Christmas Day: Dinner with the Family

Christmas was so damn sweet; dinner with the boys, the daughter in law and my friend Claire. Stephanie did all the work, cooking, cleaning and just in general making it a delightful experience. She set a beautiful table with all her china, silver, crystal and other amenities. Roger helped her quite a bit during the preparation and Ian came through with the final set-up at dinner time.

At my house it's scoop it out of a pot off the stove and sit and eat while holding the plate on your lap, well you know, you have eaten at my house before. No china at momma's house.

Stephanie is so cute, she is a terrific cook, but a tad unorganized and who wouldn't be with a job, husband, kid, all the stress and activity during the holiday and the in-laws coming to dinner, so we had our two o'clock dinner at 4:30 ish. Claire got there in plenty of time, she had to work and was worried she might be too late, but she got out early due to the light car troubles people were having on Christmas day.

Stephanie had asked for homemade dinner rolls so I went to the store early, early, early on Christmas eve to get yeast and flour then got up early, early, early on Christmas day to make the rolls -- and that folks was my single contribution, but they were yummy, and Stephanie is so worth the effort.

Stephine did every thing else from the superb prime rib roast with outstanding made from scratch horseradish sauce to the fennel vegetable dish, mashed potatoes, and exquisite salad with beets, jicama, feta cheese, pears, and baby greens -- all the good stuff. Delicious. She worked hard all afternoon while I yammered, drank mimosas, snacked and watched. I promise I offered to help but she kept declining. The only thing I did was get Connor up from his long holiday nap.

Now that was sweet, turning on the light and seeing him wake up with a little start, with his rosy cheeks, rumpled clothes and wispy smile. He was happy to see his granny.

Both of Connors grandparents got him toddler tools, the Home Depot brand. I guess great grannies think alike. He "fixed" things all afternoon with his wrenches, hammers and electric drill buzzing away. Stephanie also got him one of those old fashioned Mexican popper guns the one with a cork and a string. He was so dang cute popping that thing. He can pop with gusto. He is so dang cute.

The only hic-up in my day was watching Connor desert me for Christian. Christian sees Connor about once every six months but Connor is absolutley devoted to him. Christian lifts him high, swoops him low, makes him giggle and laugh, give him rides on his shoulders and just in general is the favorite uncle of all time if not the favorite person of all time. I think Christian went through every tool in both tool boxes and showed Connor several different things to do with each one, not all of them legal.

Sometimes you are just second best.

Lovely day, lovely dinner, lovely family. And yours? Did you eat hearty and laugh much?