Christmas Day Our 4-1/2-year-old twins are now old enough to really understand Christmas as a holiday, at least the Santa part of it. They are undoubtedly shaky on the theology of it, as I haven't explained it to them in a way that I think they understand, or perhaps I've never really explained it to them. Don't worry (those of you who are Christian. I'm not, but it's important to me that they know who Christmas is actually named for), next year they will be fully apprised, for I will be able to measure their apprehesion of the story of Christ by something other than the blank stares they give me when I try to explain anything containing abstractions to them. It's not that they don't understand, it's just that I can't tell whether or not they do because they can't recapitulate what they've heard back to me in a meaningful way. And, of course, I suck at explaining anything to them that is in the least difficult, because I'm not good at starting at Square One, no doubt in large part because there are very few things I understand from Square One. "How does the milk get onto the cereal?" would be a good example of a Square One question I could handle, but even that requires the restrictions of 1) No followup questions, and 2) an utterly literalist (but simplified) explanation-no metaphysics, physics (gravitation and/or fluid dynamics) or philosophy. But these issues aside, the kids are now fully invested in the season. Our littlest (21 months), now understands more of what's happening, or at least can be made excited by the holiday, as she has her sisters to inspire her, an advantage that the twins lacked.

So. The tree looked great, the kids were excited, a great friend came into town on Christmas Eve to visit, and another for Christmas dinner, the dinner went well, and we're all tired.

Christmas Dinner:
Prime Rib
Yorkshire Pudding
Broccoli w/ Hollandaise Sauce
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Pumpkin & Pecan Pie

I made everything but the Pudding, as it is the speciality of the Missus. It was all good, but the gravy was runnier than I would've liked.

Christmas Presents I Got:
From the Missus:

Slippers. The cool lined Moccasin ones. Man, I really needed new slippers.
Tour Of Duty: Kids In the Hall DVD
The Office: The Complete First Series DVD
Waiting For Guffman DVD

Not a bad haul at all.  ¶ 19:18