Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree: Christmas 2016

Inspecting gifts. We determined this one was soap.

Today is the best day of the entire year -- Christmas Day!! Well, maybe it's not still Christmas in Australia or someplace like that, but that's beside the point.

I love everything about Christmas, and seeing as how today is pretty much my favorite holiday of the year, I feel obligated to write a blog post about the greatness of this day.

My family and I always open presents from friends on Christmas Eve after dinner. There were all sorts of fun gifts last night, such as candy, a 1,000 piece puzzle, and wrapping paper. There was also bubble gum for Esther...a rather hazardous combination, considering the type of bubble gum eater she is.

(As a side note, this is my all time favorite Christmas Eve song. My sister and I make it a tradition to listen to it every Christmas Eve.)

A friend gave us this goat's milk soap. Esther said it didn't have a flavor, but I think it must be goat flavor. (Though I've never understood flavored soaps. Whenever I eat them, they just make my mouth all bubbly.)

Photo credit: Esther Van Tuyl

Are you afraid of Santa Claus? You must be Claustrophobic.

Wrapping paper is a popular attraction among cats.

On Christmas morning, my family and I open the presents from each other. I was quite thrilled to receive a brand new pair of Converse to replace my old ones, which are currently being held together with duct tape.

Our cats decided to claim our discarded wrapping paper for themselves. If you ever come to our house and happen to notice a piece of wrapping paper running around the room, it's probably Buffy.

New socks for Esther and me, among other things
Photo credit: Diane Van Tuyl

Esther was delighted with her new fuzzy pajamas and blanket, which Buffy also decided were for him. Of course, he could be forgiven for thinking such a thing, because the patterns were cat print after all.

We enjoyed a large Christmas dinner around lunchtime. We had turkey with stuffing, because turkey without stuffing is worse than a lifetime without pizza. I must say, I enjoy home cooked turkey slightly better than the dining hall at Liberty.

Eye wish you a Merry Christmas!!

(P.S. Know why Rudolf is soaking wet? 'Cause he's a rain deer!)

What are your favorite Christmas traditions? If you could start a new, silly Christmas tradition, what would it be?