The family excitement starts on Christmas eve. We head to my aunt's saltbox farmhouse, swinging through Seattle on the way to pick up my mom. At Aunt Ruth's my cousins and their families flood in, some fresh from church, others watching the clock so they can get to the later service on time.
The cousins socialize, and crowd around the children's table at meal time.
Dinner was a prime rib roast, with all the fixings, followed by red velvet cheesecake, lemon tart, and assorted home-baked cookies.
Although we were all just together 2 weeks earlier for Lucia, we enjoy the 4 extra hours to continue the conversations. More than likely it will be another 11 months before we see each other again, even though we always resolve to get together in the summer, but it never seems to happen.
This year my cousin's 17 year old son played Santa, even though there were no little ones in attendance. The kids played along as the elders shouted, "give Santa a big thank-you kiss!" and some kids pounced on him, while others whined "eeewww!"
After the party we drove in Seatte to see light displays until cries from the back seat of "I'm feeling carsick..." caused us to call it a night. We dropped Grammy at her house and headed home.
Christmas morning "big sis" arrived around 8:30 (she'd spent Christmas eve and the night at her mom's condo 2 blocks away), followed by Grammy at 10:00am. The girls were allowed to open their stockings over breakfast, but had to wait until Grammy arrived and finished her breakfast before the big present opening began. Both girls got "nanoblocks" kits to build an animal model, which kept them busy.
We had German Stollen with rum sauce and Cinnamon chip rolls for breakfast.
We sat around the tree for the rest of the morning. Above, competitive Little K is looking glum because she's been "keeping score" and feels her sister has received more presents than she has. In reality, she's just ripped open her packages a lot faster, while her sister has taken her time and still has some to go. Does the rivalry never end? Grrrr. But Christmas isn't over yet...
The big gift was a note from Santa in the tree along with a gift certificate from the Humane Society for the adoption of one kitten -- the foster kitten that we've had since September that both girls asked Santa for. After 34 foster kittens, we finally got one that we just couldn't part with. She's got some medical issues, but she also has the most loving personality, and we're happy to be able to offer her a home where she will be cherished and properly cared for.
My husband is a last-minute shopper, which means he's also a last-minute wrapper. On the morning of the 24th when I was out at the market getting the last fresh ingredients for our Christmas meals, he was scrambling to wrap things at home, and couldn't remember where I kept the gift boxes, so he got creative with a pair of scissors and a cereal box pulled from the recycling bin. Above, my eldest daughter laughs at the 1/4 cereal box containing a present for her. And my husband, he's holding acutal cereal -- granola -- given to him by another daughter.
The girls got some fun gifts, including Playmobil. At 10 and 12 you'd think they'd have outgrown it, but they seem to be into it more than ever.
In the afternoon we cleared the table and brought out the board games. As the game was underway, grammy caught up on her email and showed us stupid you-tube videos, while Daddy napped in the recliner.
We especially love the epic rail-building games, such as Eurorails, and Empire Builder. The game takes about 3 hours and is heavy on the strategy.
The next day (Boxing Day) my dad came for Christmas and crab fondue. His usual girlfriend was unavailable, so he brought an old girlfriend from the 1970's. I had a gift for her, as well as for the usual girlfriend. When I gave my dad the gift to take to his usual girlfriend, this one asked, "Who is ..." and my dad sheepishly replied that she was his girlfriend for the last 7 years (on and off, of course). She looked a bit crest-fallen -- I think she thought SHE was his current girlfriend. He's always played the field, and she's known him for 35 years, so I don't know why she was surprised. Oh, those awkward holiday moments!
My dad does all his shopping at thrift stores now, so he had some funky treasures for us all. A got a little house that you put a candle behind and the windows illuminate... and it has a built in music box. I got a casserole dish. And Little K got a vintage mink cape! Real mink! I'm totally against the fur trade, and I don't know when or where this little girl will wear it. It will probably go in the dress-up box.
Above, A and Grandpa enjoy the newest boardgame "Pajaggle," a gift from our neighbors.
It was a good Christmas, and I am so thankful to have my crazy extended family nearby to share the holidays with. Good memories were made this year.
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