It's Margaritas When The Egg Nog's Gone

Best Christmas Ever.  My thanks for the chicks and ducks from Heifer International, the waving Mao watches that don't tell time, the Obama candy bar and giant "Yes We Did!" print, all the books and sweaters and cocktails and good food and schnecken.

Sam and cousin Aidan on Christmas Eve in Granny & Poppa's Cottage on the 26th Floor.  Sam has finger puppets, and Aidan a shirt from NASA, both shipped in by their great aunt and uncle in Maryland.

Settling down in the hallway to listen for the prancing of tiny reindeer on the roof.  (Or failing that, the footfalls of the senior senator from Wisconsin, who lives just above.  Said Clement Moore: "I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; a wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.")

The train set what Santa brought.  (Some assembly required.  Helpful tools:  one alan wrench, two Philips head screwdrivers, four fingers Makers Mark.)

A side view of the "Caleb" and "Sam" lines.

Christmas morning, busy at play.

Uncle Tim helps Sam, Caleb, and cousin Alex assemble a different train at Grandma and Grampa Lathrop's.  Your correspondent provided the cowboy hat.

Grampa helps Sam show off his bear mitts, which he's had on practically ever since.  "I'm a bear," says Sam, "ROAR!"

Caleb visits with Grandma Greenhoe and Maggie, who is ailing (though not enough to prevent her taking a good swipe at Caleb not long after this picture was taken.)

Eating cake at Grandma and Grandpa Greenhoe's, Christmas night.  Nice mug, Sam.

Playing with Asia at Mary and Jerry's, where the boys lived for a time before they came home to us.

Sam and cousin Andrew at dinner.  I like the grainy, Norman Rockwell hue to this picture.  I also liked the bourbon old fashioned in the foreground.

They're cousins -- identical cousins.  Andrew Shen (drums), Alex Shen (lead guitar), Caleb Hinshaw (rhythm guitar, vocals), Sam Hinshaw (bass).  Pictured here backstage at the Sullivan show, just before their first American television appearance in December, 1963.

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The Townblog family and staff are off to spend the New Year holiday in the Kalahari Resort in the unlikely Wisconsin Dells.  Whatever you may feel about 2008, you'll have to admit it ended well, and 2009 looks to be an amazing and dynamic year.  I can't wait to see you in it.