Hope you all had a most wonderful holiday!
We actually had a nice quiet Christmas as we did the big dinner on Christmas Eve, as has become the tradition over the last few years. Isn’t it funny how traditions just develop without thinking about them?
John and I did a lot of prepping and chose a fairly easy menu as we both ended up quite busy this last week. I did manage a bike trainer ride in the morning, though. Thank goodness to get a little sweat on before the cookie fest began 
Got the table set up.
I know I mentioned this last year, but I love this china. It was my great grandmother’s.
We can never have more than 8 people for dinner, though – as that is how many place settings we have. 😀
John makes the sugared nuts that I so adore.
Like crack to me they are:
I baked off the shortbread and frosted them.
You know what is good? Mixing powdered sugar with eggnog. Makes an awesome glaze.
Again behind with stuff. I would normally have these baked before Christmas Eve. This year felt really hectic. Did it feel that way for anyone else? I finished my shopping way late, too. Maybe I am becoming less organized (like I ever really was to begin with…)
Cookies waiting!
Since we have a folding table to use for more people, we move our small dining table to the side as the buffet station. That way we aren’t trying to find space on a crowded table for dishes.
We had a goose, which my BIL raised (just like the Thanksgiving turkey), roasted potatoes, sausage stuffing, a small ham (in case we messed up the goose), brussel sprouts, drunken apples (apples cooked with a little sugar, water, bourbon, raisins, cinnamon and thickened with a bit of cornstarch), cranberry sauce and biscuits.
My food was touching here. I was pretty okay with that 😉
Tasty!
Goose is interesting if you have never had it.
It is almost like red meat. It is more like steak or venison than poultry, but not gamey.
After dinner, we had our other tradition, which is John playing Peanuts music.
And opened gifts.
Plus a cupcake ornament:
Does my family know me or what??
Then dessert and games! We had The Cake, which is the cake that was made for my grandfather for his birthday. It is a white cake with a praline icing. This year my sister made The Cake.
It came out good, especially since I gave Colleen less than good directions … ooops!
Yay! Sugar high!
Then one of our favorite games:
My BIL played this game for the first time and it was hilarious. If you want to laugh a lot, you need to get this game.
I ate so many cookies, too. Oh my gosh, so many cookies. I cannot eat another cookie. We have a bunch left and they are going into the freezer.
John and I exchange our gifts to each other on Christmas Day, with some help:
She kept getting on this pile. I took her off and she kept jumping back on. Until I opened them 😀
No fireplace, no problem!
Thank you Roku and Netflix, with or without Christmas music
What a nice weekend! I hope you all had a wonderful one as well!
Looks like a lovely time. The china is so beautiful.
Pixie is hilarious!
Looks like you had a wonderful Christmas!
Sounds like you had a wonderful weekend! Does John play the music from the Peanuts Christmas album? One of my all time favorite records…
Yes, he has the music from the Vince Guaraldi trio. It’s one of my favorites, too!
What a great time we had….and you captured it very nicely on your blog. May I come over and get more cookies??
Your nieces are so cute! Love the cupcake ornament – they DO know you! Looks like it was a fun Christmas!
Sounds like the perfect holiday Lori! It wasn’t cookies that did me in – its the damn Chex Mix! That is my crack. 😀
Looks like a wonderful celebration! The food looks absolutely delicious .., and that cat.. aww 😀
Merry Christmas, Lori! Everything looks AMAZING! And yeah, I’m with you on the cookies! I “taste tested” sooooooo many while baking that I couldn’t bear to eat any of them on Christmas! Blech! Instead… I had cake! <— no help for this lady. *eye roll* 😉
Hi Lori, Looks like a wonderful Christmas. I adore that Cupcake ornament!!! And Pixie on the box? Hilarious! Neva was in the thick of things over here too. Kitties add so much fun at the holidays. Have a great Boxing Day.
Awesome! Glad you had such a great time. I LOVE your china! So gorgeous!
Mmmm, that goose looks amazing!
Lori – what a wonderful celebration!!!!!!! The family & fun & yes, food. Course my eyes went right to the cookies too!!!! Love the cupcake ornament also – yes, they know you!
PIXIE love of course!
I would love a video of John playing or may you on guitar & John on piano – any chance of that???
We don’t play together. His level of playing is quite a bit above mine for now 😀
So much to comment on in this post. But can I just say that it is a relief for me to hear someone like you say that you ate a lot of cookies? Misery loves company? or something like that… I love the sugared nuts too, but since I am the only one who makes them and I didn’t make any this year, none for me. The cake? If we ever have a meet-up? I want the cake!! the eggnog almonds? I saw those in the store a couple days ago and thought about you! I love your tree and your dishes. And I love the music from the Charlie Brown Christmas. Its very soothing. Great post! ALMOST as good as being there. If only we could taste the cookies and nuts through the internet LOL.
Wow that spread is impressive! And those nuts look amazing. I’d eat way too many of those things.
I love your china it’s lovely, the food looks delicious too.
What a nice celebration. Great tip on using the eggnog with your frosting.
Wishing you all the best in the new year.
this made me smile…right down to the your family DOES KNOW YOU snippet.
that’s what life is all about huh?
being with people who GET and KNOW you.
What a wonderful Christmas you had Lori. That photo of Pixie on the presents is priceless 🙂
And the food looks so good.
Your nieces are adorable and the cupcake ornament is a perfect gift for you! The whole holiday sounds like it was fabulous albeit sugary. I’m glad you enjoyed yourself!
Hilarious! I made cream cheese cutout cookies and made an egg nog frosting with powdered sugar. Just thought it would be a great combo – so it was funny to see you mention it. 🙂
Looks like a fantastic feast!
What a wonderful night with a terrific feast. So blessed to be able to share the holidays with family and friends.
Due to the deliciousness on this blog, I must alert the food porn police. And I looove the dishes. Very very pretty (but I’m still contacting the food porn authorities).
What a terrific looking Christmas. Yea I can’t have crack nuts in the house lol but love when I get to sample them somewhere else 🙂 Loved your tree with the snowflakes I should look for some next year for our tree 🙂 we do bows.