Last night we had a very nice Christmas celebration with the Walsh relatives here in town.  We stayed up way too late, getting home close to midnight with our seven sleepy children.  This morning the kids slept late, and now we’re working hard to clean house and prepare for a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  I’ve promised the children that once the house is cleaned up, I’ll bake some soda bread so they can have a tea party.  After that, it will be rest time for one and all.  Tonight we’ll attend our church’s Christmas Eve service.

Meanwhile, we’re trying to keep from letting our sleepy selves be too crabby with one another.  It’s like walking a tightrope… one little slip and someone snaps and is grumpy.  I think rest time will be very quiet today.