This year our Christmas was very low key. Christmas Eve we all got dressed up and spent it at my in-law’s. My mother in-law cooked a lot of delicious food, and since we do have a blended family not all of our kids were with us until Christmas day.
Christmas Day we woke up and opened gifts, spent most of the day in our pajamas and I leisurely cooked and enjoyed my time with my family while the kids all played with new toys, listened to music, and watch movies. It was a wonderful day.
This is our first Christmas without Big Mama, and we missed her dearly. Last year during this time was rough as well, as she was in her final days. We found it very difficult to enjoy the Christmas season. This year we missed her immensely, but are grateful she is in a better place and no longer in such pain. Tomorrow is a year since her passing. We always share memories of her, her laugh and her humor, her lessons and knowledge. I’d like my younger children to always know stories of her, it makes me sad that my youngest will never remember her.
Speaking of my youngest, RoRo was very overwhelmed with unwrapping gifts. He was upset and crying until he received that Brobee pillow pet you see him hugging in the photos above. D-Man was very into Christmas this year, and was asking so many questions. He was in the giving spirit, and wanted to make or give everyone gifts this year. We made cookies on Christmas Eve, and left them out with some milk and mints for Santa, along with a nice letter to Mr. Claus.
The older kids were all wonderful and grateful for everything they received, and were all about the little ones enjoying their Christmas. Of course the doggies got gifts too!
It was just a nice mellow day, which I think we all needed.
Now for the food! The cookies I mentioned that we made were Sugar Cookies with sprinkles.
Then for Christmas brunch I made a Cranberry Coffee Cake.
For Dinner I made Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes, Garlic Roast Beef with slow cooked tomatoes and a Red Wine Sauce, and Sweet Broccoli and Bell Peppers. While I cooked throughout the day the kids made a fun Spongebob Gingerbread House!
Now, I had planned to post a lot of recipes for Christmas, and I meant to post my wishes for all my friends and readers a Happy Holiday. I just got so overwhelmed with the season, major blogger fail! My apologies, but I’m still new with this! I have tons of ideas for the coming year, and I can’t wait to share them with you all!
I hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday season, filled with love, joy, happiness and family!
Hi! Good morning, showing some love from the Aloha Friday bloghop!!!
I will be following you as I love lookign at food haha. MM sugar cookies ;)!Have a happy and healthy new year and come show some sugar over at my page!
Hi thank you for the follow!
Looks like you all had a great Christmas! So sorry about Big Mama… ((HUGZ!!))
Congrats on being featured on the Aloha Friday hop – it’s nice to ‘meet’ you. I’m now your newest follower. 🙂 Have a great weekend – and Happy New Year! 🙂
Ringing In the New Year
Hi Stacy, thank you! And thanks for stopping by!
Sounds like a nice Christmas. Sometimes the low key leisurely days are just what is needed.
New follower from the Aloha Blog Hop. Looking forward to following, I love reading recipes and cooking. 🙂 Sharon
Yes, it was definitely well deserved (and needed)! Thanks for stopping by Sharon!
New follower from the blog hop! Love your blog & can’t wait to get to know you more 🙂 Have a great day!
Rachel
http://sugar-stripes.blogspot.com/
Hi Rachel, thanks for the follow!
Following you from the blog hop at “What Jean Wants!”
Gaye
Hi Gaye, thanks for the follow!
Sorry, that should have been “What Jean Likes!”
lol!
My youngest wasn’t excited about unwrapping gifts either. She was sick and all she wanted to do was eat a banana and watch Sprout. My oldest on the other hand finished unwrapping all of her gifts before her little sister even started on her second gift. I’m a new follower and can’t wait to see what you have next year. I found you through Aloha Friday.
Cari @ Reach For The Star Berries
Reach For The Star Berries
Yeah, RoRo wanted to spend time unwrapping, playing with bows, looking at tags and inspecting everything. Every time we’d try to give him a new gift to unwrap he’d cry so he was happy to just sit on the couch and cuddle with his little Brobee. LOL
The older kids got gift cards as well as other gifts, but the eldest got only gift cards (he’s hard to shop for) but we tricked them and put the cards in huge boxes so they could unwrap with the little ones. LOL It was a lot of fun and laughs!
Thanks for the follow, I look forward to getting to know you more!