A Very Merry

I'm happy to say that in spite of illness, exhaustion, and shipping delays, we ended up having a very Merry Christmas after all.

Santa brought BJ his coconut tree, and BJ spent most of the day playing with his newest alphabet.

Tonight, going to bed, he got kind of panicky and I finally figured out that he was worried he'd have to give up his beloved new gift. "I keep the coconut tree through all the seasons?" he was asking. Of course, honey.

BB got her doll, which she enjoyed chewing on.

She's pretty tired in this pic -- as all of us were today -- it was also after yet another blowout diaper, and I don't think she's entirely herself yet after the flu. But all of us are feeling much better than we were, and that's definitely something to be grateful for.

All told, though we were sad to have to skip the family celebration this afternoon, it was rather nice to just stay home and have a really relaxed day. BJ was opening presents from 7:30 a.m. to well past 2 p.m. Not that he had tons of gifts.... he just liked to play with each new toy for about an hour!

I have to confess it was a bad picture day all around. Sorry, BB; another instance of second child syndrome. I have only one halfway decent picture of her on her first Christmas day!

Anyway, S and I have to finish our yearly ritual watching of "It's a Wonderful Life" so I gotta go. Merry Christmas!