az part 2-- christmas

late... these are pictures from christmas '06... but still... determined to get them posted...

so, without further delay, here is christmas in arizona...

christmas eve:

my camera didn't get to the food in time... a meal traditionally made up entirely of appetizers... this is what's left of them.

where did the food go?

after food, before gifts, everyone pauses (except greg... i think he's still eating) to say hello and merry christmas to the camera, and consequently, veralouie...

merry christmas

merry christmas (during presents)

sean's gift to his dad included a poem of sorts... had it not been written, tom would have created one to recite, as if it had been written... a gift-opening ritual.

here it is...

sweaters are something to smile about!

next morning... christmas... and if you can believe it... santa still makes his presence known...

see those weights on the chair?

how many guys do you think it takes to get those weights out of their holder?

not one...

not two...

but three.

double that number... and then multiply that number by 2 and you have the amount of time it took.

christmas afternoon, we hiked halfway up a mountain to what is variously known as "the quartz" and "the crystal"...

a small feat, even for an energetic dog.

the view...

the crystal/quartz...

half of the group...

benleigh...

last but not least, delicious christmas dinner...

one side of the table...

the chef and her son...

a corner of the table...

and somehow, sean's friend rob... not an uncommon sight at the family events. he was, apparently, at thanksgiving dinner... even though sean was out of the country at the time...

and lest you think this is all a very normal holiday affair, i will leave you with tom in the pirate garb which mysteriously appeared in his stocking this christmas...

merry christmas!