Christmastime

Our Christmas celebrations continue!    We celebrated with my side of the family this weekend.  It was quite a treat to have someone else hosting :).   We all went to my parents' house, the house where I grew up.

For dinner we have a meal very similar to what we have at Thanksgiving - smoked turkey, rice dressing, cranberries, rolls, 5 cup salad, and sweet potatoes.

This was the most people we've ever had at the table - its really intended for 6 people, we really filled up the table with 8 of us!    During dinner I realized this was the first time all 8 of us have ever been in the same place!  I hope its the first of MANY gatherings of the group - I'd meant to get a photo of all of us, and of course I forgot.....

After dinner and cleaning up we had dessert (pies and a delicious cheesecake) and exchanged gifts.  We have such a variety of interests and gifts, its fun to see what everyone gets and how many gifts have to be explained.   We also have a fair amount of rehashing of prior years gifts and holidays  - my parents are still haunted by having to assemble a Barbie McDonald's (for me) and a He-Man castle (for my brother) in the middle of the night.  So many pieces and stickers, we did each love those toys....I know that is my favorite time of the day, the gifts are open and we can just visit.


Too soon, K had to head back home, he had the Texans game on Sunday and we had a hungry dog at home.    I was able to spend the night and enjoy more time with my family since my sister had offered to drive me home Sunday - Thanks Laura and Chris!  From the way the game went today, I definitely had the better end of the deal and attended the better game.
  
Unfortunately, Chris wasn't feeling well so he spent part of the evening napping.  I really hope this isn't a trend that someone is sick each time we get together - last time it was my hubby, this time it was sis' boyfriend.     

Since he wasn't feeling well, I went with my sister to her friend's party, her stand-in 'date'.    I knew a few people at the party, though I hadn't seen them in many years.  It was a fun, fairly small gathering and they did a white elephant, I played using Chris' gift.    I've found how to get a great white elephant gift, when I am playing with someone else's gift and I know I won't keep what I get - enjoy your pottery barn gift card Laura!   I am so glad we'd eaten before we got there, I nibbled a little bit but did a fairly good job of staying out of the food and I had some punch but quickly switched to water -- trying to keep my holiday calories in check.   I did get to taste the funfetti dip that I've read about on my sis's blog, and tasted (just 1 bite) a jalapeno poppers dip (think of the cheesy inside of a popper).



The extra time with my family was just what I needed. No one knows me like my family and we don't get to spend enough time together.  A favorite image of this year's holidays will be Mache walking around singing Christmas carols, she has a wonderful singing voice...

Chris fits right in and shows us some new ways to spend time together.  I've always thought a 'gamer' meant a videogamer, which he is, but he is also a big boardgamer and has already introduced me to several new games -- and I foresee some of them being purchased so we have them to play all the time.  This weekend we played King of Tokyo and Wits and Wagers.

I keep forgetting its Sunday night since I don't have work tomorrow.   gotta love working at a university that closes this time of year :)   We have some plans for the week - including Christmas with the Tuckers! - and will enjoy the time off together.