The second day of Christmas

Or, as it is known here, Boxing Day. Of course, there is a reason there's no 'Christmas Day' blog. At least four reasons, in fact: Anna, Thomas, Iain and Lucy. On Christmas Day, the usual noise ('oh the noise, noise, noise, noise!') and chaos increase exponentially. Partly, this is so because, well, it's Christmas Day, much anticipated and anxiously awaited; everyone has been up since...EARLY; and parents are preparing the culinary delights, which we have been eagerly awaiting. 

Yesterday, despite the chaos, was full of the usual pleasures and some unexpected treats. The children behaved astonishingly well in a very crowded narthex during Mass. (I thought, as we knelt during the Creed: here we are, adoring the Christ child in a crowded place. At least there aren't any barn animals in the mix.) The rolls were nearly forgotten in the run-up to dinner, and we never got around to eating the cheese, but the food was spectacular--as usual. Others might differ, I am sure, but my absolute favorite part of dinner was the sausage and chestnut stuffing. And the company was excellent, too. The kids had Violet, Camille, and Belen to play with, and we had their parents (Brandy, Matt, Eric, Tara, plus Tara's friend Amy) for conversation around the table. 

My special thanks, however, go to Tara, for singing the following lyrics I devised (to the tune of the 12 Days of Christmas) in honor of Lewis:

It's Christmas at the Ayres' house, and here's the scene you'll see:

Champagne a-pouring

iPad a-charging

Daddy outside 'egging'

Mommy a-kneading

Anna a-singing

Iain a-drawing

Lucy a-fussing

Thomas wearing Chelsea strip

Chestnut stuffing's on

smells so good

time to tidy-up

and on the Big Green Egg, a turkey!

Not quite up to the usual standards of entertainment at festive gatherings I've attended at the university, but then--as I am made more and more aware all the time--I am not English. 

It was such a busy day, in fact, that it wasn't until this morning that Lewis remembered to tell me that yesterday was the 70th anniversary of the fall of Hong Kong. Now that is a busy day.