Tuesday, December 24, 1991

JoAnna puts in a few hours at the office.  I enjoy a less hectic morning with the boys, another opportunity to watch Perry Mason.  JoAnna makes tutke and a turkey breast for supper and then we open the gifts from my family.  And such nice things we receive.  A cordless phone and waffle iron for JoAnna and me, a railroad merry-go-round and pull-toy for Eddie (he loves the former), and Turtle sweats for Andy.  We don't take any videos or pictures, so I'm sure my folks will be disappointed to learn that.  Around 8, we take a drive around to look at Christmas lights.  We discover no major clusters of an overly-festive sort.  Most Madison neighborhoods appear to take a very lowkey or ho-hum approach to outside decorations.  When we arrive at Warner Park, the line of autos extends to Sherman Avenue.  With both boys asleep, I'm not in the mood for a parade.

December 24, 1990

Our guests have plans to leave early. Angela needs to be back in Manitowoc by mid-afternoon; she's participating in a church Christmas program, something that may never be in Andy's future the way his parents have been avoiding a religious commitment.

While Angela sleeps in and Andy watches videos, the adults sit around the dining room table, drink coffee, and talk. By late morning, it's a nuclear family holiday: Dad, Mom, and their two sons. It's a circumstance I want to last indefinitely. No work, co commitments, but with our paychecks rolling in on a regular basis.

We enjoy a leisurely afternoon on a cold, sunny day.  We open our presents that evening.  Andy has so much to unwrap.  Jo gives me a beautiful leather jacket.  She loves her (expensive) mohair sweater.