The Day of All Days

Christmas morning dawned bright and early for the Muldowney children and, thus, for the parents as well. Shana made sure we all got up at 7:00 a.m. Dad took the usual picture on the stairs in which we all look so chipper and wide awake each year. There was an object veiled in a quilt below that looked suspiciously like a harp, but Mom, considering this an impossibility, made the shape into a painting in her mind despite the lack of convincing evidence. The human mind is a remarkable thing. Wouldn't you know it was a harp. Monique Ames had brought her harp as a gift back in October when they visited and it had remained unseen and hidden in Dad's Art Room until Christmas. Every one was very happy with their gifts, but the great hit was a family gift lovingly assembled the previous evening by Dad and Doug- a Foosball table. Everyone had lots of fun all day down in the Rec Room and we are looking forward to a dyn-o-mite tourney on New Year's Eve. We had a great time skyping with Shane and Leah and Miah and Missy both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Washington was the place for snow this year! Doug and Mimi, Shana and Mike Rucker (her boyfriend), and Mom-mom came to dinner. Mimi cooked the ham and Shana made the gravy for the turkey. Mom-mom brought delicious cookies and cupcakes and Liz made the outstanding mashed potatoes. Our celebration was capped by hearing from Jacob via telephone. We all got a chance to talk to him and he sounded great. We have been reading Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' over the holiday and finished just last night. It's a great story- no movie really fully captures the written word. "God bless us, everyone!"

mother wrote this... thus the amazingness

John with the Book he got for Abe and Abe got for him:

Opening the Gifts!!


Shana and Mike after opening their gifts
Christmas Breakfast w/ Eggo Waffles *gasp*

The Traditional Stair Shot

Playing Checkers
Mommom sharing her blanket with the dogs