long Christmas recap

We had our final Christmas celebration tonight with Greg's family. Since I was sick on Christmas Eve, and Jessica had to work, they graciously postponed our gathering until we could all be there. We enjoyed yummy pizza, even if Nick did pick off all the veggies. :o) Many thanks, not only for the gifts, but for gathering on a school night. This was yet another component of...

THE LEAST TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS EVER..

It begins with...

The Hanging of the Trim:
12/23/06

The festivities began on Saturday when Greg and I hung the interior trim that I made him take down, um, last July. Jessi and I painted it on Wednesday before, then Jessi finished painting (in a manner of speaking), and Greg began re-trimming the doors. Lots of the trim was marked as to where it came from, but lots of it was not. (Greg is SO GOOD at puzzles!)

I also began prepping food for the next couple of days, chopping veggies, mixing dips, and making breakfast casseroles to store in the frig in Ziplock bags. Good thing I did, too.

The "Festivities" begin:

4:22 a.m., Sunday, December 24 - I awoke with a start . Something wasn't right.

Oh.

I have the flu. I'll spare the details, but suffice to say I cried like a baby when Greg told me Jan had called the hospital about treatment, and they said just to rest. I didn't want to be sick anymore.

I didn't want to miss the weekend.

I missed singing in the choir for Sunday morning church.

I missed candlelight service in the evening and hearing Angela play her violin.

I missed supper with the Lott family.

What I did get to witness was my family stepping up and getting things ready for the big day. Nick peeled 5 pounds of potatoes, and Greg roasted garlic, and they made some of the tastiest garlic mashed potatoes ever.

My in-laws invited my siblings and family for supper so I could rest. They enjoyed ham and turkey and all the trimmings. They told me how good it was. I believed them.

Alan and Angela made cookies. Alan didn't hear my instructions, but the cookies were awesome nonetheless (Ziplock bag and rolling pin to crush the Oreos!). :o) They made Lemon snowflakes, Oreo truffles, and dipped pretzels and orange slices.

It took me 8 hours to sip about 6 ounces of Sprite. At 11 p.m. I enjoyed a piece of dry toast and a cup of hot tea (you know I was really sick if I drank hot tea!).

The Big Day:

I awoke feeling much better. Tired, but at least the smell of food wasn't revolting.

Jessi called to say she was out of the shower and ready to head home. Did I want her in her pajamas, or should she get dressed? I asked her why on earth would I want her in her pajamas? Her answer: "It's tradition!" My reply: "Honey, this is the least traditional Christmas we've ever had!" She came home fully clothed. :o)

Alan and Angela had made a baked French toast casserole the night before. They got that in the oven, along with the mushroom/spinach casserole, and the sausage/egg casserole.

Greg got the rib roast going in the roaster.

I started on the salmon. I'd made the salmon in phyllo recipe a few times, but this time it was the best ever. Alan made the creamy dill sauce (I think he's a closet gourmet cook!).

We warmed up the leftover garlic mashed potatoes, got out the muffins and breads I'd made a few days earlier, and Angela made up a fruit plate.

We had a feast.

Post-Feast:

Gifts for the kids. A teary moment for me when the boys gave Ben a shotgun that belonged to Dad. He'll be the "keeper" of that gun for the moment. It will stay in the family and be passed around to his younger cousins.

Fun with the little ones who enjoyed ripping the paper off the packages.

Grab-bag gift exchange for the grown-ups. Not much stealing, but that happens some years. Alan and Angela will choose the theme for next year.

Individual family photos are taken.

Twins go home with Mom for a nap; Tonita lays down for a nap; Ben and his uncles Greg, Randy, and Alan, Aunt Angela, and cousin Jessica go shooting bluerock. Gotta try out that shotgun! Nick and Caleb must get their technology fix.

Tammy does dishes. Tammy wishes she had a dollar for every load of dishes she runs over the next few days.

Abbie makes cornbread using corn she helped pick, shuck, process, and freeze last summer.

We feast again on finger foods and later there is turkey noodle soup. No one is hungry, but we eat anyway. (Okay, so that part is traditional!)

The Tournament:

We learned how to conduct a Blackjack tournament while we cruised last summer, so that was our evening's entertainment. Took turns being the dealer so everyone who wanted to could compete. Miss Abbie did quite well, and once Tonita learned to play, she was a formidable opponent. We did splits and double downs. FUN!

Winners of the white elephant prizes were the top four chip-holders: Caleb, Abbie, Alan, and Jessica. Alan took home the evil dancing Santa doll. I know we won't see that again at our house - ever.

Then we played for money! Alan gave away his winnings. Tonita did not give away hers. :o)

Lots of fun and laughing. But I sure was tired. And a little crabby. Time for bed.

More Regier Fun:

Tuesday morning we were able to gather with all of our Regier cousins at Bobbi and Kurt's house in Grand Island. More laughing and visiting and holding the newest cousin, 3 month-old Mason. (Mason got to play Baby Jesus at the Singing Christmas Tree in G.I. - his big brother Cullen wasn't sure that was a good idea and didn't want "those manger people" messing with his little brother.)

Wednesday was pretty quiet around here with all the visitors gone. I started reclaiming the house and planning my next interior decorating project (what? The trim is hung up again, I can start another project!). That's another blog post, though.