Vel-come to the end of the Christmas 2014 photos. The day after we returned from Boise Josh’s family came over to the New House for a present exchange/family fun times. Ronia had a LOT of fun playing in my closet–wildly running through the rainbow beaded curtain, trying on all the glitter shoes (I have more pairs of shoes with glitter than you might expect) (maybe). She also taught me some of the karate moves she’s been learning in her karate class, and when I made a mistake she forced me to do push-ups on the ground (and then hopped on my back for good measure). Love that Ronia!

Her Christmas present from us was a big pink glitter box filled with art supplies and a homemade coupon good for three art lessons from Auntie Liz. Also some pink and purple owl earmuffs, an impulse buy at Michael’s that I could NOT resist. Elliot’s present was a cool metal building kit and a specific Lego kit that he requested (that Shirley had also, unfortunately, bought him), and a pair of fox earmuffs (impulse buy again!). My gift to Brenna and Jerry was a photo book I had made of all of my favorite pictures of their children that I had taken over the years.

Nice hair Liz, sigh. Brenna and Jerry gave us the “peacock” dish set from Cost Plus that I had been salivating over, which was really nice of them. It’s the first dish pattern Josh and I have ever agreed on. We bought Fleeta a necklace she wanted and a new hair dryer, and Bob tee-shirts from the Wooden Boat Center.

Our “big” present this year from Josh’s parents was a glorious carpet cleaner specifically designed for pets, which is a GREAT present! We really needed one. One corner of the family room in the New House has smelled suspiciously of cat box ever since we moved in…can’t wait to attack it with the new carpet cleaner.

We all ate Chinese take-out, some of us drank rum-spiked eggnog and all in all it was a lovely evening!

Today I have a Broad Date–her suggestion, which is even better. We’re going to get our nails done and then I plan on spending some time with my boyfriend/her cat Edward. Maybe I’ll wear white this time…and a pair of extra smelly shoes. He has a thing for my shoes.