The  best part of Christmas day is giving gifts and watching the recipient’s face light up when they open the gift. This year, I confess,  I had some hits and misses.

I especially enjoyed watching my nephew open a small blue box containing a homemade memory card game and then seeing his huge grin when he found the pictures of himself and his momma.

I also enjoyed seeing the confusion on my brother’s face when he opened a hand-carved secret hollow book – hardcover The Divinci Code. It was definitely the unexpected I was going for.

I didn’t do so hot on a not-so-practical electronic for my hubby (figures since he’s already scoped out and knows all the electronics he could ever want and not want) - but I did win big with the 7-year CD I bought (which I somehow managed to secretly hide in our oh-so-transparent online finances) as funding for a trip for two to the olympic summer games in Rio.

WE and I failed miserably in our attempt to light up my FIL’s face with an overnighted box of Braum’s Black Walnut ice cream…but we did manage to pull off a much more useful gift he might not have expected.

I didn’t actually watch my visiting teachees open their 2-in-1 brooch/pendant, but I do hope it was a little bit of feminine bling to light up their wardrobes.

Lastly, WE and I hosted dinner for twelve on Monday with all the trimmings, fixings, and full treatment. It was also a very fun way to say “I love you” to my family who traveled all the way to Wylie to visit us.

So that’s my Christmas recap – what was the best gift you gave this year for Christmas???