By Saturday, when we’d been effectively celebrating Christmas for four days, everyone was back and we were ready for the traditional Christmas morning.
The kids were in their footie pajamas, the newlyweds had arrived from their home north of town, the coffee was on and Coach was ready to start his enormous brunch. Best of all, several inches of snow had fallen, so we had our White Christmas after all.
Ty played Santa, handing out the gifts as Babydoll dictated who should get to open one next. We like to do it slow, everyone watching as each present is unwrapped; that way no one misses the reaction of the recipient as they open something you spent days making or dollars purchasing. Plus, it’s way more fun.
I got two (two!) gorgeous, cobalt blue Columbia fleeces. Katie and Josie immediately cried ‘dibs’ on the extra.
There was needlepoint for nearly everyone. I didn’t think I’d finish them on time but I actually stitched up Katie’s Bride Bear the night before. Postponing Christmas for two days has its up side.
Once we’d reduced the pile of presents to a mountain of wrapping paper, we set the dining room table and Jay went to work on brunch.
The new snow fall postponed my parent’s arrival until later in the afternoon. We all rolled with it.
Brunch was delicious, as always. Jay switched up the menu from the brunch he’d served those of us who were here on the 25th. This time we had omelets and sweet rolls.
Mom and Dad made it in by early afternoon and there were more presents and fun.
Babydoll and Babalouie had a blast. I think they like their extended family.
We watched some of the new movies people had gotten as gifts.
Sunday, Ty and Megan had tickets to the Vikings game so I got to have the babies all to myself all day and night. We had a great time. Bananas and Punkin came over and the girls played all day. They even went outside for a while. Babydoll had no snow boots or pants so we layered her up and let her wear her cowboy boots. They were outside long enough to make snow angels, a snowman, track all over the back yard and throw snowballs at the house. Babydoll loved it. Her feet and hands must have gotten cold but she never complained; she was having too much fun. The next day, we got her snow pants (hand me downs from Punkin) and decent boots. Value Village had a pretty pair of white and pink boots in her size. It was half price day so I spent a wopping $2.75. Now, if the temp would just get back up into double digits, she can play outside.
Monday, Ty and Megan went out with their real estate agent and cousin, Ellie, to look at properties. They saw some lovely places with several acres not too far a drive from town. If all goes as planned, by next Christmas, they could be back up in our part of the country.
Tuesday, Jay had to get up before the crack of dawn to take Zack to the airport. Later in the morning, I brought the measly bit of work I’d produced up to the shop, ran a few errands and came home to a nice, quiet hang out day. We lolled around the house. I don’t think Megan ever even got out of her jammies. I would have loved to have gotten back into mine but we had things to do.
My Uncle Bruce Hartigan died a week earlier and his memorial was at five.
Uncle Bruce is a legend in Legal circles in Minnesota. Even more so than Jay is in basketball circles. In fact, if you meet anyone involved in the criminal justice system in Minnesota who hasn’t heard of Bruce Hartigan, that person is probably a fraud. Bruce started as a criminal defense attorney and ended as a judge. He was outrageous no matter his title. And the stories? All true.
Bruce was a great guy but no one who knew him tried to pretend he was a Saint. His personality was such that it was impossible to try to paint him as other than he was; a loud, brash, brilliant, generous, funny, profane, in-your-face Irishman. He and I disagreed about nearly everything but we thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company.
My Mom said of her older brother, who was an atheist “I think Bruce will be very surprised; Jesus and St. Peter will let him in the gates, where our mom will be waiting to beat the tar out of him.”
Yes, I think that sounds about right.