Well, like a wedding…all the planning and attention to detail….then it’s over just like that.
Weddings and Christmases are always beautiful and we want them to last forever, but they don’t.
Here we sit on December 26th amongst boxes, ribbons, toys, books, new clothes, calendars, lemon olive hand soap, and an occasional ripped piece of wrapping paper on the floor. Regretting all the food we ate yesterday, but remembering that it was oh so good. Reminding ourselves that it seems like just yesterday that we did this exact same thing and that it will all repeat itself in 12 short months!
Our Christmas was wonderfully busy with many guests. My in-laws, Gramma, Jay’s Uncle, U-Rod {bro-in-law}, Grunc {my uncle} and his darling lady friend, Jill.
All dolled up for Christmas Eve Mass
{Thanks, Lola for the snazzy duds!}
We came home to celebrate Christmas Eve with a lasagna dinner, wine and a scrumptious pecan pie made by a true southern belle, Mama Betty. Thank you!
Then there was, of course, a visit from the man in red…
Our turkey sat in brine for Christmas Day. We couldn’t figure out a good container option, so we just did it in one of the ‘fridge bins:
{fresh 17 pound, free range organic bird}
This year Jay did the turkey on Big Blue:
It was DE-LISH, but we’ll get back to that in a minute…
***
Santa’s elves were up early…
Santa brought a 20″ beach cruiser for Elliott and a skateboard for Holden…
…along with LOTS of other things!
{Barbies Gone Wild}
*****
Getting back to the grub…my Uncle made the most to-die-for gravy with the pan drippings, a roux, Sauvignon Blanc, chicken stock and fresh ground pepper:
I did my usual cornbread and sausage stuffing/dressing, Ina Garten’s sour cream mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and maple-glazed carrots. I over cooked the biscuits a touch, but they will be great dunked into the turkey noodle soup that I plan on making with the turkey stock from the carcass {normally the carcass scares me and I just toss it, but the Moms put it in a huge pot for me and got the stock going ~ I will thank them when we’re enjoying our turkey noodle soup. Mmmmm!} I also made a couple sweet potato pies, one of which we will save for New Year’s Eve.
After our big dinner, U-Rod demonstrated his {jazz hands} while  playing our new Wii “Just Dance 2″…
*****
Yes, it will be 12 more months before we share these special family moments again, but it’s well worth it!
How did YOU celebrate this season?