Christmas Eve 2010

Merry Christmas Eve!!

Christmas Day is fun and all that, but traditionally my family goes all out on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is when the whole family comes together to celebrate, it’s been that way since I was little and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 😉

Today was filled with lots of love, family, and food.

Emphasis on the food. 😉

I broke every ‘how to stay trim during the Holiday season’ rule by sitting and chatting around the appetizer table. I had my fill of baked brie, bacon wrapped chicken, cheeseball, and chips and dip.

I also caught up with my Grandma and enjoyed every bite of the yummy treats I only see once or twice a year. Especially baked brie – that stuff is good!

At 4:00 pm on the dot all the food was ready to go. We all gathered around the back room to bless the food.

Time to eat!

To feed 52 people we had:

• 2 20+ pound Turkeys
• 1 35 lb Pork Ham
• 10 lbs Mashed Potatoes
• Gravy
• Macaoni & Cheese
• Salad
• Cheese Covered Broccoli & Cauliflower
• Broccoli Casserole
• Cooked Carrots
• Green Bean Casserole
• Stuffing
• Bread
• Coleslaw

As always, my plate had a little bit of everything. I had to sample all the good food out there. 😉

With a glass of holiday merlot.

It was a tight squeeze. Good thing we’re all family. 🙂

Dessert!

Bread Pudding, Black Velvet Cake, and Pumpkin Pie – Oh my!

My Aunt had made bread pudding using two dozen Krispie Kreme Donuts. It tastes just as sinful as it sounds, but in that ‘I know by eating this I’ll at least die happy’ sort of way. 😉

My favorite part about Christmas eve is watching the little ones open their presents. They tear open the presents with so much excitement and glee, it makes me wish I’d bought them more presents just so they would have more to open and let that moment last a little bit longer.

After the kids go, it’s the adults turns to do some damage.

We did the traditional Chinese gift exchange.

I won for top gift – a handle of Jack Daniels!

Sadly Derek didn’t keep it. Instead it was stolen half a dozen times? My brother ended up with it in the end. He’s in the middle of interviewing for residency programs – I think he needs it more than any of us right now. 😉

I went home with a Racheal Ray Bakeware set that I’m really excited about. This may be the first family chinese gift exchange that I actually went home with something I’ll use. 😉

Santa is coming in the morning!!!!!

But, my Mommy told me he won’t come until I’m fast asleep, so I better get to bed now!

Good Night!!!