murry chrimmus to all...

it's funny how, even when i'm a week from being 21 and i know that santa really isn't coming so much this year, christmas morning still elicits a bit of excitement. so much so that i woke up at 8:25am. my family has such silly christmas traditions--for example, my brother and i are required to go into my parents room when we wake up, get into bed with them, and stay there til they are ready to get up. then once we're finally allowed somewhat downstairs, we have to sit on the stairs while dad takes pictures of the tree and ALLL the presents. mom and dad get us hot chocolate in our special santa mugs (seen here),

and then about 30 minutes later (okay, really its only like, 10 but when we were younger it always felt longer), we were finally allowed to see what santa brought us.

this year, christmas was a lighter load, but it was nice (as mom said) that the family room didn't look like the mall had thrown up when all was said and done. my big surprises included a baby collander, a cutting board, and a special cheese-cutting knife. i was very excited. mom, dad, and mike also liked the gifts i gave them, too.

we hung out all afternoon, i got a little nap in, and then we fixed dinner--salmon with parsley, roasted tomatoes, asparagus, smashed potatoes, and bread--and went to see "Doubt" at crossroads. it was great!

anyway, next up is my 21st!!! less than a week at this point :) then back to good ol' MC for spring semester. it's hard to believe! anyway, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

"And so Happy Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young"
--John Lennon