The Merriest of Christmases

 This is the second Christmas in a row that we have spent with one of our kids and family. Last year we were in Pennsylvania with Jessica and her family, this year it is home with Forrest! A start of a tradition? Probably not, but we will enjoy it for now!

Each Christmas Somer buys matching PJs for her, Forrest and Lily. This year, because we were together, we "got" to participate!

We spent the entire Christmas day in our PJ's. Opening presents in the morning, followed by a day of Christmas movies. A nap or two might have been snuck in during the day. 

Yes, even the dogs got gifts. Dog toys and treats. There were a few scuffles as they often wanted the same toy. 

What did we get? I cannot list them all, just the highlights. Lily got keyboard that she played all day long. It was not as annoying as it might sound as it was just background noise as we went about our day preparing Christmas supper (prime ribs and crab legs) and watching movies. 

Shockingly, I received several alcohol related gifts. Not one, but two cocktail smoker kits as Barb and Somer were on the same wavelength but not in communication when it came to gift selection. Forrest and Somer were on the same wavelength with each other.  Both had gold on their minds; Somer when she got him a really nice gold chain. Forrest had two gold wedding bands commissioned by a local artist out of some gold they had. They turned out beautifully! 

What did I get Barb. My favorite item some of you are going to think is pretty weird. Let me begin by telling you about elk teeth. Did you know that elk have two teeth that are actually made of ivory? They are remnants of prehistoric days when elk actually had tusks. I had pulled the two ivories from Barb's elk and had the same artist make a pendant out of them. She loved it!

The next morning, Barb had all signs of Christmas tucked away in their totes and the tree was out the door. It was time to complete the final preparations for our trip and more packing.

The deer decimated the alfalfa bale I put out last month, so it was time for another one, and to fill the feeder. 

Earlier in the week we had some special overnight guests! Farmer Bob and DeAnne stopped by for an overnight stay on their way to their daughter's house in Denver for Christmas. It was a quick, yet enjoyable visit. 

There was one bummer this week though when Barb was filling the wood box while Forrest and I were out hunting. (We ended the muzzleloader season without filling my tag by the way). She was getting wood off the top of row of the outside woodshed when one dropped....right on her foot. Toe to be precise. Second toe in from her baby toe to be preciser (new word there). She said it hurt like hell, a couple hour later totally black and blue. Definitely broke. Do you think she would go to the doctor? Not my stubborn one, no, she just toughed it out. I took a picture of her gnarly grotesque toe. I do not know if it will make the censor, if there is a picture of a disgusting toe following this sentence, she allowed it, if not, she did not....

(She did not, and I actually got in trouble for even considering posting it!)

She could not wear a shoe for several days, but now almost 5 days later she can wear shoes but still limps around. 

So, we are all packed, we leave in an hour or so. Where are we headed? First destination Pennsylvania, via 10 days in Kentucky visiting several (okay, more than several) distilleries along the way!