This Christmas was absolutely wonderful thanks to some great times with friends and family. I started Christmas early to make sure that I got a chance to spend quality time with all my friends and family.

Monday Janet and I met for din-din and Casino Royale! What a Great movie!

Tuesday my friend Malissa and her darling Hanae stopped by for a quick lunch and then Jimbo and I had dinner and pressies at Loo's new house with Janey and General Loo.

Wednesdays was Weight Watchers. I refused to look at the scale.

Thursday was dinner and gift exchange with the lovely Lauren and Janey with a special appearance by Eileen.

Friday night Janey and I had our first-ever Christmas Date Night. I say first-ever because we totally have to make that a tradition! We started at Sandrines, headed over to the Oak Bar (where this picture was taken), then we walked in the rain to the Four Seasons and had champagne, annisette, and a cheese plate at the bar at Aujourd'hui. Oh yeah, we had warm chocolate cake at the Top of the Hub, too! Stupendous! We had such a wonderful time treating ourselves to all the naughty stuff we love and pretending for one night that we were rich and famous. Rich in friendship, definitely!

Saturday Jimbo and I cleaned and then had John and Kristen over for gifts and dinner and some Sequence crack!

Sunday we cooked and cleaned and then went to his cousin's house for the family's annual Christmas Eve Yankee Swap. That was a really great time. Afterward we stopped my Kristen and John's for a drink then home to open presents!

Jimbo got me the digital camera I've been wanting and a whole bunch of other stuff. He loved his Delorean Time Machine, but I have to say his favorite gift was the Jaws t-shirt.

Christmas morning we hit my mom's house for present opening. Mom got me a Sankotu knife,/a> and pearl set that I've been wanting, along with a zillion other things. Then we made a quick stop at Grammies for presents and chats (Hi Darlene!) before heading home to throw the Butternut Squash Lasagna in the oven. We had his immediate family over for Christmas dinner. It was lovely and cozy and the chickens really enjoyed it.

I just felt like I was so less tired and stressed this Christmas and that was the best gift of all!