It’s been a whirlwind week since coming back from LA. My blog was down, my husband has been working long hours while his boss is out of town, we’re puppy-sitting for her while she’s gone, my in-laws are here, and I had some shopping left to do!
But it all worked out and we had a really lovely Christmas Eve.
It’s my first Christmas away from my family, so my in-laws and my husband’s younger sister came out to celebrate with us. While my husband has been working, his parents and I have been driving all over town. We got a tree; it’s a noble fir from Oregon. Apparently they don’t grow many Scotch pines in the desert.
They also bravely escorted me to Costco to pick up dinner ingredients, including a package of smoked salmon that was sliced for eggs Benedict this morning (recipe to come later this week including biscuits and Hollandaise sauce):
My husband’s younger sister left the snowy Midwest early in the morning, but de-icing the plane caused her to miss a connecting flight. She made it just in time for dinner — their traditional family feast of shrimp with plenty of salad, bread, and cocktail sauce.
Right as we finished eating, we were treated to Christmas carolers. Not at the door, but on the phone. My family called from my aunt and uncle’s house where they were singing carols around the piano, and we joined in via speakerphone for a few verses of “Angels We Have Heard on High,” a favorite which we usually sing at least two or three times each year — all five verses. It’s not Christmas to me without it, so the singing really made my night. Thanks, family! I missed you!
We were phone heavy this year, next arranging a phone call to China where my husband’s older sister lives. It was already Christmas Day there and she and her husband were preparing to host a dozen or so friends for dinner. We’re looking forward to seeing them in the US next year for the holidays!
Now I am in pajamas and the awesome cozy hand-knit socks made by my sister-in-law (thanks, Lee!).
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and safe travels. I will go to bed thinking of all the people who have to work on holidays (snow plow drivers, airport and airline employees, police and firefighters, hotel and hospital workers, and the military, especially) and don’t get to spend the whole evening/day/week with their families.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
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We missed you at Christmas! We may have been 3 sheets to the wind (some of us, anyway) but our “Angels we have heard on high” was of high energy I think!
Merry Christmas!
I missed you guys, too! You sounded very high energy, though my phone’s speaker wasn’t exactly stereo-quality. If we don’t make it back next year, maybe we will have to set up a video conference.
Merry Christmas, stay warm and safe in all that snow!
OOOhhh…I reallllly like those socks. I’m having some socks envy right now, so excuse me, but I may need to try a pair for myself before next Christmas rolls around.
I really like them, too. =) My sister-in-law is an awesome fiber artiste and has knitted lucky me two pairs.
That’s a lovely table setting…