Merry Christmas from Us to You

Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noël, Buon Natale, Feliz Navidad, wherever you are, however you say it, we wish you a Merry Christmas and we hope you have had a wonderful day.

This has been an unusual Christmas for our family. Eldest daughter Tricia and family are spending the holiday with her in-laws in Southern California. Wife Shirley and youngest daughter Stephanie are both working at the hospital today, Shirley on a neurology floor and Stephanie on a neonatal intensive care unit.

To top it off, little Madison is under the weather and parents Stephanie and Earl took her to the Emergency Room this morning to see the doctor. Thankfully, since Stephanie works at the hospital, they didn't have to wait and they were in and out and back home.

We did take a few minutes to sit in front of the tree with Abbi for a Christmas picture before we started opening gifts. Do note the red ribbon in Abbi's hair; she went to the cleaner and got groomed all pretty and sweet for Christmas.

"Santa' was very good to me. I asked for books, especially cookbooks and my wishes were fulfilled. Shirley says giving me cookbooks is like giving the gift that keeps on giving. I look forward to trying out the recipes from each of the books.

Besides cooking brunch this morning and preparing dishes (mushroom leek stuffing) for Stephanie to take to her work potluck and Shirley too (roast beet salad), I fixed a couple of dishes to take to the neighbors house. In between all of the gift opening, eating and cooking, I also found time to call family in Michigan, New Mexico, France and chat with the guests who are staying at our home in Sablet this week.

Our long time neighbors invited me and son-in-law Earl over for Christmas dinner tonight. Not sure if Earl will make it or not as he is taking care of sick children. I am taking a couple of dishes to contribute to the feast.

Bonne journée mes amis et à très bientôt.