Which presents the presence of presents.

This may have been one of our most aesthetically pleasing Christmases ever. Rachel, Shannon, and Angelica decorated the tree the week before I came home, and they made it completely color-coordinated. I like to think that they were unconsciously integrating Hanukkah, especially because I think you can easily make the case for the superior biblicalness of the latter.



Christmas used to mean being keyed up at seven a.m., ready for a rapid wrapping paper ripfest; now it means a leisurely morning to enjoy the moments with multiple cups of coffee.



To draw out the present-opening, we decided to play rounds of Scrabble and let the highest scorer open one at a time.



Two rounds in, Rachel looked up and said, "I can't concentrate—I keep thinking about the presents."



We ran out of tiles before we ran out of gifts. The winner was a brilliant seven-letter move by Shannon and Mom.



Mom opened the front door at some point and let in the brisk, brisk air that really hasn't warmed up since I've been home. "I like to hear the elements," she said. "The chimes."

I looked at Angelica, who knew what I was thinking. "Oh yeah, the elements, of course—earth, wind, fire, water, and chimes."







Rachel loves buying clothes.





Shannon really, really, really wanted her own cell phone, since she and Rachel have always shared, but Mom and Dad couldn't get one in time. Instead, Mom wrapped up her own cell phone with a note promising her that she'd get one soon. What a joker.



After Scrabble, we switched to Bible trivia to determine present triage. This consisted of Dad flipping through and asking random questions that weren't always readily answerable: "What were the seven churches of Asia?" "Who was the indulgent parent?"



At one point, Shannon turned on "Puttin on the Ritz" for no apparent reason and spontaneous dancing broke out.



Spontaneous picture-taking as well. So many cameras in one room . . .



Angelica opened up a pair of earrings and read excitedly, "Nickel and lead-free!"





After Mom found Dad's excellent werewolf dig hilariously funny, he said, "I can't believe she still laughs at my jokes like we just met."



Shannon tried to find a reason to be in this picture, but it didn't happen.





Rachel outfitted everyone.



Even Sherlock got a little something.