Home for the Holidays!

In the time interceding my visit to Austin, very little has changed, but I feel like a lot has happened.  Still job hunting, still searching for something to do that makes me feel like the days don't slip away into an eternity of unemployment.  But it's been great to have friends around.  We had a glamorous evening of ballet at the Nutcracker with Italian food with Shaoshu to celebrate "Kirkland Christmas." We got to see of Matt's bestie and his family before they head to more southerly climes for a holiday adventure, which involved us stopping my a taco truck, and everyone being really glad to see us.  It's great.

And now we are home.  I think I haven't been home in more than 2 years, so it's exciting to see the work that has happened at the house (I grew up here?) and run in to people I know but have seen since forever.  The main objectives today are to MAKE LOTS OF FOOD, and then get hungry enough to eat it.  In the background, presents are being wrapped, and decorations are being assembled.  We are all cheering Noel's efforts to convert the next week of breakfasts to yeast based delights (cinnamon rolls, monkey bread, munlies and who knows what else).  I'm waiting my turn for the oven to convert some sugar cookie dough into lemon cookies, possibly thumbprints, maybe some other stuff.  And there is the potential for meringues.  And who knows what else.  Ha, Mom was worried we wouldn't have enough food.  Turns out we just won't have enough butter- and that is the mark of a good holiday.

And there is a baby!  He warmed up to all the extended family quite quick, especially if Mom or Dad is not far off.  We can all take turns plying him with such fancy toys as empty wrapping paper tubes (which are great as drum sticks, wands or megaphones), wooden spoons (which carry the tasty memories of recipes past), and the menagerie of percussion instruments that have always been a staple of the house.  Tyler took great joy from the washboard sounds of Mom's wicker chest/coffee table, driving remote controls along the top to bring out the music. 

Oh, and he LOVES Grandpa's mustache.  He seems deeply tempted to try and taste it off of Dad's face.  His Nana gave him his first ever haircut, so he is looking quite well put together.  Nana also found him a new type of solid food, called Mum-mums, which are like quick melting zwiebacks.  With his serious Winston face, he latches on to the big cracker with both hands and then "crunch-crunch-crunch" with those two little teeth.  And speaking of baby advances, he is also very happy to climb the stairs to the apartment.  I think we've got a climber in the making.

Merry Christmas to those of you not lucky enough to be here at the house with us.  Maybe next year we'll amass all the readership in Austin TX for a Christmas Blowout Redeaux.