More scenes from Christmas Day. We would have taken more photos, but we were shoveling snow, eating, playing Mario Karts, eating, watching Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince on Blu Ray and eating.

The girls got a bunch of makeup in their stockings today and had fun giving each other makeovers. I laughed until they threatened to give me a makeover. Now I cower in fear back in the office.

If only Junior could be this focused when he’s driving ol’ number 88…

We didn’t get outside much on Christmas Day, but here are some shots of the snow that we were able to capture between Wii races and meals.

Jesse tests out her Ninja Reflexes on the Wii.

A feast for all the senses

I cooked the bird a little differently this year. I made a glaze with bourbon (of course), dried cranberries, brown sugar and butter. It was delicious and very moist. Just had some simple sides with it — corn, mashed potatoes with sour cream and garlic, and french rolls. Jesse, the vegetarian, ate the sides with an Amy’s roasted veggie lasagna. After we sleep off the big meal, we’ll have some apple pie.

You can keep your handbell choirs and choruses of angels. This is what I call Christmas music.

Jesse (right) and her BFF Allie all dressed up for Halloween. I'm not sure, but I think they were supposed to be The Go Gos. Hah

Would you like fries with that?

Halloween 2009 was a blast. Both girls hung out with friends (Katie at work at Papa Murphys and then at the movies to see, believe it or not, Saw VI; Jesse trick-or-treating with a gang of suburban hoodlums then to a friend’s party in Burnsville).

I was left to man the front door with a bowl of candy — sort of like handing a plate of brains to a zombie. We had about 50 kids total, 3 or 4 big clumps, then the occasional group of 2 or 3. Kept me hopping for a couple of hours as I tried to watch Hostel II on the DVR.

Jesse and Allie did a great job making each other into goth girls. I dared them to wear their outfits to school on Monday, but so far, no takers on that dare. Jesse also helped her sister dress up as Wendy, from the hamburger joint, at the last minute before she headed off to work at the pizza shop. She did a great job whipping together a costume filled with irony for her sister in just 30 minutes. She has the Halloween touch all right.

We dropped by Papa Murphys for one of their over-advertised jack-o-lantern pizzas, which Katie made for us. Wish I had a picture. I defy you to make a jack-o-lantern out of the pizza we received. It was tasty, though.

Hope everyone had a fun holiday and didn’t get too sick on all that candy.