In spite of our best intentions we didn't arrive at Amy's parents' house in Kirkland until around noon on Christmas Eve. Amy's grandparents were already there so we threw the kids into the mix and stood back. The chaos achieved new levels of hilarity when my mother arrived just before dinner. It was hard to hear myself think, but somehow we got out the door and to church early enough to secure an entire pew. Both girls were great throughout the service in spite of some Catholic assumptions that didn't fly in a Lutheran service.

We got home and put the kids to bed. Once again, Amy and I were up past midnight doing... stuff. I actually felt like an adult doing all the last minute Christmas things while the kids were dreaming of sugarplums. It was cool.

Morning came WAY too soon. My sister and her husband arrived at 8:15 or so and Amy's parents and grandparents shortly thereafter. Once everyone showed up the rest of my morning was nothing but coffee. Americanos are easy. Mochas are ok. But eggnog mochas? Ick.

Skip ahead to the stockings and there was tissue paper everywhere. Amy had the best present of all in that she had stockings hung from her fancy new mantel, but we need to buy heavier stocking holders. P-E-A-C-E is all well and good, but those things don't hold crap. (They did hold my titanium spork, though.)

So now stockings are done and it's time for breakfast. Huh? Wha? Wait for presents? What kind of crazy holiday tradition puts off unadulterated consumerism in favor of breakfast caserole?

After suffering through the delay we began opening Ryan's presents. It was a little weird to open all the gifts to and from Ryan, but he had to go serve and protect or some such nonsense and it seemed poor form to open his gifts without him. Once he was gone it was everyone for themselves.

Lilly lasted about an hour. She loved the paper and the boxes, but as expected she had little interest in what was inside. Clara, on the other hand, was on fire. For a while. Until she opened a blanket from GAR and found Lilly's special pillow. She curled up almost beneath the tree and although she didn't actually fall asleep she pretended for a while.

The biggest surprise of the giftathon was the arrival of Nana's brother, Larry. He hadn't exactly lied when he talked with Grams and his daughter had covered well when asked point-blank where Larry was headed. It was the first time the siblings had been together for the holidays in years so quite a special event.

The most violent opening was a tie between a pair of light sabers for children of the '70s and Tokul's special treat. Tradition dictates that Tokul gets a flavored bone in a large box wrapped, but not tied up with ribbon. She needed a little help to start the opening, but then used her natural killer instinct to do in the box and liberate her gift.

Dinner for the rest of us was ham, of course. Although I had pushed for a turkey I knew that ham was Amy's favorite so I was unlikely to prevail, but it was my duty. Our tiny kitchen table was extended with both its leaves, but still seemed cramped. (Although Ryan wouldn't return until after dinner we had 11 crowded around the table as well as Tokul under the table.)

When the ham was gone, the wine running low, and the sun behind the mountain people started leaving. In the end it was just a couple of tired kids, a sated puppy, and two satisified parents. Once again, it was after midnight before we called it quits and checked in on the bugs before turning in ourselves.