Christmas 2009

It's been a while since I've posted. I usually like to start with an image, especially since that's Quinn's only reason for reading this blog, but I didn't take many photos over the Christmas break and have yet to badger family members for theirs.

We went to Bastrop the day before Christmas Eve to stay with Grandma and Grandpa Kennedy. We spent most of Christmas Eve in the dark during a power outage caused by a fallen tree. Kindal gathered all of Judy's candles and put together an amazing collection of votive holders and hurricane lamps. The result was just beautiful. We spent that evening listening to Jay's guitar then ate dinner by candlelight. Quinn was very dissappointed at the turn of events, but her spirits brightened when the lights went back on halfway through dinner. We decided to open gifts that night and save the stockings and Santa gifts for morning time. My favorite memory of that night is of Oliver falling asleep holding his new little green tractor that Jay picked out for him.

Christmas Day we heading back home to swap gifts with Amy and say goodbye to Quinn, then went to my sister's house for Christmas dinner and more gifts. Audrey and Jaleck made a fabulous Middle Eastern meal of Maftoul (chicken with couscous) and Makhlubbi (upside down beef pie) with hummus, baba ghanoush, tabouleh, and dolmas.  I hope that will become a tradition - it was a nice break from the traditional holiday fare. However, we did bring along the Christmas sugar cookies decorated by Jay and Quinn. Those were tasty too.

We are now digging out from under the piles of boxes and bags of gifts that we brought home and have yet to assemble Oliver's train table or put up the Christmas tree - but I'm kind of enjoying the mess. It reminds me of what a good time we had this year.