A Tale of two Christmases....

Christmas Eve 2009...

The smell of home cooked food wafted through the house.. and for some unknown reason... this year I was more prepared then any other time in my life.

The gifts had been purchased and wrapped long ago, The house decorated soon after Thanksgiving.. Christmas cards in the mail by the 1st... even the food was made ahead of time and frozen ready for the oven.
(That.... never happens.)

Christmas Eve this year was with my side of the family.(We have alternated since the day we were married)

While we were waiting...

Mr R played Civilization on the computer...Maria Coiffed.. combed then picked up her room in anticipation for her young cousins arrival (They all head off to her room even though it is the smallest room in the house)

Mamma quietly sat in her sewing room listening to the Pope say Mass in St Peter's... while working on a project.

Everything was done !!!

What should I do now???

I didn't dare run the vacuum again..

They'd have me committed..instead...I wandered around aimlessly not quite sure of what to make of these new found organizational skills that I had somehow magically acquired...
Where was the chaos?

Where were the tears?

Why were my armpits dry?

Why was I already showered and ready to receive my guests?

I think perhaps like the virgin birth so long ago ... this was another Christmas miracle..

Frankly...

I liked it.

Mike

( Maria's Fiance) came a little early.. Mainly I believe for some extra cuddle time knowing full well the mayhem that was coming.

Finally the hour came ... and so did our guests... My sister and brother in law..their beautiful girls...bearing gifts. The girls kissing everyone hello and smiling with anticipation of what the night would bring.

Soon after came the second round of the clan.. My brother and sister in law with their delicious boys ...after the obligatory kiss hello to everyone .. these bundles of excitement were primed and ready for an evening of fun with their cousins.

But first .....It was time for dinner.. (knowing full well if we opened gifts first... the little ones would never eat a bite)...

The meal turned out quite well. Thanks in part to our wonderful cooking class a while back ,I was able to make and freeze a majority of same wonderful food we had learned about that night.

I was so excited about the meal that I made separate portions of it for both days..

Beef Brisket

Kugal

Roasted vegetables (radishes, turnips, and pearl onions)

(Thanks Bill and Shanny)

in addition .. I made mashed potatoes ... breaded chicken...corn... and Popovers.....Lina brought lasagna and Nancy brought shrimp....Mamma bought a Ham. Yes.. it was a food orgy.

(I won't even get into the desserts.)

Clean up was a breeze and before you know it.. we were ready for the gifts.. starting with the youngest to the oldest we took turns opening gift after gift after gift..the family room was a sea of wrapping paper intermingled with happy happy kids.

My vantage point at the kitchen table was excellent.

I sat and watched all the people I love enjoy their new treasures and each other.

It brought a tear to my eye and a lump in my throat not seeing my son and his fiance in this mix... However... I was happy knowing that this year they would not be alone ...but with new friends and their family enjoying a traditional Italian Christmas meal of the seven fishes.

While grateful for this family's hospitality..

The selfish part of me wanted them there with us.

I watched as each child( and adult) found the one thing they wanted to concentrate on.. I laughed thinking how funny it was that my brother was so happy with his gift of car clamps and a thingy organizer.

How my sister in law laying flat on the floor with her youngest helping him put together his Lego kit was so precious.

The kids trying to figure out their new toys...

My brother in law putting batteries into those toys... Mr R thumbing through a new book. Mamma rubbing the new hand cream on little hands ... My daughter kissing her soon to be husband.. thanking him for the gorgeous earrings...

My sister with one of the kiddie video recorders in hand trying to get it all in...Then "Sing Star" came out.... Thank You Mike.. as usual it was a hit !!!!!It made Rock Stars out of everyone...Being a rock star is hard work...

I tried so hard to mentally record this moment in my head. I thought about my dad and how he too would have been marveling in how beautiful and wonderful his grandchildren are... How he would have been overjoyed with this little family of his. Quickly before I got too emotional ... I started the coffee.... There at the kitchen sink... staring back at me in the blackened window was my own reflection.. and I thought to my self.. You my friend are one lucky lady.

Day II

The next morning we while waiting for the second part of the family to arrive... We opened up some of our gifts.. Maria got the watch she had been lusting over.

Mr R got a spiffy new leather coat... I got some VERY expensive smelly stuff...

and as you can see ... My camera started acting really really weird...


We were excited about having Mr R's Side of the family over for Christmas Day brunch.. Here were the first of the guests... My Father and Brother in law... Followed a little bit later by My sister in law ( Who is living and working in England!!!) and her boyfriend.

With their arrival... we also have my last decent picture of the day...

Nothing else turned out. Ugh !!!

At least the DAY turned out....
We had another virtual feast...

The menu included some of the same items from the day before (again frozen and ready but in smaller portions.)

Beef Brisket, Kugal, Chicken.. but because it was a brunch.. so we needed alot more pork products..

so we also added

Maple bacon..

Spicy sausage patties and ham.

Scrambled eggs

pancakes

and two soups..French onion and (Simply Good's) Cabbage soup.

My sister in law... in spite of being in town only a couple of days ... brought over cowboy beans..(How nice of her ! )

And yes another tower of desserts...
(We will not be cooking again till next year... literally !)

I think it turned out pretty good...

After chatting a bit and resting their belly's... My Father in law and brother in law were ready to leave... and were handed a couple of doggy bags as they headed home.

The other two "Birds" stay for a while to catch up... Mr R and I were SO excited to have his sister in town.. It gave us a chance to get to know her friend a little better.... it had been so long since we had seen each other..

Maria had plans to have Christmas Day dinner at her future in laws home. which left the four of us relaxing and digesting for the evening ...

With lights down low.. .and a spirit or two in hand we finished off a wonderful day.

Although the day was not as "Loud and Rambunctious" ... it was still a great great day filled with Food and Family.

Later that evening.....After saying our good byes.. and picking up the last of stray items.. I headed off to bed.. VERY tired but VERY grateful...

As I turned off the Christmas tree lights.. and padded down the hall I was reminded of how lucky I am.. to have such a wonderful family...

Santa didn't bring me the new wood floors I have been lusting after... but than....

I have DO have something so much better don't I ?



Hope Your Christmas was Happy and spent with those you love.