Finalemente

Ballerina slippers and a cow hat donned, Annaliese took time to show off her new blocks. She spent the rest of the day in a great mood, playing with new toys and reveling in the attentions of Nonni and Eliza.

We took a quick walk to work up an appetite and ate dinner late in the day, feasting on duck and ham and broccoli casserole and homemade spinach-and-artichoke dip with french bread and winter fruit salad with cucumber and two different kinds of pies, made by K., of course. It was a lovely day, peaceful and blessed and exactly what I want every Christmas to be like.

But as Annaliese was born on the twelth day of Christmas (my wee Epiphany), the feeling of the season persists.

There's one box left under the tree. Birthday plans include finding out the gender of her new sibling, cake, and of course, presents.

I don't think we've ever looked forward to a Tuesday so much.