So apparently my school e-mail is not doing *anything*. I ended up going unexpectedly home tonight for what turned out to be Christmas with my aunt and uncle and cousins. It's-- different, this year, with two people not there. But there are also two new people. Sammy and Grace have been just a complete joy. (well, for everyone but their parents.) As a new generation starts to take over family gatherings, there are now TOYS TO PLAY WITH. Yay for fisher-price fire engines and interlocking bead toys and board books that go *squeek* and stuffed cucumbers. Sammy and his parents are flying to Nashville tomorrow, so this was also a farewell party of sorts.

So, my contribution to the gift exchange was three tins of UMCP cookies. Luckily, the adult cousins are alumni, so I get to tget away with that. My acquisitions were ( cut for spoilers, because stellar_dust is probably getting the same things ).

Dad's brother's family actually shops at department stores and wears designer clothing and brand-name knick-knacks. Christmas there I always feel like the poor, uncouth relations.Oh, they're very nice, and admire Mom's dollar-store gifts and homemade nativity playsets, but they still give each other gourmet chocolate and $50 dog toys. Then we go to Mom's relatives and I feel like rich sophisticated city folk, so it all comes out even in the end.

I need to start my Christmas shopping. I'm really leaning toward a Random Bag o' Fun this year. Oh yeah, only two days till QM day!