and a delicious salad. A beach Christmas dinner. The cousins went home after sunset, but we stayed to camp in the only torrential downpour all year.  The boys ended up sleeping in the car, but the tent the girls and I were in only leaked a little around the edges. Proof of a good tent - this one is the Hobbitat from REI. 

We have also done more than our fair share of eating - the kids have been in a pseudo competition for who has the best kitchen skillz.  We have had home made bao dumplings and sushi - thanks to a friend who shared her deep sea catch - and homemade boba, complemented by mochi and kimchi from the Asian grocery.  I had just watched "Sweet Bean" with LK, which was a sweet Japanese film, a bit slow moving, about a dorayaki chef and the old woman who comes to help him with his red bean paste filling, so they also bought some prepackaged dorayaki.  Then we have had several smoked meat dinners: smoked tri-tip, smoked ribs, a smoked turkey. For Christmas dinner, we had prime rib. Homemade pasta was another feast. Add to these rich dinners, a large array of Christmas sweets, both made by our kids or shared by neighbors.  The new year should be time to cut back on these riches. 

I did want to sum up some reading over the past month - despite the full schedule, I did finish a number of books, possibly because they were plot driven quick reads and because I was helped by PMS insomnia and a need for a brain break after reading fifty-five first year composition research papers.  But now I am out of time. More in another post. 

Caroling

Christmas masks 

A "hike" around the neighborhood

God's Christmas lights

The owner of Funco Pop's house

Christmas Eve feast - dessert first! Pies for all

All the lights lit for Christmas dinner

The obligatory stairs photo

Thanks, Santa.

Fancy china for prima rib. Thankful for kids who help set out and wash the good stuff.

Legos for everyone.

A new swing! These have popped up around the neighborhood since the parks closed, and are happily shared when they hang near the side walk. 

Lots of beach time.

Christmas beach time with the cousins.

Forced Family Fun and Fitness. hashtag F to the 4th.

Unforced family fun - old classics coming back around. Pictured here: Mousetrap. Also played; Coronadopoly, Telestrations, and new Life. 

And eat!