Fraughtlessness

[manoah]

It doesn't seem like Christmas is only 5 days away. Part of that is me not having to go to work everyday and I have all. this. time. I gotta tell you though, it's fabulous.

Some of you may know this already, but at our house on Christmas Eve we eat Mexican food and watch A Christmas Story. Now that the boyz are older, we also drink beer - Mexican beer! I even made Green Corn Tamales from scratch for the occasion.

Years ago I made the decision that Christmas Eve was "my" holiday. Someday, the boyz will have families of their own and they will need to be at their own homes on Christmas morning so their progeny can appreciate the joy and wonder that is Santa/Christmas morning. I absolutely refuse to put either of them in a position where they have to choose where to be. It's their decision, they can figure it out without me piling on.

I say this as it drove me nuts to have to accommodate my extended family, His Lordship's family and my own nuclear family. The holidays are supposed to be fun, not fraught. And honestly? If they can't come on Christmas Eve, well, yeah. I'll be sad. But I'll get over it and drink all the beer myself! It's the way I roll.

Since I'm semi-retired (ha...bwahahahahahaha) I've been a cookie baking fiend this year. I have had the distinct luxury of being able to make a surprise for Christmas Eve. I give you....the Major Award Cookies:



I'ma hide these and bring them out on Christmas Eve. There were kind of a pain, kind of fun to make. I seriously doubt I'll do it again, but this year - it was fun!

Shhhhhhh. Don't tell. It's a surprise!