PACK UP THE HOLIDAYS IN YOUR OLD KIT BAG
And with our traditional New Years meal of ribs, mashed potatoes and black-eyed peas (for luck), the very last of the presents have been opened and the holidays are now officially put to rest. *Phew*

As I quietly type in my bedroom, I can hear the Barbie summit raging in the other room. The Princess Cartel (Rapunzel, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Odette) are battling it out with a lone non-royal Barbie. It seems like an unfair fight, but this Barbie has a powerful weapon -- A dune buggy! And what Princess wouldn't love zipping around the living room in a pink dune buggy, complete with plastic seatbelts and stickers?

Across the way another battle rages on. Little Nephew Tuna is busy with his new war machine. Complete with soldiers in two colors (you have to have good guys and bad guys, you know). He's very busy "rumming" his trucks and tanks and making classic little boy noises. You know the ones I mean. Little boys have the gene that allows them to imitate the sounds of twelve different construction vehicles, seven army tanks and twenty different guns and rifles. Being a girl, I must admit, it's quite impressive.

Overall, I'd say Christmas 2003 was a success. The presents were appropriate and fun. TinyTuna has several new books and a couple of new games to fill her time. She also got some pretty fancy jewelry! AuntieTuna fulfilled the wish for a ruby necklace (free with $4.99 shipping!!). Grandpa has given her a mission to collect a full set of Philadelphia and Denver State quarters. This is an extended challenge, since they won't all be released until 2008. GramTuna outdid herself and made each and every once of us our own fleece blanket. These have turned out to be the hit of the holiday season, and every night we all grab our own special blanket to cuddle and read stories.

But as always, the best part of Christmas is having another chance to spend time with family and friends. Of course, when that can be accomplished while wearing a ruby necklace, cuddling under a blanket, reading a book and being protected by a platoon of plastic soldiers, I have to wonder -- who needs black-eyed peas for luck?
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