Tuesday, December 26, 2006

The Ahhhh After Christmas

It is the 'Ahhhh' time.  The time when the hubbub is over, the shopping completed, gifts wrapped, gifts given, food cooked, food eaten, company came and company left time.

Christmas Eve began our family celebration.  The seven of us, my parents, the kids, Hubby and myself at 5:00 pm church and then to dinner in one of our favorite town restaurants. 

Once we get home we do all the gifts for the adults, ours for each other and from the kids that they bought themselves.  This year we added that the kids gave each other their gifts, also.

It was very nice!  Lots of sweet, thoughtful gifts, and gifts of things we each needed!  One of my favorites is a new coffee mug from the kids with 'Carpe Diem' across it in big black letters!  Perfect!  (In fact, I am drinking out of it right now!)

Christmas morning was the joy of Santa's arrival and the gifts for the kids from Santa, G-ma and G-pa and their parents.  Smiling faces everywhere... very nice.

Starting at 12:30 pm, family began to arrive and appetizers flowed.   We had 22 in all... a very nice sized crowd, adults and kids.  Appetizers were fruit platter, cheese and pepperoni platter, veggie platter, 2 kinds of deviled eggs,  jumbo shrimp cocktail, spinach dip, stuffed mushrooms and Mike's cheese and bacon bites!

Next, my mom's Rich French Onion Soup, a family fave.  Then, on to the 2 Roast Ducks a'la Orange, a Honey Baked Ham, and my Cheesy Baked Ziti, with my dad's homemade sauce.

Next, the desserts!  Coconut custard pie, chocolate cupcakes, brownies, homemade chocolate pudding and homemade whipped cream, and chocolate candies.  Of course, also lots of yummy coffee, in flavors and plain!  And, teas for the tea drinkers!

The house was cleared of people by 8:00pm and we had the remaining debris cleaned and bagged and out by 8:45pm.

Then, we hit the 'Ahhh' zone!  G-ma and G-pa had already retreated upstairs to their own 'Ahhh' zone after much cooking and cleaning, themselves.  I could never do it without them!

Hubby, the kids and myself, put on our jammies and snuggled into our family room under throw blankets, and watched some mindless tv, Deal or No Deal Christmas Special.  The dog and cats even rested with us.  The kids went to bed at 10pm and the hubby and I watched 1vs100 Christmas Special, and then we headed off to bed as well. 

We also revisited conversations from the day of visiting and remembered the joyful kiddie faces we shared during the day.

So far today has been a jammie day for all, everyone relaxing and reading or playing video games.  The 'Ahhh' zone is being enjoyed by all!  Aside from venturing out for a quick bite to eat at Fuddrucker's later, that is it for us today!

Tomorrow, we may hit a store or two for an exchange or a gift card purchase.  Everyone is home for vacation together and we are going to enjoy the lull until New Year's Eve!

I hope you and yours all had a wonderful family day like ours, because then I know that you are happy in your 'Ahhh' zone now, too.

be well,
Dawn

 

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas Dawn!  Your day sounded fabulous!
Enjoy the down time :)
hugs
d

Anonymous said...

Sweet coffee mug! Yes, I am totally enjoying the Aaaah Zone. I think I like this part the best. Glad your Christmas was delightful.

Anonymous said...

What a great holiday you had ! We too are enjoy the Ahhh time here....not getting dressed and just laying around.
Have a great day.
hugs,
Ellen

Anonymous said...

what a fun time:) enjoy yourself

Deb

Anonymous said...

That sounds so familiar and just may be my favorite part of Christmas now that I'm older... that sense of survival and accomplishment with everyone happy and spoiled and well-fed... yep... there's a big "ahhhh" here too!
*Hugs*
heather

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you and the family had a grand Christmas.  Wonderful!
Now its time to recouperate.
Yeah, fat chance of that happening, did you hear, the New Year is right around the corner!

Anonymous said...

Yes..  The Ahh zone, with a billion cookies and candy all over the place..  It's a dangerous thing!!  Will someone please come over and eat the rest of my cookies?!?!  Julie :)  

Anonymous said...

LOL...girl...dont laugh but I have to say this,lol...I have issues,lol...dont you know that everytime you wrote the word Ahhh..my mouth opened up,lol....I am so laughing...it was like I was saying it....I am slapping me now,lol....

I could feel the vibe and like literally,lol...~Raven

Anonymous said...

Dear Dawn,
sounds like you had a terrific Christmas! thanks for telling us!
love,natalie

Anonymous said...

Definitely an "Ah" zone for you.  Sounds so magical.  It is so wonderful when the kids are small and the house is full of people.  Hang on to these wonderful memories.  May it continue into the new year also.  (Love that tag)  HUGS  Chris

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a wonderful Christmas Ü

Hugs,
Gretchen

Anonymous said...

HAPPY NEW YEAR, DAWN! Thanks for sharing this year-I enjoy your journal very
much, I have to get to those questions when I have time-it's a lot of questions!
I don't write much myself, but I do read you all the time. ~Diane~ http://journals.aol.com/dizarra/StorysFromtheCityTalesFromtheSea