My family rocks.

So, I was reading a bunch of Christmas horror stories over on JU, and I gotta say...my family rocks. Drunken in-laws, decades-old animosity, grandparents playing favorites--my family has none of that. We all--including in-laws--get along great. This year, we had the privelege of having Stacy's parents up from Tennessee. They even got me a present! It wasn't anything extravegant--just a basic socket set. But the fact that they thought to get me anything blew my mind. I mean, I don't know them at all, technically there's no relation between us, and this is only the second time we've met (the first being four years ago when Al and Stacy got married). I'm ashamed to say, I didn't return the favor--I'd forgotten they were coming until they were there. Oops. They didn't seem to mind.
Sure, having them come down messed up our traditions a little--we opened presents Christmas Day instead of Christmas Eve. But no-one cared, mostly because Christmas has pretty much stopped being about ourselves, and mostly about my nieces and nephews. Who also rock, by the way ;) Not saying that we adults didn't give and get presents to and from each other--of course we did. And of course we enjoy that. But seeing an adult open a box with a sweater isn't near as fun as watching a three-year-old (almost) open up a Princess outfit (and promptly stop caring about anything else--my brother chose well).

In other news, I'm an uncle...again! Or, still, I guess...Stacy and Al added another to their clan on Monday. Almost the first baby born in Toronto (she missed by 20 minutes). Jacob Allen, born 8lbs 4oz (I think). Stacy's doing fine, in fact, she was home the next day, playing with Sadie and John Michael while the rest of the family held onto her newborn.
Oh, hey...I finally bought a dinette set for my dining room (such as it is). We broke it in a few weeks ago. I've since realized that my dinnerware is...well, ugly. Strong, though--my parents got it as a wedding gift some 30+ years ago, and we still have pretty much everything for it. But it's next on the upgrade list.
Anyhow, time to go.