Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

As I sort through all of the pictures i took over the holidays --- i thought it would be easiest to just start posting a few at a time - fillin' you in on the details on our days!

So we start with Christmas Eve --- we spent it at our house w/Grandpa Bill and Grandma Kathy. They came over around 1 pm --- in time to see the little ones before their naps. A Gullickson tradition - is light fare for Christmas Eve... quite the opposite of mine...then again, I don't think there's a holiday or any other celebration that Italians do light!!! lol ---- anyways --- a big thing in my family was a Neapolitan (sp???) tradition --- the 7 fishes --- which as it says means lots- and lots- of fish and seafood! also lots -and lots of cooking!!! So we sort of blended the two ---- fresh veggie/dip plate - cheese/olives/ bread - shrimp cocktail - king crab legs - and salad with pomegranate seeds and Gorgonzola. sounds good hu? It was nice to spread it out over the day --- the shrimp/crab and salad were eating AFTER the kiddies went to bed.....aaaagggghhhhh the enjoyment of an adult meal! :) oh and of course can't forget the cheese cake with a mixed berry topping ---- now ideally I would have made the cheese cake...some of you know the one my mom made.....omg ---- you just can't buy one like that....but fortunately -- Sam's club carries the cheese cake factory's original --- NY style one for less than $11!!!!!! So - given the time that i didn't have --- and how much it would have cost to buy everything....we went pre-made! I did make macaroons -- dipped in chocolate - and biscotti - and even tried the Russian tea cakes/sandies for the first time!

We did attempt mass --- it was a 4:15 service...you could barely get in the door --- and having only been up from their naps for a bit --- neither of our kids were getting the stay still or quiet thing packed in the back of the church....so we did end up leaving early. Hopefully that'll get easier!!

The kids opened their gifts from Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Bill - and gifts from Grandpa Gene and Debbie!

Cookies and milk - and carrots were left for santa and his sled team ---- and the kiddies shuffled off to bed! It was so much fun to bring down the presents - and to set up the Dora house Santa brought them decorated with a glittery sign reminding them of how good they were this year! Of course we had to throw in the "I'll be watching you for next year - so be sure to listen to mommy and daddy!" ---- gotta take advantage of any opportunity right? lol

Christmas morning came quick --- and we had Bill and Kathy spend the night to make it extra special....with the movie camera rolling --- we headed down the stairs! The kids were so excited - quinn really got it this year --- and giggled when he saw the crumbs and carrot shavings left behind! We opened gifts - had breakfast --- and headed out for a Christmas Day walk --- which lead into snowballs flying - and kiddies being pulled by a horse named Grandpa! For dinner we had primed rib - seasoned with Emeril's creole seasoning...yum! Salt pot's and asparagus. Simple and delish. Of course it didn't take long to break into the cookies and cheese cake again!

As mentioned in the previous post - my Grandma Mary passed away early Christmas morning --- and interesting day to celebrate new life ---- we headed to Roch. on Thursday --- more on those happenings --- check back!

Good night! genine xxooo