We Did It And It Is Done!

I do believe this rainbow wreath on the purple door of Lily's house sums it all up for our family. We are quirky, we are not traditional and yet we keep the traditions in our own way which is often a very gay way and we are NOT AFRAID OF COLOR in any aspect. 

When I got up this morning I wasn't certain I was going to be able to make it to the gift-opening/lovely meal at Lily and Lauren's house. The strained muscle between my ribs seemed worse than it did yesterday and I didn't want to be touched or even move more than I had to. But as the morning progressed, it did loosen up and I reminded myself that the third day after an injury or a surgery or whatever can be the hardest. Even when it comes to childbirth, the midwives say- on the third day the milk comes in and so do the tears.
I managed to pull up the big girl panties and made Glen a breakfast. Not a full-on Sunday morning type of breakfast but it did involve sausage and eggs. 
And then I peeled the eggs I boiled yesterday and smushed up the yolks with traditional old southern lady ingredients which (for this old southern lady) are mayonnaise, Miracle whip, sweet pickle relish, mustard, salt, and pepper. Sprinkled on top with paprika. 
No candied jalapeños, no dang caviar, no fresh herbs, no cheese or shallots. In short, deviled eggs as the god of Sunday dinner on the grounds has ordained. 

So we did make it over to Lily's and I have to say that Xena (aka, Large Marge) was the center of attention although here's a picture of me that Rachel took, trying to give a little love to Pepper, Lauren's sweet old lady dog. 

And here's a picture of Rachel getting her pet therapy. 

Xena is the sweetest puppy. She's laid back, she's cuddly, she shows affection and receives affection until she gets tired and then she goes and lays down on her bed and takes a nap. 
And as you can see, she is getting larger by the moment. 
Here she is loving on Michael whom all animals adore. 

"I want a dog," he said. 
"Well, let's get a house and then we can get a dog," May said. 
She is a sensible woman. 

The gift openings were quite civilized this year. No frenzied screaming or frantic tearing of paper off of presents. All of the wrapping paper made its way directly into a huge garbage bag about which Hank asked Lily, "Are you getting rid of bodies this year?"
We kept the gifts down to a bare minimum and I think everyone appreciated that a lot. 

Hank and Rachel gave me two very lovely, very appropriate things they knew I'd love. 

Official Rolling Stones Christmas ornament. Of course I will hang it somewhere I can look at it every day and it will stay there 365 days a year. 

They also gave me this little zipper bag. 

I love it so much and how I miss the library card, stamped and named, and put in the box as having been checked out.

And then the next thing I opened was May's gift which was a Mexican banner and this little box of matches. 

It is a Little Women Christmas and that's all right with me. 
We are a Little Women Family. 

After the delicious meal Lauren and Lily had made, Glen and I took our gifts to the Weatherfords along with the little chicken salad I made. Also Rachel and Hank's gifts. They had to go home early. Rachel is having extremely serious back and spine issues which of course affect every damn thing in the body in the worst sort of way.
We got to see August and Levon outside and that was far better than nothing. 

The recipients of the WhirleyPops and Tupperware sets were thrilled. And Maggie told me that what we got her, which was an interactive (?) Lilo and Stitch puppet, was the main thing she'd wanted. 

She had already started creating scripts for their adventures when we left. My smart, pretty grandgirl. 

Y'all, I am as tired as I've ever been. I'm about to go crawl into bed, beyond, beyond, beyond glad that Christmas 2025 is done. 

I sincerely and truly hope that each and every one of you has had a good day, depending on however you define that. And I'd like to share something Hank texted us all this morning when we were checking in with our various ailments and pains. 
It was this.

Merry Christmas! Individually we're kind of broken, but as a family we're whole! 

And of course I cried. Hank has always been the wisest one of all of us. 

Sweet dreams. 

Love...Ms. Moon