....Christmas Eve.....

.....we've spent a lot of time like this over the past week.....

.....104 degree fevers, the chills, swollen glands, lots of napping and throw up.....which is always my least favorite.....I'll take anything but throw up.....

.....but despite the viral bug we brought home for Christmas, we prevailed.....we drank up the Christmas spirit despite feeling lousy.....

....we baked my great grandmother's cranberry bread for Christmas morning and talked a lot about traditions....

....we've enjoyed the brilliance of our tree......

.....we've celebrated and partied with friends.....

.....we've posed for our fair share of Christmas pictures.....

.....and while I type, Santa Claus is busy......he has more nuts, bolts, screws, and washers than the local hardware store.....

.....and a 27 step diagram for a toy that looks harder to assemble than the space shuttle.....

....and while there are gifts to wrap and stockings to stuff, we are humbled by the true meaning of Christmas.....

.....Peace on earth and glory to God in the Highest.....

....Merry Christmas.....