Today Tom revived a holiday tradition I really had hoped he would forget: He got up before 6 AM. So I watched him for two hours, then mia_mcdavid took a shift. After James got up and I got up for a second time we had breakfast (it was the smell of frying bacon that got me out of bed).

Then came the brief orgy of opening Christmas presents. We all enjoyed this, although it turned out Mia and I got James something he already had. Those awful toys all look alike to us. Well, he can exchange it tomorrow at Target.

We now have another lull. James is on a computer downstairs. Mia has gone back to bed, so the situation superficially looks like that of five hours ago. However, with the presents open and very full belly Tom is not nearly as frantic. I have had more sleep, a fine breakfast, and three cups of good coffee, so I am coping better.