We celebrated Christmas Day on Monday the 26th. Here is the tree the night before, all ready for the morning.
And the stockings were all stuffed.....
The kids were allowed downstairs at 8 a.m. and they could open their stockings as soon as Mom and Dad came down. Check out the stash!!!! I loved the mini apples I found at the winter farmer's market.
Breakfast was very traditional: bacon wrapped brown sugar sausages, tropical fruit salad, cardamon bread, tea ring, and this year two gluten free breads.
We had the amazing apple monkey gluten free bread!!!!!
And some delicious panetone which turned out to be scrumptious toasted. (must make more!!)
Michael always reads Luke 2 before we begin the presents.
At the last minute I did get my nails painted red! And I also collected some horribly cut up and swollen knuckles from washing the floor.
Chapstick necklaces were a fun little item I made for the kids this year.
Laura wore her Santa dress -- far too cute!
Rachel made everyone gifts. She cross-stitched this lovely teacup for me.
Laura was quite pleased with her baby doll stroller!
Emily and Craig (who, by the way, I can never photograph with simultaneous smiles, though they are a very happy couple) came back over for the gift opening and breakfast.
It was a happy morning.
In fact there was a lot of laughing, especially when mom read "advice from Pooh" from a book she received.
Michael wrote and illustrated a book for the kids about keeping their things tidied up. I wonder if they will learn from it?
Laura loved Christmas. She was old enough to have fun but young enough not to be greedy.
The book:
In the afternoon we took a hike and got a family picture:
Laura pretty much complained the whole way because we didn't let her walk.
Being outside is so wonderful!
Rach snapped a picture of me and you can see the difference in my eyes. I had the lid surgery on Tuesday and have been recovering this week. Fortunately, no pain, just swelling and an embarrassing black eye, which I'm sure people attribute to Michael when I go out in public.
I love these funny pine trees.
Kids enjoying the woods:
We stopped in a log cabin to enjoy a snack of hot cocoa, tea, crackers, cheese and salami.
Laura stopped crying long enough to smile a bit.
I love her little coat and red shoes.
Wearing my Shetland gloves which a friend brought me from Shetland eons ago -- long before I was married.
Another smile just for the camera.
And so it was a most pleasant Christmas. And now for the new year......January is one of my most favorite months! 
