Christmas

We have created our own holiday traditions -- on Christmas Eve, it is just us.  We cook a feast.  This year, it was a traditional duck dinner with pea/mint soup, fennel/apple stuffing, au gratin potatoes, green beans, broccoli, and asparagus.We talk to our families in Ohio on the phone and via video, while opening up some gifts throughout the evening.  We end the evening in matching jammies - and this year, they were picked out by the girls!

 On Christmas morning, we wake to see if Santa has left the girls a gift. Lizzie asked for a jeannie lamp (she got one!) and Carolyn did not have a specific request (she got a board game!)  The favorite gifts of the year were boots for both girls, orbeez in our stockings, a hat with a built-in lamp for steve, and stationary and a new coat for me.

After eating brunch and playing games throughout the morning and early afternoon, we quickly tidy up the house and host our Christmas Day party.  We cook pizzas all night long, with each guest making their own creation on dough. We have done this party nearly every year we have lived here, and it has been awesome way to celebrate our friends.  It is also awesome to see how the party has grown as all of us have had kids and the kids are now getting so big.  This year, we had nearly 40 people in our tiny home.  It was cozy!  New this year, Steve created a scavenger hunt where teams had to solve riddles and take covert photos around the house to show that they solved the riddles.  A first prize of cash ($100) kept everyone motivated and very competitive.  They worked on the game for nearly 90 minutes.  

 

Guests often come in jammies!

The ugly christmas sweater may become a new tradition!

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One of my favorite memories of this Christmas was waking up the day after our party and finding this note taped to the kitchen cabinet.  Apparently, Lizzie is starting a family band using the cans leftover from the party!  She said nothing about it, just posted the flier.  When we cleaned up the party, she made sure to set aside the cans she wanted for the band.  And by now, we are coming up with a band name, but have not had any rehearsals.