You can't buy this in stores!..

What is there one can really say,when providence and circumstance conspire to keep you from spending five consecutive Christmas's with the most very important people in your life?
Nothing,..I suppose.
All you can do is cherish those times that do present themselves,file the love away for future reference,and call upon the memories in the small hours of your regret.
...It's truly a good thing!

Follows,..a select photofolio.
Mostly,like the saying goes,each picture conjures up a thousand words.
Captions are for the sake of brevity.

********Cast of Characters********

Grandma,Grandpa,..and each and every one of the Little Slinglets.

Little Jackson,and his strapping Dad,Octavio.
Thanks,and thanks again for the handsome lad!

Erin practicing her make-up skills on Grandma.
Dont'cha know she received the ultimate beauty kit,fit for a tween!


Erin presents a meal with her usual flair..


I.LOVE.THIS.PIC!..Olivia and cousin Jackson share a humorous secret.
Personally,I think they are articulate beyond their years,but I can only imagine what unheard comment passed between them at this moment and,..wait,..I have a booger in my nose.

Tyler Anne,in a 'Hey!..Look up!' moment..
Do you remember when her Grandmother was 12??..Probably not,since I met her when she was 14.

My eldest son's daughter,Olivia.
It took all of a minute for her to jump into Grandpa's lap.
I had only ever seen photos of her until this occasion.
I wish you could make out her startling blue/green turquoise eyes in this picture.


Okay..I cheated and took a picture of a picture of Erin,caught in serious contemplation..


Me and Jackson..I think that couch makes me look fat.


Like most Christmas family gatherings in Bloggertown,..eventually,..some one ends up with an octopus stuck to their face.



********Christmas day********

Interior view from the patio...where we do our mandatory smoking.


I participated in the annual Team Gingerbread (Graham cracker) house building contest for the first time!..Erin and I came in the top three!


..Daughter and Grandma took first place..(fixed).

.. and Octavio and Tyler took second.

********My Birthday********

Did I mention it was also my birthday?..No??..I'll wait while you smother me with hugs and kisses.............

Jackson's Papa somehow managed to buy me the perfect gift.

Who knew cheap brown liquor comes in actual glass bottles?

The shiny hip flask will come in useful,..no doubt.

Those squiggly Christmas lights were a happy accident.

MINE!!..All mine!..

Darling Daughter went the extra mile to cover both Christmas,and my birthday..

I have only had three birthday parties in my life,..what with all thoughts turning toward Christmas.

..That's okay by me.

Capricorns,you see, have two cast-in-bronze traits..

1) We don't like to be the focus of great amounts of attention,..and,..

b) We don't believe in astrology.

This is my homemade 'Birthay' cake!..

Fortunately,..Darling Daughter is gorgeous,...and doesn't need to know how to spell.