My blogging hiatus has been courtesy of playing host to my wonderful family this past week or so.  It all started when Mom and brother arrived on Saturday the 20th.  We ended up having a tamalada (fancy Spanish word for tamale-making-party) all together and had quite a bit of fun making tamales, although my mom really did do most of the work.

 

My stepdad, sister & brother-in-law arrived on Christmas Eve. A few of us went off to enjoy mass on Christmas Eve and then D and I came home to start prepping our tradition of appetizers on Christmas Eve.  Usually my mom does all of the prepping and cooking in the kitchen for the holidays but D and I decided that this year we'd give her a break so that she could truly just sit and enjoy the grandkids for a change.  I was so busy getting things ready I didn't have time to snap many pics so thankfully my sister managed to get a few.

 

  

  

On Christmas Eve D and I also took the kids for their yearly photo with Santa.  It was the perfect time to go in the morning as we walked right in and enjoyed playing in the kids' area and then the boys had their moment with the jolly 'ol guy.  N asked for a turntable and all W's been talking about is a fancy red kitchen he saw once while we were at Costco.  The kids opened their traditional Christmas Eve present – new jam-jams (pajamas) from Mommy & Daddy.

 

Christmas morning came and the kids were uber-excited!  We wished baby Jesus a Happy Birthday then N jumped out of bed (the kids had slept with us the night before) and ran downstairs to see if Santa had indeed made it by.  Then he ran back into our bedroom and yells out, "William!  You got your red kitchen!  You got the red kitchen!"  

  

The kids made their way down and Christmas morning was officially underway.  I set out our muffins, danishes, and fruit for our continental breakfast while N & W read Santa's note that he'd left behind.  Then it was time to tear open some paper.

  

  

  
My mom was ecstatic to receive a genuine French beret from my sister and this necklace I made for her:

  

I have no photos of our Christmas Day feast because I barely remember making it all come together!  I barely even remember cooking anything but somehow, D and I managed to feed the family by about 3 p.m. on Christmas Day and it all was amazingly scrumptious!   Our menu consisted of herb-crusted salmon, seasoned prime rib, steamed rice, sweet potato casserole, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, green been casserole, buttery corn, garlic sauteed spinach, and rolls.  And for dessert I made fresh pecan pie, and spiced apple cobbler and D made a wonderfully moist pineapple upside-down cake.  D and I received rave reviews from the whole feast, but it was so much work! 

Since then, we've just been enjoying all of our wonderful company and just hanging out.  We've all stayed up every night watching episodes of Lost, our newest favorite TV show.  Yesterday we managed to get out of the house to see a movie so that was nice.  Everyone leaves tomorrow morning and our Christmas decor will soon be taken down, but the memories of this holiday will last a lifetime. 

Hope all of you are having a blessed holiday season!  ♥