christmas day : part two

I think I just experienced the most stress free, quite and subdued Christmas at my parents' place ever. Seriously. I am a little bewildered at the lack of stress. I think it helped that not everyone was there. Just me and Shawn, my parents and my grandparents. Fewer people in a small space tends to calm things down I think. My sister and her family had Christmas earlier in the day at their house, it was Lilly's first Christmas, though at 4 months I don't think she quite got any of it.But Shawn and I went only to my parents' place later in the evening for family, food (TURKEY!!) and gifts. My dad was right when he commented on the post below about our tree being bigger than theirs. Heh.But their tree is still cute. The tiny tree was brought into our lives when my mom got her two cats. They seem to looooove the tree and especially *whispers* ribbon! Tiny tree it is. Easier to deal with it and the kitties. :)Stockings were opened by me and Shawn and gifts were distributed. Ever the tricksome one I fooled my Dad a little.Yay! A gift! I like gifts!Oh, ha! ha! Look, she got me gauze! Just what I have always wanted.Oh, ha! ha! It's not gauze at all! It's a giftcard to Future Shop! What a little rascal you!Haha.. am I not so cute and clever? I sure am! You never know what I might get you or what I'll wrap it in. hehI got a cute shot of my grandparents opening the gift from my mum. They got two Big Band CDs and were quite excited about the songs!And here's a nice shot of my mummy and her mummy!Aren't they cute?The presents were handed out by Santa. And what a suave looking Santa he was!Ho, baby. Ho, ho!I of course had to have my photo taken with such a hottie in a Santa hat!Although Suave Santa looks a little Psychotic in this shot. It doesn't matter though, because I look cute. hee!And the best gift of all??? My Five Roses cookbook.On the left : my new cookbook. On the right : the original one that belongs to my mother. It doesn't even have a cover on it anymore. I LOVE this cookbook and have been trying to sneak it out of the house ever since I moved out 9 years ago (9 years ago Dec 27!). But alas, my mother would not let me have it. Instead this year my parents searched high and low and ended up buying me the ONLY one in the Montreal and surrounding areas. HA! I am SO HAPPY!! *dances* Now I'll be able to bake all my goodies again and even maybe try to cook some real food - once we end up in our own place that is. It's just difficult trying to do anything here.This concludes the Christmas 2006 season. I can't believe how fast and quiet it was. Even though there is no snow and the grass is still green and some plants are already starting to bud (poor little confused plants), it wasn't such a bad little Christmas at all.And just think... there are only 5 more days of 2006 to deal with. I think I'll make sure to stay inside that entire time in case there is more DOOM lurking around the corner.