THE BEGINNING OF THE FESTIVITIES

It all began with the sacred

BIRTHDAY BOLOGNA.....




Yes, I'm all too ashamed to admit that Barry did NOT get a birthday cake from me this year for his birthday. As a matter of fact, we had laxed our vegetarian diet and even had bologna in the house. But, alas, bologna was about it. So, we created a new tradition - THE SACRED BIRTHDAY BOLOGNA.

Hey - don't knock it: It works! ; o )


After the blowing out of the candle and some serious wish-making, the kids gave their daddy his birthday whoopin'. Atleast they tried. Here Barry looks a little ganged up on and in dire straits.

But the story changed soon enough as all were lying around, exhausted and Barry had Joe in some sort of arm-twistie-grip-you-can't-move-ha-ha.

Next came the Christmas baking.

Benjamin just insisted, "I hot, Mommy. I hot. Gotta take my shuht off. Pwease?"

I think they cooperated. It looks questionable, though.

The results:

Pecan Pie



Ol' Kate Balls

Chex Mix

We always open our new Christmas ornaments on Christmas Eve.

This year:

Katie received a sewing machine ornament.

Joe got a house ornament.

Jackie got yet another fairy.

Ben got a soccer ball.

Barry got a treble clef with EBHS colored ribbon.

And I got a piano ornament.

We try to pick ornaments that commemorate the previous year's happenings.

And then our Christmas festivies really took a big leap as we put out the stockings and climbed into bed on Christmas Eve.

Yeah, the "big man in red" came.

Tune in later to see the goods.