big fat holiday

Trust me, there’s a double meaning there. I’m quite sure my pseudo-new-year’s-resolution/goal of exercising more often is intimately connected with the quality of cooks in my family combined with the amount of food that was available to me over the last few weeks. Well, month, really. (Go ahead and laugh at my goal. I know it is cliche. Whatever. It’s a felt need.) And all in all, it really was a big fat holiday because of how stretched out it was for David and I. We got to celebrate two Christmas’s, one with each family, and throughout the two weeks we were surrounded by family members we see a lot, family members we rarely see, good friends, and of course, the food. Here’s a recap of the second half of all the fun:

I was lazy with my camera while we were still at home, but busted it out once we traveled north. I guess it makes me feel like I’m on a real vacation, which to me justifies getting out the camera as much as possible. I’m always glad I do and I always wish I’d use it more at home, just to photograph life. Maybe this time it will stick.

I love doing the Christmas morning thing with my siblings. It will never get old.

Even now that our family has grown by two wonderful guys (my sister’s hubby and mine) it is still wonderfully close time and it feels like it always has. We love to give each other gifts. Not just presents, but gifts – things that on their own mean nothing, but when the giver is someone who loves the recipient so much, it becomes a thing that has meaning. Not tons of meaning – it’s still just a “thing” – but it’s connected with a feeling. It’s great. (Maybe I just love it…but I think they do too.) I guess I’m trying to say I’m really thankful for a family that enjoys blessing one another. I mean, I walked in the door after our long drive home and my brother says to me, “Jen, I can’t wait to give you your present!” Awesome.

Some of my favorite memories and home movies originate with Christmas. My sister caught and scolded me for getting a sneak peak one year at our presents from Santa. My youngest brother pretending my dad was a reindeer and trying to feed him “goats food”. My mom’s amazing food every year. Good, good times.

As I’ve mentioned before, I decided this was the year to resurrect my habit of giving handmade gifts. I decided to make things for all the women I was giving things to this year (I’ve learned that while the guys think this is really nice, there really isn’t much that I can make for them that I really like and they really like. Plus they really care a lot less than the girls. Some. Just less. *sigh*) So I started out with these dessert stands for my mom. I got the idea from several other blogs I read and found the perfect plates for the job. I’m planning to post a little more on these and the other things I made later.

And here they are in use on New Year’s Eve.

Our celebration included food, a little more food, cocktails (and mocktails), did I forget to say food?, games, and…..food.

I’m not exactly sure why, but I really like this next picture. It’s not a great shot of anybody. Most people are cut off. It’s just very much my family. Candid shots, though I love them, are difficult to come by because somebody always does this. Or makes a face. Or something to entertain the lens of my camera. Instead of being frustrated that I don’t get the shot I am trying to set up, I’m learning to like it.

And of course, board games are a must at any of our family gatherings. Apparently, they make mom sleepy. Hehe.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year too!

JR