That was a nice Christmas, despite the fact that I lost a filling on Christmas and we can't find a dentist available until after the New Year. The church did a bonus Hallelujah Chorus after the Christmas Eve service ended, and the weather was perfect. I got to see my first live possum on my parents' porch.
My mom put stuffed birds that chirp appropriate calls on top of all the stockings.(Mine's a purple finch.) The living room sounded like an aviary. My niece and oldest nephew are learning to read, and had a great time handing out presents. We all got spoiled rotten. ;) My great-aunt, who stayed in the assisted living facility for Thanksgiving, came and stayed for Christmas dinner. Those who can play musical instruments did.
Today was eggnog and Christmas cookies for breakfast and a visit with our friend Katie. A great time all around.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

(Followed by a lousy Boxing Day-I haven't been able to keep anything down since, and whatever-it-is is sweeping through my family.)

But Christmas was perfect-We has "kids from 1 to 92" almost literally. My mom played in the bell choir during the candelight service, and it was so beautiful the congregation spontaneously applauded them. Despite the lack of snow there were luminaria all over town. My brother-in-law brought 3 kinds of venison for Christmas Eve dinner-unusual, but good!
We thought there's be trouble when one of my nephews felt sick (forshadowing, that!), but he soon seemed OK and everyone had a great time opening presents and feasting on Roast Beast. (Ok, prime rib and ham.) Even my youngest nephew (6 months) had fun. He thinks wrapping paper is the coolest stuff EVER!
My husband got offerings to appease the Killer Chickadees. I now have a camera to take to cons, and a small library of new books.
My sister gave me the perfect T-shirt. It says "Careful, or you'll wind up in my novel!"

We have our tree up! Our tree is a hodgepodge of ornaments of all sizes, placed however suits our fancy among as many lights as we can cram on. It's got beautiful glass balls given to us by a friend, the plastic Lifesaver chain I bought with my allowance when I was about 8, a tiny doll from Japan, a Snoopy from a chocolate box, a zillion cat ornaments, Jean Luc Picard, a stained glass angel, my husband's Snapple lights...Nothing's coordinated, it's chintzy as all get out, and we love it! ;)

Anybody else have a Christmas tree "style," or a favorite ornament?