This Christmas was unlike any other we’ve had in a long time. We DIDN’T have our annual Christmas Eve party, AND we hosted his parents at our house.
As for the Christmas Eve party, the short story is that our house project is supposed to start just after the holidays, and we felt like we’d have too much to do to also throw a big party. The longer story is that after last year’s party, Andrew and I did some reflecting and realized we wanted our Christmas Eves to look different now. Going to church, maybe having a fancy dinner at home–made Barefoot Contessa’s Pancetta Wrapped Pork Tenderloin this year–reading the story of the birth of Jesus, maybe watching a Christmas movie–these are the things we want to do with Maelle on Christmas Eve.
One of my favorite things to do is sit in the dark and admire our Christmas tree. This year, instead of spending hours cleaning up after our party, I got to do just that.
While we’ve hosted my parents once or twice for Christmas since moving into our house 12 years ago, we’ve been going to Andrew’s parents’ house for the last eight years or so. This year, BOTH of Andrew’s sisters will going to their in-laws’ houses, which is a first for Carolyn. (Abigail alternates and they were here for Thanksgiving this year.) So, for the first time EVER, Andrew’s parents might have been alone on Christmas morning! Obviously, we couldn’t let that happen, and I was excited at the idea of hosting a small crowd on Christmas.
First, we did stockings with Maelle while still in our jammies. Growing up, we always did our stockings while my parents drank their coffee and we had hot chocolate, and I love continuing that today. We’ve also realized we’d like to spend more time at home on Christmas morning, so it was nice to not feel like we had to rush through opening any gifts in order to get anywhere ‘on time.’
This was Maelle’s face when she saw a small Grinch stuffy under the tree. This was the year of ‘The Grinch:” she got the book, the DVD, an ornament and a stuffy. And Grinch jammies (for mama, too!) came after Christmas.
I palnned a menu that was both gourmet (it’s Christmas, after all!) AND basically all make-ahead so I wouldn’t be trapped in the kitchen all day. I made Pioneer Woman’s cinnamon rolls (a favorite!) and Cooking Light’s Egg and Hashbrown Casserole for brunch. After opening gifts, I set out my cookie tray (an annual tradition), a hot chocolate bar, and veggie and charcuterie trays. For a late lunch, I served a salad, homemade bread and Barefoot Contessa’s Easy Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese Croutons. Since I was making the soup ahead and didn’t want to fuss with anything on the stove on Christmas Day, I omitted the orzo. I figured the croutons and bread more than made up for the lack of pasta.
It was a balmy 55 degrees (!!!), so Andrew’s parents joined us to take Maelle to ride her bike across the street at the park.
That evening, we watched her new Grinch DVD before bedtime. Even though spending Christmas at home was relaxing, hosting always keeps me busy, so it was nice to relax on the couch trapped under my kiddo.
The following day, Carolyn and her family went to Andrew’s parents’ house for ‘make-up’ Christmas, and we joined later that afternoon to exchange presents. We had our traditional roast beef dinner, for which I always bring cranberries, and I brought Pioneer Woman’s Eggnog Cake for dessert.
Merry Christmas!
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