Boxing Day... In which Wendy has eaten too much, drunk too much and just generally enjoyed herself....And blog giveaway winner - ShopwithM

I certainly hope you all had the most fantastic day yesterday!

We had a lovely day. 

Barry woke up at 5:30 and insisted that we all get up at 6:00 am!  You can't take the Christmas out of the boy, I guess!

Up we got, did our stockings, had a big breakfast, and then opened our gifts.

I did just the right amount of well - some good books, a couple of nice pair of earrings, a white and warren cozy cashmere cardigan and a fabulous picture I will show you in a moment.

The early hour was too much for my son, who immediately conked out after opening his presents!

The big gift for our children was that we are taking them to Disney World and to Universal Studios (most specifically the Harry Potter part) over their winter break at the end of February.  This was a big surprise to them, as we told them no trip this year. 

In reality, it was the last gift from my dad; we wrapped up his estate a couple of weeks ago and divided the last little bit of his money amongst my brother, sister and I.  We decided we'd like to do a family trip, as my dad used to travel with us all the time after my mum died.  His favourite trip was when we took him to Disney World for the first time when he was 72 and he was thrilled.  So back to Disney we will go, but it will be a very different trip with a 19 and 22 year old (and a girlfriend too), though perhaps even more fun - who knows? 

We will also go out to the Gulf while we are there to see my uncle, so we will have touristy time as well as down time.

It was fun to surprise the kids and last night at dinner we had lots of fun planning which parks we would do when (the resort reservations and plane tickets have long been purchased).

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One of the presents I liked best was a photograph that Barry had framed for me:

The picture is of my mother and her brother, also named Barry (who died tragically at age 16) posing with friends at the end of a marionette making class in the late 1940s.

The picture is interesting on many levels: my grandmother taught the course and took the picture,

and between my Uncle Barry and my mother is one Donald Sutherland, who was a close friend of theirs growing up.

 It is great to have this picture of them framed, and will be something I will cherish.  Thanks Barry!

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The great thing about the excesses of Christmas and seeing photos of yourself with double chins is that it is the perfect incentive to begin the post-Christmas diet, so one can look thinner when one finds oneself posing beside Winnie The Pooh at Disney.  A gal has got to have her priorities straight!  Will try and take a couple of photos of myself in my new frippery today, but only if we can achieve perfect lighting and photoshopping that eliminates the - ahem- excess...  sigh...  Well I did need a kick to get going!

So yes, we had the most wonderful Christmas and today is all about relaxing, reading, leftovers and maybe a movie.  We will go see Barry's family on Saturday, so on to round 2!

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I have an update on the blog giveaway: in my scatterbrain December 24th shenanigans, I mistakenly entered Cate in the giveaway, though she advises she did not enter the giveaway and she is indeed correct about that!  Thanks Cate for catching that and being so honest! ;-)

Luckily, I had all the names still and after another draw, ShopwithM is the winner of the $25 J Crew Card!

Have a lovely Boxing Day!  And of course - stay safe out there!


 

Boxing Day!

Boxing Day has always had mixed emotions for me.  It is still a holiday here - no stores will open around here until December 27th.  We continue to fight off the burning desire to lose this most beloved of holidays, which in the Maritimes is when you go see "the family". 

For us this year, this means going to see my husband's family.  This has gotten easier over the years.  Early on in our marriage it was less than enjoyable, but MIL has mellowed somewhat with age and I can now take my dose, so long as it is not more than 3 or 4 hours at a time!

However for me, Boxing Day makes me think of my mother's side of the family and Boxing Days in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.  Throughout the years growing up we would travel to my aunt and uncle's farm.  I would not describe these visits as terrible - my aunt and uncle had a massive farmhouse that was a joy to explore - but would describe them as being only one or two steps above total anarchy.  In-laws and old family members would drink way too much, there was loud singing and talking, typically a fight or two, often between my mother and her sister, and the house would be visited by an assortment of "characters", themselves already drunk, who would add their own special brand of magic to the festivities.  One of the cousins once brought a horse through the house. 

It was one of those events where you would have a 5 minute conversation with about 50 different people and then drive home in the blackness for 2 hours around midnight, feeling you had not had a real conversation with anyone.  The Chieftan's seminal Christmas album, The Bells of Dublin, absolutely captures the spirit, if not the actual events of my family boxing days, in their collaboration with Elvis Costello in the wonderful song "The St. Stephen's Day Murders".  I am quite certain that Elvis and I would have a lot to talk about if ever we should meet!  Download the CD and then read the lyrics -truest Christmas song ever in my estimation and a classic Chez WMM!

But... never no mind... how was YOUR Christmas!  Ours has been divine.  Dinner was awesome, everyone woke up in good cheer and loved their presents.  One could not ask for more!

Today's highlight: my new Cinzia Rocca dress coat:

I am feeling all Tabitha in this coat.  I think I could wear this over some dramatic dress to go to the ballet in Scotland, whatdoyathink???

Me sitting on my couch with my new blue plaid scarf, a gift from Miss GF that makes me look all healthy!  Is that Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robots?  Yup!  Big hit gift for my Biggest Boy!

One of the lovelier gifts was a picture of me and my dad that Barry had enlarged and framed:

1985 was NOT the kindest year for dresses... sigh..  But lovely picture!

Hoping you all had a grand day and that this Boxing Day (or St. Stephen's Day!) finds you well and not too stuffed!

Tralalala:

On the 2nd Day of Christmas WMM gave to me,

A noble dog with a scarf like Grace Kelly....

YOU tell me that this dog of mine doesn't look noble AND chic..

And doesn't this picture remind you of another famous cover photo?

Stay Safe out there!