I'll be home for Christmas...

I don't know if I can consider Tucson "home" since I've never lived here, but as they say, "home is where the heart is" and my heart is happy to be with my family for the holidays. Keith and I arrived in Tucson on Sunday and my Grandpa Irv was already in town. On Monday we went to the Catalina Room where they have a piano and sang Christmas Carols. On Christmas Eve we went to visit Tom and Kathy for what has become our traditional dinner of clam chowder and corn bread. It was especially delightful this year to visit with our childhood friends, Sean and Leslie, who were also in town visiting their mother. Sean was visiting with his wife Kathy, and their children Tyler and Sydney, and Leslie was visiting with her husband Richard, and their daughter Sophie. After dinner we went to Christmas Eve service at my parent's church.

Christmas morning began with the customary opening of our stockings and presents, proving once again that I have been more nice than naughty in 2007. I got a beautiful cream colored knit sweater and new trekking poles (can't wait to hit the trails in the spring!) among other things. Then we had mom's famous egg dish for breakfast and played with our new toys they rest of they day. Christmas dinner was a delicious standing rib roast with red wine gravy. Yum Yum!

On Boxing Day we spent minimal time shopping. Instead, the highlight of the day was seeing the new show at the Gaslight Theatre. Every year the Gaslight Theatre puts on a Christmas musical review that and this year's production was a hit once again (good thing mom got us tickets back in July, before they sold out!). The show is goofy, but they actors and musicians are very talented and we all (Grandpa included) enjoyed ourselves.

So far, this holiday has been great, but it is the time spent with family that is the greatest gift of all (that, and all the Christmas Cookies). I don't know what I have done to deserve such abundant blessings of love and family. Thank you all.