Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Happy Christmas Eve

Photo taken at our family Christmas Dinner on December 13, 2008

Well, if it's not done and ready, it won't be!

The mulled cider has been on the stove all day and has filled the house (I'm told) with the smell of cloves and Christmas. I figured it would be nice for the boys to have something warm to drink after shoveling the snow from last night, which was made heavier by the rain of this morning - too much snow or not enough rain for it to simply melt away.

The kids have been checking in with the Norad Santa Site all day long. After asking, I discovered that it is their most favourite part of Christmas Eve. At last check, Santa was in Russia. Every year, the kids have to skedaddle off to bed by the time Santa hits Newfoundland (usually around 9:30-10PM) He moves quickly so he's here in Oakville in no time!

I've just finished making the dressing (aka stuffing - but I don't stuff, I dress) for the turkey tomorrow. Louis went all over town today to find the chicken livers that weren't available yesterday. My tasters - Claire and Louis - have given it their stamp of approval, now that I've emptied the rest of the allspice into the pot! I'll do my best to take a picture of the finished product for those who requested it in October when I first posted the pseudo-recipe. It's ugly, but tasty!

All of the wrapping is complete. For everyone. I think the kids are excited about giving each other gifts this year. This is the first time they have done this for each other. Up until now Caden and Chloe were just to young to understand the idea of giving something to someone that the recipient likes - not a Webkinz in the hope that the recipient will say "no thanks" and give it back! I think they all made good choices at their mall field trip the other day.

A few 'oops': Cole's movie (Prince Caspian) didn't come in on time, but I got a note today that it is being shipped, so I've put the note in an envelope and he'll get it the next time we are scheduled to get mail. The "big" gift for both of them can't be collected until spring (they're both getting kayaks and live vests) so again, envelopes with an I.O.U.! Though, to look under the tree, you wouldn't know that anything is missing. As much as I thought to cut back, you'd never have thought I'd uttered the idea.

We just placed an advance order with the Chinese Food joint for our Christmas Eve meal as is our custom. Not always the same place, but we always have take-out on Christmas Eve. Louis has had a hankering for Chinese food for the last week or so - actually, maybe longer, ever since the Red Chillie take-out menu arrived in the mailbox a few weeks ago! Louis will leave to pick it up for 6:30PM as "It's A Wonderful Life" is being shown on CBC at 7PM and the plan is to watch it. Then the kids will head off to bed, I head off to bed, and Louis will more than likely head out to Midnight Mass.

Between now and then, I've been checking out this site: The History of Christmas; fascinating and inspiring. There are certainly a few nuggets to share with my kids.

So, in the words of the brilliant poem: "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

1 comment:

shirley said...

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Lee!