Christmas Trip Report Thread

“Christmas Eve day started with many last minute preparations, including cookies, a cake, a salad, and getting dressed. Then we were off to our friends' home across town. They have a large home, so we often ask them upon arrival, "Will we be dining in Room 12 or Room 22 today?" It was an hors d'euvre bonanza for a while, then the traditional potato soup and gigantic ham & Swiss sandwiches were served. After a brief gift exchange (for the kids), we were headed back home.

We loaded up the car with gifts and food, and headed off to the Valley. Remembering that the freeway would be jammed with holiday travelers, we took a back road (Vasco Road, for those of you in the Bay Area). It was beautiful, with wisps of fog creeping along the lovely green, hilly pastures.

We arrived 3 minutes earlier than planned, despite our detour, and immediately began the traditional eating and drinking of food and drink. Later, we each opened one gift. During this exchange, somehow BowlderCuz got her blanket/poncho/whateveritwas too close to a candle and it burst into flame. OK, it didn't exactly burst, but it did catch on fire, and was quickly put out. Unfortunately, I was about 15 seconds too late getting my camera.

BowlderSon was sick with strep throat, so he came back to stay with us at the hotel instead of with the cousins. The next morning, we got back to the house at 8 and began the gift opening extravaganza. It was lots of fun, with some great, exciting gifts and some gag gifts. We made breakfast afterward, serving up a coffee cake, an egg-bacon-potato cassarole, and my "kitchen sink" smoothies. There were mimosas, too, of course.

After returning to the hotel for a brief workout in the exercise room and then some freshening up, we again returned to the house for yet another extravaganza of food and drink. For Christmas dinner, we had both pork loin and lamb (everyone was tired of turkey and ham), along with other delicious food. We finished the food orgy with some delicious pecan pie.

Boxing Day featured breakfast out at a favorite local establishment that specializes in Mexicanish breakfast food - I had chorizo and eggs. The drive home was remarkably uneventful, with little traffic. That afternoon it was off to another friend's home for yet another party. Then we hauled out the cross-country ski gear to begin packing for our New Year's adventure.

That's pretty much it. Photos to come!”

“The winter holiday gatherings actually started on Dec 18 when the Michigan Mountaineers had our annual Holiday Party. Food, gifts, pool and shuffle board filled the evening.

The next celebration was on Tuesday. I spent the Winter Solstice camping w/ an "ex TTer" and dayhiked the next day at Oak Openings Preserve near Toledo, Ohio.

Then, the busy weekend began...

I spent nearly five hours in my kitchen on Christmas Eve preparing a double recipe of Pierogi for the Christmas Eve gathering (dad's side, we're polish). I made four varieties: Potato, Cheese, Sauerkraut and Plum. Used grampa's recipe so he could be at the party in spirit since Charles (the Hurricane) cost him some bucks and he decided against purchasing a plane ticket home. :-(

Christmas Eve is always low key. The youngest in our family is 17 so Santa stopped coming years ago and we all opted out of a gift exchange. It just consists of lots of good food, drinks and chatter at one of the aunt/uncle's houses.

Got home about 10PM and got a fire going in the fireplace. Drank a bottle of wine and hung out w/ my dog. She's wonderful company.

Christmas morning followed it's usual tradition. I got to my parent's around 9PM and dad donned his Santa suit. We made our rounds to numerous neighborhood houses where presents for little children are hidden outdoors for Santa to hand-deliver. I go in first to "borrow a cup of sugar" and just happen to be there when Santa arrives! The kids enjoy their time w/ Santa and their gifts and I enjoy the beverages served to me by the families: The first house served me Baileys and coffee. The second house was Buttershots and coffee and the third was a couple (ok, maybe three...) Mimosas. Yummy

Mom's brother and his kids and grandkids showed up around 2PM and we had dinner at 3. This was a bit different from the usual tradition. Normally, it's just the four of us (mom,dad,brother and me) and we eat leisurely and play Trivial Pursuit around the fire. But, the uncle moved back to MI after having been in CA for years. And, this was his first Christmas back so the whole gang was w/ him. Mom liked it cause she enjoyed having little ones around (8 and 2) but I prefer the quiet day playing games. Oh well... The new tradition has been started.

I got home from their house around 7PM and built another fire. This time, instead of wine, I drank Heinekens and hung w/ the dog.

I spend Sunday installing a new countertop and faucet in my bathroom and packing for a trip I'm taking to the NE this week. Last night, dad donned his Santa suit again and I took him to my friends house to see another friend of ours (and her three daughters) who was at her place for the night. Her husband is in Iraq and has been for a year. So, we offered to dress up as Santa and deliver presents from dad. The story was the Santa was delivering presents in Iraq on Christmas and ran into Scott. Scott asked Santa to make a special trip back to Michigan to hand-deliver some presents he had bought for his girls and to tell them that he loved them and missed them. And, so that's what Santa did. It was an awesone (emotional) night for all of us!

I finished up the night by relaxing in front of... yup, you guessed, it... the fire. No drinkys last night, tho.

Pics are on on the Christmas 2004 album... http://community.webshots.com/album/237830599KaMnmp”

“Tara, I chuckled about the perogi and your explanation (knowing your last name) - I make a mean hunters stew (polish recipe) that is yummy with rye bread. Not polish myself, but had a BF who was - me, I'm a kraut - yum!”

“nice trip reports folks!

we went to my parents' house on Christmas Eve and saw 50 million relatives and opened 50 million presents. then on Christmas Day (Tarpy's birthday, as well as Jesus') we had carrot cake and made fun of the 30-year-old...then we drove to his parents' house, where we again sung happy birthday (his mom sang "happy birthday dear Jesus," LOL!!) and opened gifts. then we went to our friends' house and hung out for awhile. a fantabulous holiday overall!”