Christmas at the Cleavers

I love Christmas with Brett's family. While this may seem an attempt to score some brownie points with the in-laws, there's no need since they're already obsessed with my bearing their grandchild (along with bro-sis in law Brian and Caron), so we can lay off the kissing up till the kids start breaking china and set the rug on fire.

10 reasons why Christmas is fun at the Belows...

1. Christmas cookies. Eileen (Brett's mom) makes a tray of every Christmas shape and frosts them like they're the real thing, even for the unborn (Champ is Pooper's cousin).

2. Christmas explosion. Years of teaching brought Eileen a large collection of Christmas paraphanalia. In December, it takes over. I practiced using our fancy camera by taking pictures of them around the house.


3. Ham. I love ham sandwiches on white bread, and that's what we get from the Christmas leftover ham. I do not buy either of these things, so this is a treat.
4. Stockings. To break up the chocolate, there is also an apple, orange, and peanuts to squeeze in some health. This year's favorite: Dark Chocolate Snickers Snowman (Eileen, I'd like 2 next year please).

5. Traditions...like the Christmas Tree skirt that gets a new patch on it every year that represents the one big thing that happened, or that Brett always gets a 4lb bag of pistachios under the tree (and eats them in 2 days).
6. Happy Hour (except this year) -- Eileen is most content with margaritas at 4pm followed by after-dinner Coronas and homemade Irish cream and coffee. If Granny is there, there is also scotch.
7. No cleaning. After opening presents, we leave the wrapping paper all over the floor and lay in it while watching movies.
8. Food. It's always there, and if you're too lazy to get up, there is also a candy dish with chocolates within reach.
9. Trees. There is one in EVERY room, including the bathrooms, which have little ones decorated with the great aunt's old earrings. Here we are in front of the main tree comparing fat bellies.


10. They really are the Cleavers. Seriously, they hug each other good night.