Tuesday, Dec. 24

Christmas Eve. As usual, Hubbie was anxious to get to the gift exchange, though I don't know why. Many of the things under the tree were for Mother.

I managed to get an exercise session in after breakfast this morning. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house while I showered and dressed. When I was back downstairs, I gathered ingredients for making a couple of more Italian cream cheese balls, which Mother put together.

While she did that, I put a pan of eggs on to boil, and then gathered ingredients for making fruit salad. When the cream cheese balls were in the refrigerator, Mother and I put the fruit salad together, and I put that in fridge, too, to chill overnight.

Now we were ready to soak up Christmas movies after lunch, while Hubbie spent most of his time on the computer in the office, or talking on the phone to his relatives.

Mother and I watched a Scrooge ballet, and the animated features, "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas," as well as "Horton Hears a Who," which is on the same DVD.

Later, for supper, we went to a local steak house restaurant. Since we'd had chicken in every form this week, and beef roast was on the menu for Christmas Day, we opted for fish. Mother ordered grilled salmon and baked sweet potato, and Hubbie and I had grilled tilapia, with baked white potatoes, and a side of okra. Both kinds of fish were really very tasty and hit the spot.

It was no small order getting Mother into and out of the little loaner car we're driving right now while our van is in the shop. At the restaurant, as I was lifting Mother out of the car and helping her into her wheelchair, a group of about six young adults walked by. At the restaurant, one young man was holding the door open for us, while another young man held open the inner door. Inside, the young women insisted that we be seated before them. We were very touched by this show of kindness.

Odd: a young family...dad, mom, and little girl about two years old, came to the restaurant clad in pajamas. Well, actually, the dad wore a cotton  short sleeve pullover pajama top over jeans, but the mom wore heavy fleece jammies with Ugg boots, and the little girl was in regular PJs. Guess they wanted to be ready for bed as soon as they got home, so Santa could visit early.

Following the meal, we took another trip through the Christmas trail of lights at the riverside park. This time, we located the correct radio station, so we could enjoy the lights synchronized with the music.

Mother really enjoyed this outing, and was in a very cheerful mood when we got back home. Everyone was ready to dive into the gifts, since it's our tradition to open presents on Christmas Eve.

Mother got lots of loot, including six more jigsaw puzzle (she acquired nine altogether this Christmas); five mock turtleneck shirts in her favorite colors; a fleece jacket with a pretty light blue and tan design and little sparkles on it (this was from Hubbie); a photo book featuring snapshots of herself alone and with family; and two door mats for her front porch;

Hubbie got gift cards, as did I, as well as a big bag of homemade peanut brittle (his favorite candy); full length winter underwear; scratch off cards, which netted him $19; a black knit shirt; and five mystery novels for his e-reader, including the newest John Grisham book.

I also got scratch off cards, for which I garnered only $2. Besides several gift cards, Hubbie gave me a new kitchen hand mixer, a box of mixed chocolates, and a couple of large bars of Godiva dark chocolate (my favorite). Kept in the refrigerator, this is enough chocolate to last me a year.

Mother also gave me a gift card to a department store. I'll have a happy time shopping after Christmas!

After the gift exchange we watched TV for a while. Mother opted to stay around until bedtime, and then Hubbie accompanied her to her house. We headed to bed soon after.