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

 

Tags: Christmas, family, love, happiness