But in a few secs IMG_0005
Ben got cool
as Joel's dad came IMG_0006
To take them to bowl IMG_0007

And then, on Xmas morning,
Jane had to knit IMG_0008
But Benjamin was there IMG_0009
by the tv to sit IMG_0010

Lily and Sarah spent their time IMG_0011 IMG_0012 pondering the hard questions IMG_0013 as they merged into one IMG_0014 still unable to answer the philosophical question of whether they prepared suicide bombers to serial killers.

Later, in the kitchen, Jane IMG_0015 made her cake IMG_0016 as Sarah mixed IMG_0017 pieces of hers IMG_0018 with lots of cream cheese IMG_0019 as the kitchen showed signs of use IMG_0020 and the beaters IMG_0021 kept Jane busy IMG_0022 as Suzanne and Ben IMG_0023 IMG_0024 played the globe game.

Sarah had an orange IMG_0025 as Suzanne read the rules IMG_0026 and the game went on IMG_0027 with the spatula IMG_0028 stirring and the toasted nuts IMG_0029 being preserved from the toasting IMG_0030 so that the cake IMG_0031 (not this one) IMG_0032 or this one IMG_0033 could be properly topped. The pot was ready IMG_0034 as Suzanne stirred away IMG_0035 and Sarah did some cleaning IMG_0036 before we could cook IMG_0037 and she chatted to Uncle Larry IMG_0038 about the other cakes IMG_0039 IMG_0040 IMG_0041 before Ben IMG_0042 announced that we had to drive off to get parking IMG_0043 so we could head to the theater IMG_0044 and see Cheaper by the Dozen . Afterwards, there was the wait IMG_0045 in the refreshment line IMG_0046 so we could have nachos IMG_0047 which photographed best without flash IMG_0048 as Jane, Michelle Soffen and her friend IMG_0049 did their cheaper by the trio pose before we headed off. Suzanne took the order IMG_0050 and then led the way IMG_0051 while we listened to the HAWK IMG_0052 as they played their music library.

Once at Sunny Garden, Suzanne and Jane IMG_0053 and then Ben IMG_0054 IMG_0055 got the food so that we could come home to some kitchen mess IMG_0056 and more cooking to be done IMG_0057 IMG_0058 IMG_0059 IMG_0060 as we progressed IMG_0061 with more ingredients IMG_0062 until the batter IMG_0063 looked like this IMG_0064 and the final cookies IMG_0065 gave way to chopped nuts IMG_0066 as we made the ultimate wine sculpture IMG_0067 assembled some balls IMG_0068 IMG_0069 added sauce IMG_0070 IMG_0071 IMG_0072 IMG_0073 IMG_0074 and let Andy IMG_0075 lead them through the cookie phase until these IMG_0076 IMG_0077 resulted.

At this point, the Jans arrived for dinner bearing this gift for Ben IMG_0078 and this gift IMG_0079 for me, though Suzanne IMG_0080 seemed to pose better with it. The gift certificate for Ben IMG_0081 and this package IMG_0082 which when slowly IMG_0083 opened IMG_0084 with paper removed IMG_0085 yielded one IMG_0086 then two IMG_0087 then three IMG_0088 of the characters IMG_0089 from Sponge Bob Square Pants which led to more activity in the kitchen IMG_0090 including some dish washing IMG_0091 as we prepared for dinner.

The food was out IMG_0092 and Ben chose this IMG_0093 even as the chocolate cake IMG_0094 was iced and the bowl licked IMG_0095 as a prelude to my soup IMG_0096 which photographed better IMG_0097 the second time as my rice IMG_0098 called out for bean curd IMG_0099 making a combo IMG_0100 I could take to the clean plate club IMG_0101 and wash down with a glass of water IMG_0102 to the amusement of the assembled IMG_0103 as Sarah IMG_0104 did her emerging from the bottle trick and Suzanne IMG_0105 IMG_0106 Jan IMG_0107 and Jan IMG_0108 were glad to see Sarah fully emerged IMG_0109 as Noah IMG_0110 looked on at Sarah IMG_0111 an I made many tries IMG_0112 IMG_0113 IMG_0114 IMG_0115 IMG_0116 to get a picture of Suzanne with her eyes opened. Jane was knitting IMG_0117 and found some respect for the camera IMG_0118 as the assembled IMG_0119 got ready for the desserts IMG_0120 with the bushe de'Noel IMG_0121 wanting less light IMG_0122 to get the right picture IMG_0123 as another dessert IMG_0124 and another IMG_0125 emerged to be served IMG_0126 as yet another IMG_0127 and another IMG_0128 and another IMG_0129 emerged to the table so that the wide view IMG_0130 IMG_0131 suggested we'd all be wider when the holidays were over. This dessert IMG_0132 went well with the wine IMG_0133 nicely topped by the snowglobes IMG_0134 IMG_0135 Ed Lazowska had sent.

There the desserts sat IMG_0136 IMG_0137 IMG_0138 IMG_0139 IMG_0140 IMG_0141 as we watched IMG_0142 IMG_0143 and cut IMG_0144 and cut IMG_0145 and cut IMG_0146 and cut IMG_0147 and cut IMG_0148 and cut IMG_0149 and cut IMG_0150 and cut IMG_0151 and cut IMG_0152 and cut IMG_0153 and cut IMG_0154 until it was time for phone calls IMG_0155 IMG_0156 and relaxing IMG_0157 IMG_0158 IMG_0159 IMG_0160 untilt he candles were lit IMG_0161 IMG_0162 IMG_0163 IMG_0164 IMG_0165 and the gifts displayed IMG_0166 IMG_0167 IMG_0168 before it was time to adjourn to watch The Sting IMG_0169 with at least partial attention IMG_0170 IMG_0171 until the Kramers arrived IMG_0172 and presented their evaluations of the desserts IMG_0173 IMG_0174 to Sarah as Suzanne watched IMG_0175 Sarah evaluate IMG_0176 IMG_0177 IMG_0178 the feedback before Jane IMG_0179 encouraged Peter IMG_0180 to do the Harry Potter thing as Suzanne knitted IMG_0181 Ben relaxed IMG_0182 and the movie ended IMG_0183 as did another Christmas.