The pre-Christmas Christmas party

Nothing says Christmas like the annual visit from the Myers clan. They drove out of a blizzard yesterday to get to our house in time for dinner, and after visiting John's sister today they'll be driving home tomorrow in another blizzard. They are intrepid northlanders, to be sure.

In the old days, we'd meet at a bar, and Katy and Mike would join us, but then Katy and Mike moved to Chicago, and the Myerses had children and dogs, and eventually the tradition morphed into a quiet dinner at our house.

Did I say quiet? Well, dinner, anyway. Given Riley and Boscoe's barky greeting to John and Ann's dogs (and once, scarily, at Abby--they were banished to the kitchen for the next hour to think about what they had done), and the popping fire (which scared the boys), and Abby's dancing and laughing, it was a festive, noisy, happy night.

Here are the top ten photos of their whirlwind visit:


They got to our house in time for dinner. Turkey chili (not too spicy, because of the children) and rosemary french bread. Christmas cookies, and handmade chocolate truffles (not made by me, but by the egg lady), and cashews from Erik, and a luscious cranberry cake that Ann made before the drive down from Duluth. Wine and beer and Frangelico and Baileys, which I forgot to bring out. Ah well, all the more for me tonight.

Doug and John caught up on all the demise-of-newspaper news, and made plans for the 17th annual ice fishing trip in March.

Then it was on to the presents! The little girls first...


What a surprise! The book lady gave Abby a book!

Which, of course, she wanted read on the spot.


The girls went to bed, and it was time for the adult presents. Lots of fleece and warm things.


Ann and Laurie started on a second bottle of wine. It seemed only fair; John and Doug had certainly had a second bottle of beer. Perhaps even a third.



Ah, the famous "Life is Crap" products.



Riley was a little cranky that he was being kept up far past his usual bedtime.


Everyone except Riley was in a great mood.

In the morning, the little girls got to pick out eggs for their breakfast. They were entranced to see pale green and deep brown and tan shells. They ate every bite.

Riley, finally, got to catch up on his sleep. He'd better take advantage of it; in another hour it's on to Doug's mom's apartment and the annual Mom's Birthday Cookie Baking extravaganza. In a blizzard.

PS Whaddya mean, that's more than ten photos? I can't count so good this morning. A wee bit too much wine last night...