Which day of Christmas is it?

Today is Friday, December 26. So is it the 2nd day of Christmas? I love the song The Twelve Days of Christmas (even though the assigned gifts/characters for days 9-12 seem to rotate positions in each version I hear), but I've never been 100% certain if Christmas itself is the first day, and therefore when the 12th day will be. When is Christmas OVER?

Given how crazy this year's lead-up month was, I wish the day itself could have lasted a little longer. In 24 hour hindsight, it was a wonderful Christmas Day. The kids were so excited and are so pleased with their gifts. They took turns playing "elf" around the tree distributing gifts, were insistent that Andrew and I take our turns to open our gifts, and they played together and independently for long stretches throughout the day. I enjoyed phone check-ins with my mom, sister, brother and uncle, as well as a few dear friends. Andrew and the kids and I had a beautiful (if simple, which was all I could manage) candlelit dinner of roast chicken with assorted side dishes, and both kids were in bed and asleep by 8 pm.

We anticipate celebrating with Andrew's brother and his family (wife and two sons) tomorrow, a break from our usual Boxing Day celebration. The extra day is another gift for me, and I am using it to continue to tidy up the house. I haven't gone farther outside than the recycling bins since about noon on Christmas Eve (about 48 hours now), and I am really just fine with that.

Today I will have to brave the outside world again, as the docking station for Lydia's new MP3 player-compatible boom box needs a converter cable and Andrew is out of half & half, but this little insulated window of family generosity and gratitude has been very fortifying.

I have not done so well with my intention to post here regularly, but hopefully I will do better in 2009.

Happy holidays and good health to all....

XOXOX