Christmas Part 1

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Hello from Windsor and a very Merry Christmas to you. As is our custom, part one of Christmas was spent at the Webers, this year it was Aunt Doris' house. As you can see from the photos, there was quite a gathering. The spread of food was intense, to say the least, starting with a huge bowl of shrimp, a hundred mushroom rolls, polish sausage, cheese and crackers of all description. That was for appies. Then came the meal - starting with knopfle soup, then two gigantic hams surrounded by Oma's potato salad, cooked red cabbage and a wonderful broccoli salad. After letting all of that settle, there was dessert - homemade apple pie, chocolate eclair cake, nussrolle, many varieties of Christmas cookies, and of course, Kugelhupf. Gosh, I'm full again just thinking about it.
We spent a pleasant evening reminiscing, triggered by a gift from Meesh to Oma of a book of old family photos that she had gathered. Then the talk turned to Uncle Tom's major house renovation (what else is new), and the revelation that he had budgeted "two" for it. "two" revealed itself to be followed by 5 zeros, and Doris and I swallowed, since this was more than we had paid for our house in its entirety. But he is a successful financial adviser (as a matter of fact, he just this week earned the coveted FCSI designation, which is a culmination of about 5 years of study and exams), so he is entitled. Oh yes, Uncle Mike also brought me two tickets to the Leafs vs Buffalo on April 1, 2006 at ACC. We look forward to that. I have included a picture.
Thereafter, we went home and quietly opened the gifts under our tree. This was a very enjoyable time, as always, and the closest we get to each other all year, it seems. We did miss Nick and Sarah terribly, but they were there in spirit as we opened the gifts they had sent from SE Asia. Of course Kelly the dog also got in on the act, having carefully devoured half of the Christmas day yeast cake while we were gone. She had to have gotten right up on the table to do so, proving that she is still spry in her old age, and still a huge glutton. It is a good thing Mom made two yeast rings, she just didn't know that one would be for the dog.
Well that's it for part one. Christmas day will be spent at Uncle Carl's for dinner, so hopefully we'll have part two thereafter. Now if I can just figure out how to do these pics.....
Cheers!

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Photos

Aunt Doris
Making salad

Uncle Chris
I love entertaining..

Oma
How's my potato salad?

Christie
Just got her own new house

Uncle Ger and Meesh
Serious discussion

Moni
Slightly out of focus

Aunt Jan
Just happy

Nicole and Julia
Just in from Switzerland

Mom
Don't take my picture!

Looking over Oma's gift album
Everyone got a kick out of Meesh's gift

Uncle Tom
Humouring the cat or behind bars?

Maria
How's my hair?

Uncle Mike and Eric
Long drive from Toronto

Kelly
Evidence of canine gluttony or why can't I celebrate with the humans?

The four girls
So many presents, so little sleep...

Dad (that's me)
Is that a hat or a slipper? No, that's Kelly after I caught her eating the cake.

Leaf tickets
It may say April 1, but it's no joke!