This Christmas, like them all, was enjoyable because I spent it with family. Growing up, we'd spend Christmas Eve with my mom's side of the family in Manhattan, and Christmas Day with my dad's side of the family in Staten Island, close to where we lived. Christmas Eve, my mom's aunt would dress up as Santa Clause to surprise me and my cousins just before presents. Christmas Day, there was a mountain of presents for me and my cousins after opening our own presents at home from our parents (cough, Santa). There was good food, sweets, and lots of people. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, my parents cousins, and more. Christmas was always lively.
This year, it was my mom and her boyfriend, my brother and his girlfriend, my cousin, and S of course. Edit: S's brother came too, S2, who reads this blog and made me feel bad that he wasn't included in my list at first. On Christmas Eve my mom and I spent the day baking batches of cookies and prepping all of Christmas Day's food. We made my mom's flan, spooned cornbread, and spinach and rice torte, some of my favorite side dishes. On Christmas Day, we started with french toast, like we do every year. My mom makes it with challah bread and puts cinnamon and vanilla extract in the egg batter. It's soo good!
We exchanged gifts and I have to say, this year, everything was so thoughtful. I have a great cookbook that I can't wait to read as well as a strange book that I've admired since high school called The Codex Seraphinianus. We skyped with my aunt and cousins, we snacked on cheese and drank prosecco. Throughout the day we had Christmas movies and music playing, it was perfect. I hope everyone's holiday was just as lovely!
This year, it was my mom and her boyfriend, my brother and his girlfriend, my cousin, and S of course. Edit: S's brother came too, S2, who reads this blog and made me feel bad that he wasn't included in my list at first. On Christmas Eve my mom and I spent the day baking batches of cookies and prepping all of Christmas Day's food. We made my mom's flan, spooned cornbread, and spinach and rice torte, some of my favorite side dishes. On Christmas Day, we started with french toast, like we do every year. My mom makes it with challah bread and puts cinnamon and vanilla extract in the egg batter. It's soo good!
We exchanged gifts and I have to say, this year, everything was so thoughtful. I have a great cookbook that I can't wait to read as well as a strange book that I've admired since high school called The Codex Seraphinianus. We skyped with my aunt and cousins, we snacked on cheese and drank prosecco. Throughout the day we had Christmas movies and music playing, it was perfect. I hope everyone's holiday was just as lovely!
christmas traditions always changed throughout the years and get smaller. it's nice but sad at the same time. this sounds a lot like my christmas too. every year my mom makes banana french toast!
ReplyDeletem.see
blog.mollyseemeador.com
i do miss large holidays when my family all lived near each other, but i do think the evolution of christmas becoming smaller is still a good thing. showing that it doesn't have to be big to be special :) and french toast is my favorite! something to look forward to every year!
DeleteOh man..... I am SO sad Xmas is actually over. Great to hear you had a great holiday. And those cookies look amazing!
ReplyDeleteTrish
ugh i am so sad xmas is over too! every year, without fail, it comes and goes so quickly. as a child, it seems to last forever!
Deletesounds like a wonderful holiday. we used to have huge xmases too, but they've gotten smaller over the years. i am sure the pendulum will swing back. but i have to say i enjoy both. big and small both have their own joys. xo
ReplyDeleteyou're so right, holidays must ebb and flow like families do as they grow with children or decrease with family moving away. and it's important to appreciate both :)
DeleteSounds like a great Christmas, dearie! Just the way they should be. XO
ReplyDeleteagreed! to me, gifts are the last thing on my mind these days when it's time for the holidays. xo
DeleteThis sounds like a perfect holiday! And I loved that picture of the pup in reindeer antlers!!
ReplyDeletexx Kathryn
http://www.throughthethicket.ca
aw thanks kathryn! he was a good sport and let me abuse him by dressing him up as my own life size deer :)
DeleteYou blog is soo cute! I also love the cookies!
ReplyDeleteMelanie @ meandmr.com
thanks melanie! cookies are something we do every year without fail!
DeleteHi! Visiting from the Blog Hop! You take such lovely photos. I've been to Buffalo once, after visiting Niagara Falls. I don't remember much but you painted a far better picture for me. :-)
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely place to be in during the holidays or with your loved ones! The basilica is stunning too.
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll have more wonderful travel stories this year.