2001 Christmas Day

First Christmas in our new home in Weymouth, MA

Christmas 2001

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Emma was very excited about leaving the sherry and mince pies out for Father Christmas, along with some crispy celery and carrots for the reindeer.

For a big chap with boots, he did well to put the stuffed stockings on the girls' beds without waking them. Fortunately they managed to put off waking up at all until after daybreak - an unexpected present for Claire and I.

After morning mass the weather was warm enough to allow us to pay homage to the Nativity scene outside the church of St. Francis Xavier, then we huddled around the fire to open presents. The bike was very exciting, but in a typical display of childhood perversity, Emma decided she would rather ride her old trike than her new bike - until Jasmine started showing an interest, of course...

We also persuaded them outside to play on the "new" slide, re-cycled from Robin and Dennis. Jasmine modelled her new pink fleece hat, scarf and gloves from Patricia.

After that, recollections become a little hazy; there was a certain moment when we realised that Christmas wasn't about us anymore, a truism that most other parents will ruefully recognise, I suspect. Still, we'll be better prepared next year...