Christmas post (on January 22)

I will start this post with a picture of my parents (huge) Christmas tree. There's nothing better than Christmas at home. This picture is taken on Christmas eve, which is my second favorite day of the year, second to Christmas day...which follows. Every year, Christmas day is exactly the same, so here are our traditions:

Good Morning!

 Amy passes out presents...

 and we take turns opening. This year, Dad gets superman boxer briefs from my brother.

 So of course he models them over his jeans, with his Dwight Schrute shirt and ever-present mock turtleneck.

 After we finish opening, dad was surprised in the garage with a snowblower. He was VERY excited.

 And my dogs are adorable. Of course. They remain outside with brand new bones so they don't eat our gifts.

 So let's drink to that!

 Mimosas.

 And here it comes...the meal that deserves an entire blog post to itself, our Christmas morning tradition, the ONE day of the year we get to eat....my dad's egg's benedict. He has made it for over 25 years, and each year he perfects his recipe until it gets so perfect we all close our eyes after every bite and moan and groan and then ask for more. It's mind-blowing. It's my favorite thing to eat it the whole wide world.

After this, I fall into a coma for at least 2 hours. Everyone else somehow finds the strength to play games and talk on the phone. But I sleep.

 And when I wake up, there's more food! Here is my favorite appetizer...fried artichoke hearts.

 Salad, prime rib...

 homemade shoestring fries...

 Birthday presents..

Baskin Robbins ice cream cake.

And a perfect ending...Shamus convincing my dad that dogs on the furniture is a good idea :)

What a very, merry Christmas!