The Dover's, Jim, Anita, Andrea and Great Grandpa Jim, came in from Tucson for the
festivities. (All except Andrea, who came in from Kansas.) This was the first
Christmas that we have celebrated in our own house since 1989. Of course we
had a tree, lots of decorations and lots of presents, as you might expect with a 23 month
old. 
Speaking of which, the first event was
cookies decorating. 
and Katie was a master, 
while 
eating as much as she decorated with a self satisfied look. 
Katie left cookies and
milk for Santa marveling over the fact that Santa actually left a few cookies pieces in
the morning. 
Of course, she has no idea what this whole Santa thing is about,
other than she gets very nervous when a big guy with a beard and red suit comes around; no
sitting on Santa's lap this year.
December 25th brought a "wonderful" California morning 
31 degrees, which was about 5
degrees higher than the previous few mornings. The first present Katie spied was the
red fire engine that Santa had left: 
She is more appreciative of the lights and the sirens than she is of
the motor which makes it scoot around the house. Stockings were first on the agenda
and she dove into her oversized stocking with curious abandon: 
The it was time for a marathon
present opening session - marathon because in the tradition of the Dover's only
one person gets to open a present at a time. 
Katie went at it with gusto. 
As every parent has found, the wrappings are generally more attractive
than the contents at this age: 
We finally called a halt, saving the rest of her presents for a
later time. She then trotted outside to see the "red car:" 
Traditional Christmas dinner was next on the agenda 
It was a great Christmas! 