Good Chocolate (Christmas 2014)

Christmas should be like eating good chocolate. You savor it, letting it roll around in your mouth a little so you can taste each layer of flavor. You don't gobble it all in one bite! -Misha 

A little humorous, but so true, isn't it? Even with sleeping in as late as possible (9 a.m.), I still felt like the morning passed too quickly. "Can't we linger over breakfast a little and open stockings?" I asked, recalling fond memories of the four of us sitting around the table with the mandatory Christmas breakfast casserole (quiche maybe?) taking painfully long to get through the stockings and on to the true Christmas finale: the presents. This year, the tables were turned as I was the one my parents were waiting on, not the other way around.

Tea at hand and a half-eaten bagel, we began the unceremonious unwrapping of gifts. Cameron got some really exciting ones this year--including a fancy acoustic-electric ukulele (and many accessories), a Ghostbusters lego set, and a number of other interesting and eclectic gifts. I, for one, gave him a hand-made squid hat (post pending) which he was very impressed with. :D Over the years, I've noticed that the gifts tend to come in themes--one year might be clothing, or journals (several years of journals!), another year books. Cam's theme was definitely all about the ukulele. For me, I'm pleased to report that it was a year of French everything. Mom gave me my own copy of Julia Child's The Art of French Cooking and a macaroon baking set, while Bruce and Stacey gave me a beautiful Parisian journal with water color pictures scattered throughout. I also got several books which I am excited to read! Jake gave me my very own pair of Toms (which I would never buy for myself!) and an amazing atlas-printed cork board for my wall. I'll be hanging it up above my desk as soon as I can find an appropriate frame for it. And he was very surprised by the skateboard I got him. (Post pending on that as well.).

We passed the day relatively quietly as a small family plus 3 (Bruce, Stacey, and Jake), playing Mexican Train (and shouting "Doubles!") and eating excellent food. Before we knew it, it was already 10:30 p.m.! It was a good day, but I wish it had lingered with us a little while longer, like the taste of good chocolate.