NYE

The children are still talking. Fortunately they spent a few hours at T's parents' this morning. I was able to clean, start a coconut cream pie, put away some Christmas stuff and get ready for my Mom and Dad to arrive. The boys and I are at the airport now, eagerly awaiting them.

Mom has always been an enormous fan of New Year's Eve; she played the trumpet in high school (first female 1st chair in the band!) and still plays Auld Lang Syne every Dec 31 at midnight. Hopefully Jack's plastic, though workable, trumpet will suffice tonight. Hell, if T and I stay up until midnight, I won't care if Mom burps the song. We've not stayed up since Jack was born. In any case, tonight will be as festive as it can be with Tom and I snorting our way through. Mom's allergic to wheat so I'm going to make burnt eggplant with tahini and pomegranate, a middle eastern carrot-raisin salad, shrimp some way and other items TBD plus champagne, the coconut cream pie and a Reine de Saba!

Bourbon

People, I am not going to lie. It is 5:53p and I have just enjoyed my first sip of a Bourbon hot toddy. After the automotive confinement this morning, I was bursting at the seams when we arrived home so I picked up Percy, trimmed all the lariope, went to the market, cleaned out the fridge, bathed Percy, brushed Nutmeg, took more Sudafed, told the kids I had not one ounce of energy left to entertain inane chatter and questions so they best play by themselves, and then I crashed. Now I'm just totally spent and sort of hiding in the kitchen while T manages the mayhem upstairs which, as far as I can tell remotely, involves two wild and naked boys as well as vague threats of time-running-out before... Thank god my parents arrive tomorrow. Thank god for good Bourbon.

Milk punch to welcome Christmas Eve

After a low point between post-Seussical and pre-present opening this evening, we finally got down to it, per my Louisiana tradition of family presents on Christmas Eve followed by Santa gifts in the morning. The boys were thrilled: remote control car/robot (Jack/Oliver), bow ties, hand-cuffs, Robin costume (the not-Batman) and books. It was such a delight to watch their faces and see them truly enjoy all their goodies. Afterwards, T and I made milk punches for us and for the kids, sparkling apple cider with cherries. Though it stopped snowing, the afternoon has been so festive and happy (a milk punch helps folks; it's stroooong) and as we head into evening, everyone is relaxed and at peace. Nutmeg is thrilled with all the old wrapping and empty boxes, and Percy was happy to receive a long-term chew. Wishing you all the merriest of days.