I love our Christmas traditions. We spend Christmas Eve day at home and go to evening Mass followed by our boiled codfish dinner at Nana and Pop's. It's a wild and quick night but oh-so-fun. Plus, who doesn't love getting together with their cousins?
Getting ready for dinner
Boiled cod
Pop's annual Christmas Eve reading of "Christmas Eve at Sea" by John Masefield
After a wild night
Back at home,
the countdown to Christmas begins!
We sprinkle oats on the front lawn for Santa's reindeer
and put out cookies and milk for the big man in red.
And then trundle off for bed!
On Christmas morning, we always wait to hear Santa's bells and his jolly "Ho Ho Ho!" and then we know it's time to get up and head downstairs.
This year, we found not one, but two, notes!
This was stuck to the fridge!
Santa assembled the overnight French toast casserole that I hadn't gotten to the night before. It was a new recipe and it was so easy to pop into the oven right away and then have ready and waiting when we all got hungry.
After stockings, it was on to presents.
Gene and the boys love to play D&D, so this year, Gene ordered character figures with all the precise details of each D&D character. They were a hit!
New D&D dice
Gene also ordered this amazing dungeon master's screen for all their games.
Video gaming
Beer socks
Santa's big gift to us this year was an elephant encounter at the Houston Zoo!
New Bob Ross game -- "The Art of Chill"
Gene got me two beautiful Audubon prints this year. I can't wait to get them framed and displayed in our house.
After relaxing at home with our new gifts, we headed to Nana and Pop's, arriving just in time for lunch and more present-opening in the afternoon.
Cousin time
More D&D gifts -- another screen for DM Mikey
And character figures for Mary and Michael, since they all play together.
Gene got this bow tie for Pop when he was in London. It is made from an "escape and evasion" map from World War II.
More gifts
The Christmas season is so busy and hectic but we really love spending time with family. Here's to a healthy and happy 2019!
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