Christmas this year was fairly low-key, but great regardless. After last years really stressful/tragic holiday (kate’s trip being halved by the Denver blizzard, our cousin being killed on christmas eve) it was nice to just relax.
My parents loved their gifts, Ingrid loved hers, Dave loved the GPS idea (I think) and he really loved Guitar Hero, which my parents bought for him. We ate, drank, and were merry.
My gifts were fine — I got the macro filter I’ve wanted for a long time (and now have decided I REALLY need the 55-200mm VR lens to really max the filter, heh) and we got a membership to the children’s museum, and the only dud (which was kind of a Big Dud) was a Seal-A-Meal from my parents. In the context of everyone else getting Awesome! Fun! Gifts! … getting a meal sealer was sort of a bummer. It’s going back. (I mean, I know some people love them, but it’s big, I don’t have a chest freezer, I don’t buy in bulk, and saran wrap works just fine for me when it comes to my sealing of meals needs.) And, plus, hello! My folks are photogs, they know exactly what I have for a camera, and that is such a good base to build from… a new toy for that would have been much preferred over the Seal a Meal.
But, that’s not important. We had dinner here, and it was seriously, hand to god, 3/5 sponsored by the internet. The bread and veggie recipes came from Jeanne, and the potatoes were inspired by Kate F. (I didn’t even know you COULD add heavy cream to potatoes, until I read her mother’s recipe that is about 20% potatoes, and 80% dairy richness! )I added the leftover cream from the spinach & squash gratin recipe to the potatoes, and whipped them in the kitchenaid. Everyone loved it, so that’s a good thing.
My MIL came over, and it was nice to have her here, and for Ingrid to see all of her grandparents at once — I think she really loved it, too. She was just spinning with energy the whole night, cheerful as ever.
Today was back to work for me, lame, while Dave and Ing hung out at home. And now she has crusty eyes so it’s about 50/50 if she goes tomorrow I found leftover antibiotic eyedrops from pinkeye this winter, that aren’t expired or anything, so I’ve hit her with those for now. Poor bug.