Christmas Gifts!

On Monday, December 22, I drove to the airport bright and early to pick up my Christmas presents.  At the Airport, they have great decorations and the sign says:  The best Christmas present ever is about to walk through these doors.

And they DID!!

I had the hats for them and even wore one myself!  They also had free pictures for people  who were meeting up with family for the holidays. (See below) In Ireland, there is so much emigration that Christmas  can  mean that families are getting together after several years apart.  Many of them emigrate to Australia, so it is pretty cool to see people waiting for family that they haven't seen in many years.

On December 23rd, we all went out in downtown Longford.  Haley went out with friends, while Steve and I and the boys hit a couple of pubs and had a lot of fun.

On Christmas Eve, we went to meet John, and he never showed up!  I was a bit worried about him, but as it turns out, his cousin came from Dublin and  picked him up for the Holidays, and he had no way to call me as  he didn't have my number.  He felt bad but I was glad he had a place to go spend Christmas so it all worked out and now we can just get together in January for a relaxing evening at the pub.

On Christmas Day Haley realized they had neglected the advent calendar.

A struggle ensued...

Then  it was time to eat.

 

We had a lovely dinner together and essentially did a Thanksgiving meal.  We cooked the turkey the way Hiram had done it - you know - spatchcocked!  (which of course could also be called "butterflied" but where's the fun in saying that?!)  We are converts as it made the turkey cook faster and kept it from drying out and it was  fabulous!