Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Christmas Eve(s)

Yesterday I basically skipped the day and had a "lazy" day.  I was really making an effort to kick this cold and after a long walk outside with Stella and a grocery store run, I grabbed some Panera soup and once Stella jumped on my lap on the couch it was over, nap time was in full force and we lounged.  I didn't touch my computer, my to do list, anything.  I grabbed dinner with Derek and my parents last night and think the relaxation is doing it to feel better.  Tonight we're having another "Christmas" event with our extended family - at our house!  Anyway, back to "Christmas Week"…

Christmas Eve Eve and Christmas Eve go down as my two favorite days of the year - even more so than Christmas Day.  The anticipation and the hustle and bustle are my favorite parts.  We kick off the holiday every year on the 23d, Christmas Eve Eve.  This year was a little different and the first year that I wasn't "home" for this part of the holiday.  Since we weren't heading over for our stay at my parents house until the morning of Christmas Eve, I asked to host our annual dinner and my mom happily said yes.

Christmas Eve Eve:
The weather was horribly rainy and slowly starting to get warmer and warmer - we had the windows open, fans going and finally caved to put the air on until things could cool down a bit.  Derek had a half day and when he got home it was an array of final wrapping, Christmas movie watching, packing and prepping for dinner.

My parents and brother (and Nash) came over for some appetizers {Feta cheese dip, jumbo shrimp and kielbasa & pineapple bites} as well with a cocktail hour of our very own "Christmas Cheer" along with our traditional Christmas Eve Eve meal of beef tips with noodles and salad.  We had a variety of fudge/chooclate covered pretzel (leftovers that I made for Derek to take to work) as well as leftover birthday cake for dessert.  It was such a fun evening and the excitement of what was to come the next few days set in.

Post dinner I prepped our cinnamon rolls for breakfast the next day (another favorite tradition!) and I thick everyone regretted my parents giving me the tripod from their old video camera because I had too much fun setting it up and testing it out.


Christmas Eve:
Despite staying up well past midnight the night before, I was up early with excitement and ready to go. After a quick workout Stella and I packed up the breakfast casserole and hit the road to my parent's house - Derek had a work lunch and was meeting us there later.

Another one of my responsibilities is our Christmas Eve morning breakfast - cinnamon rolls and some type of side (this year it was a crockpot casserole we'd used at a tailgate and some fruit santa hats).  I tried a new recipe for the cinnamon rolls this year and it was out of this world - definitely will be used each year to come and it requires no yeast!


We randomly lost power for an hour or so because of an accident down the road which prompted some time to rest which was quite welcomed.  It's my job to fill the stockings each year (except my own, of course) and I love doing it.  I mentioned before that everyone has to get five things for everyone else's stockings and mom "Santa" handles the rest so everyone passes the items off to me, I dump them all out and fill the stockings as well as the big overflow bags to the brim.  Some Christmas movie watching (Christmas Cupid) and a quick power nap and it was time to get ready for the night's festivities - with a new outfit choice due to the very warm weather (it took forever to dry/curl my hair due to the heat!)

Stella was happy to watch her "grandparents" open their gifts ornaments from her 
It always feels like Christmas once I'm the one moving the mouse into the 24th spot

We go to the same little delicious italian restaurant on the main strip of town each year followed by the candlelight church service (the church is just a couple blocks from the restaurant so it's a nice little routine).  The restaurant was filled with laugher, crowds and loudness and we had the best time enjoying our wine and meals.  Church is always a favorite on Christmas Eve especially singing "Silent Night" by candle light.

We don't get too many "posed photo times" but I always take advantage of the holiday season to take plenty just to have

With the iffy weather it was unsure if the neighborhood luminary candles would be able to be a go but we lucked out and the whole neighborhood was lit up.  To round out the night there was a mix of getting the bows onto the presents for me, mom whipping up the breakfast casseroles for the next day and everyone else watching (and some falling asleep to) Christmas vacation.


No matter what age, there is just something so magical about going to sleep on Christmas Eve.



18 comments:

  1. Love what you wore for x-mas eve!! You guys go all out for the holiday and I love it!! So much celebrating and it's not over for you yet - one more tonight!! We have our final one on Friday lol! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

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  2. Obsessed with your reindeer sweater! Too cute! And all of that food looks so yummy! And the luminaries are so pretty! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes

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  3. oh my goodness so much love and traditions. i love the elf quotes on the table with food. and those outfits. including those plaid pj's yes! love those luminaries too. never get old :)

    xoxo cheshire kat

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  4. No yeast cinnamon rolls?! I'm intrigued!! Everything looks delish... especially that chocolate stuff! Love the presentation of it, too!! ;)

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  5. Looks like such fun Christmas Eves! That food looks amazing! Love your reindeer sweater!

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  6. You've got to post that cinnamon roll recipe! They look really good and sound so easy. Also, it rained so much for us too and was so warm that my outfit that I had originally planned was way too hot. Then I put on a thinner sweater because it felt strange to not wear one in December and was sweating the whole time! Love both tables capes, too. Where did you get your cake stand?
    Sarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts

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  7. What a perfect Christmas Eve and Christmas Eve Eve! I love all of your family traditions, even down to what y'all eat every year! I'm sure that my family got tired of all of my picture taking too, but it just means that you'll have the pictures to help you remember what happened in future years!

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  8. You always have the cutest set ups for meals! Love all the extra details! I agree, the days leading up to Christmas are by far my favorite...just love the anticipation!

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  9. I love your reindeer tunic, Christina! I was looking for one exactly like that, but unfortunately, never found one here. Those Santa hats are too cute and everyone looks so happy and festive. Loved seeing your pics!

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  10. Wonderful photos!!! Looks like you guys had a fab Christmas and that you guys are quite a fun bunch! :-)

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  11. i love this post!! all of the food looked great, the family, the pics, and the traditions with them. loved the eve-eve and beyond!

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  12. Those cinnamon rolls look amazing. Well, all the food does actually. :)

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  13. I just absolutely love all the traditions that your family has - it's even extra nice/special since you live so close! I absolutely love your Rudolph tunic, too by the way. :)

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  14. All of your pre-Christmas day traditions look like so much fun! Christmas Eve service is always one of my very favorite parts of Christmas too, especially Silent Night by candlelight.

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  15. I love that Christmas calendar. My mom has one still and I love moving the mouse too! Looks like you had a great Christmas.

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  16. Adorable pics! All those dishes look SO yummy :)

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  17. Sounds like everything was perfect! The weather was crazy here, too. We've had the AC on for a couple of weeks now. It's so strange!

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  18. We had crazy weather here, too! Glad you had such a great holiday! Your traditions are really awesome. xo, Champagne&Suburbs

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