Christmas Day 2010

Christmas in 2010 was pretty awesome.  The day started with a chance for everyone to sleep in before it was time to get ready, have breakfast and get down with the present opening festivities!  

We went up to the bonus room and turned on the Yule Log before starting to open our loot.

The kitties joined us, and eventually Mute went into Anthony's sweatshirt (not by choice of course) like a baby kangaroo.  The kitties were permitted to stay near the tree so long as they were on good behavior... needless to say that didn't last long!

Sark was causing a ruckus by gnawing on the lights.

And, not to be left out of course, Mute took her turn chewing on the tree.  Later, Amy opened one of her stocking stuffers from Anthony - a wonderful item called "PetZoom"  It's a small battery operated blue box with a button you push when the kitties are acting up.  Say no, push the button, and a sound that only kitties can hear comes from the box.  It works!  It keeps the kitties in line and Amy WAY more sane as she ultimately does a little more of kitty discipline since she is home more often.  It's a life saving device, we swear.  It's gotten to a point where you can merely show the kitty the "blue box" or the "bad box" and they squint/run away.  AWESOME!

Here is a picture where Sark was not getting into trouble.  Way to go, buddy.

The same could not be said about Muters.  No one is surprised...  Later she tried to eat Remi's present... oh come on, Lady, really!

The kitties got some new scratching posts this year, but they also got some toys in their stockings too.  The catnip infused fishes on a ring seem to be the big hit this year.  

Amy really surprised Anthony with an Amazon Kindle.  There are already games and some books downloaded and there will be tons more soon enough.  Amy was also surprised by Anthony when he bought her a beautiful pair of nice earrings to match her favorite necklace.  At times we are both hard to buy for, but we do a good job of keeping each other surprised and pleased with our gift giving traditions :)

Mom and Dad Brelsford came over later in the day.  Amy (with Anthony's help) had worked for hours on Christmas Eve to start Christmas dinner and dessert.  A fresh salmon dip on crackers started out the evening along with another cheesy app.  The dinner menu was mostly organic and included a fresh garden salad, butternut squash soup, scalloped potatoes, sweet potato casserole (one of Mom's favorites), sweet hawaiian rolls and fish.  For dessert there were plenty of cookies (made by Mom, Amy and Anthony) and of course the latest Christmas tradition, lemon pizzelle.  

After catching up, shooting the ish, dinner, dessert and a movie, it was time for Mom and Dad to go home and take care of Mickey.  Christmas 2011 will surely be more chaotic and interesting.  But this year, it was nice and quiet.