Every year I say, “Now THIS was the best Christmas Ever!” And then it happens again the following year.
I picked up Tess late at the airport on the 23rd and we got in a couple of our favorite Christmas Light Displays just before midnight. It’s hard for me to imagine a Christmas without Candy Cane Lane!
Christmas Eve day was spent preparing for a houseful later! We made mulled cider…..in my Great Grandmother’s Cast Iron Pot!!
We made Christmas Punch, and we set up a bar with a variety of Christmas spirits! We made meatballs with grape jelly and chili sauce in the crockpot (a favorite party food!), and I watched Tess assemble her Gingerbread house.
It was one of those Christmas’s that I just wanted to enjoy every moment and be in the moment, so I didn’t spend a lot of time taking pictures, but everyone else did, so I can steal them and post them later. 🙂
Here is what I have stolen from Tess’ Instagram so far…..
While she assembled her Gingerbread House, I sat across from her and enjoyed my coffee……
Then, the masterpiece was complete.
I love this little picture she made of things throughout the house!
We chilled in front of the fireplace a LOT over the last couple of days and admired the stockings.
(Right after she took this photo, I kicked over an entire mug of coffee and it really ruined the mood)
Christmas Day photo’s!!
We had lots of family and extended family over for Christmas Eve! I’d say 30-35 came and went. We had our kids and grandkids come over first to open presents, and as always, it was so much fun to watch everyone open their gifts. This is where I just stopped and watched it all and didn’t take any pictures. After a little play time, we had to clean up and get ready for a houseful! I had a great time having so many people come over, but when you’re the host it’s really difficult to get to talk to any one single person for more than 5 minutes!! I think everyone was gone by 10:30, then Tess and Mike and I got cozy in the living room and watched Tim Allen’s “The Santa Claus”, one of my favorites. Tess and I agree that that’s the way the North Pole really does looks like!
Christmas morning was quiet with just the three of us, well…..and the dogs, but they were exhausted from a houseful, so they were pretty subdued.
I took Tess to the airport in the afternoon, and we talked about me coming to visit her in about three weeks, so no tears necessary. 🙂
On Christmas Evening, we went to some friends house for possibly the BEST Christmas Dinner I have ever had!!
First, everything looked beautiful and inviting!
This was a table anxiously awaiting glasses of wine and crab legs!!
Look at those babies!!
Just a few minutes of steaming, and we were ready to eat!
Rebecca and her dad cut the shells for the novices, or maybe that’s just what you do?
I’m new at this.
Dinner was perfect. The company, the food, the wine, the chocolates, the coffee…………it could not have been better!
After dinner, I received this text from Tess……
It was a very Merry Christmas.
Okay, in the morning…..to Weight Watcher’s!! I’m going to the beach in 7 weeks and this girl’s got some work to do!!!
“love the life you live, live the life you love”
