I hope everyone had a long, joyous Christmas holiday weekend. After running willy nilly, suffering complete computer failure, one mini meltdown and tons of cooking preparation for the last month. . . Christmas turned out splendidly at my house.

Since I’m not nearly as organized in my old age as I was when I was younger, I, of course, was doing the last minute tap dance getting gifts ready. And since most of my presents are usually handmade of sort, it takes a little bit more time and preparation than ordinary. Then when the gifts you are making for all of those important to you require your computer, scanner, external hard drives and memory cards. . . and they ALL decide to up and die on you. . . you’ve got one minor meltdown in the making.

After working for days to recover the work I’d already done and moving it to another computer, I was able to finish the presents. I had scanned, cropped and edited hundreds of family photos for the last 25 years for my ex in-laws and family, and for the last 50+ years for my mom, sister and brother to put on memory cards for digital photo frames that I got for each of them. What a splendid gift it turned out to be. Everyone loved them! Their excitement and joy was all I needed to make my Christmas a happy one.

My boys were happy.

He was happy too. You just can’t tell it.

My mom and my sister were happy!

Even Monkey was happy! My mom gave her a present too.

She really did like her duck despite the fact that she’s trying to bite its head off. Look at those eyes!

Dinner was awesome, if I say so myself. I repeated Thanksgiving dinner since my sister missed it, thus missing our traditional turkey and cornbread dressing. I made a ham again as well as the mashed potatoes and gravy and rolls. And I even perfected my corn pudding recipe.

I also didn’t die from pure exhaustion like I usually do because I had help this year. . . leaving me time to enjoy my family and my day and to snap a few pictures. My mom brought over a great breakfast/brunch that we scarfed down like rabid animals. Then my sister (who does NOT cook, by the way) helped with the dishes. (I have to wash dishes as fast as I use them in my postage stamp size kitchen) She also mashed the potatoes. This is my proof that she CAN cook. . . she just doesn’t WANT to. (I’m on to you sister)

My boys set the table. Adam handled buttering the rolls and getting them in the oven because I ALWAYS forget the bread! And Chris carved the turkey.

Cleanup went well too with the help from the sister freeing up time and the table for my sister’s favorite game, Scrabble. We played and played until. . . FINALLY. . . she won a game. Give me enough wine and I lose my competitive edge.

Overall, it was a great weekend! Full of family, food, drink and games. (Oh yeah, we introduced my mom and my sister to our Wii Fit – SO fun!) We needed that after the way we stuffed our faces.

The sister made it back home safe and sound. And I chilled like nobody’s business all day yesterday – relaxing for the first time in a month. Even Monkey was chillin’. But that’s pretty much what she does everyday.

Aaahh – the life of a cat.