Christmas Feasting

Christmas was quiet at Aspen Meadows this year.  My parents spent Christmas at my sister's house, and the rest of our brothers and sisters were staying home for the holiday.  Christmas eve we feasted.
For breakfast, I made donuts while we waited for Camille to arrive back home.

While they were in the oven, Camille called.  Her car was overheating and she didn't know what she should do.  We told her to head back to her father's house since she was closer to him and there was no way her car would make it up the mountain.  Before she could get off of the freeway, the engine starting seizing up so she pulled over to the shoulder and called AAA for a tow.  Brett headed down the mountain to go pick her up.  Throughout the entire ordeal, Camille held it together.  She didn't have a panic attack, she fought her fear and got the situation dealt with.  I was so proud of her. 

I set the table while Kyle and I waited for Camille and Brett to arrive.

At lunch time, I made clam dip and stuffed mushrooms.  I poured us each a kir royale (champagne and cassis).  The feasting began.  I made a loaf of challah bread to have with dinner.

Our first course was salad with roasted acorn squash, Parmesan cheese and pomegranate seeds.  Very festive and very tasty.

Brett provided comic relief with a napkin ring.

Then I carved the tenderloin steak into filet mignon steaks and turned out the potato galette.  We feasted until we couldn't eat anything more. 

We went to bed stuffed and tipsy from the champagne, wine with dinner, and a bit of eggnog for dessert.

The next morning, Brett and I were up early to do chores and fill the stockings.  By the time we got back in the house after feeding, the kids were stirring.  The tree was bursting with packages.  I like the look of lots of packages under the tree so I wrap all our gifts in big boxes. 

Kyle and Camille sat on the couch while I got my coffee.  Kyle read Christmas books from their childhood to Camille.  It was too cute.

After opening the gifts, Camille and Kyle headed down the mountain to spend the rest of Christmas Day with their dad.  Camille was also very anxious to see her boyfriend.  Imagine that.  Brett and I spent Christmas afternoon and evening at my cousin, Nancy's, home.  I hadn't seen her in years.  My aunt was there as was another cousin, Linda, who lives in Tennessee. Brett and her husband hit it off big time.  Linda and Nick have an organic farm in Tennessee so you can imagine all the tractor talk that went on.  Linda's daughter, Carrie, and her boyfriend were also there for a few hours before they left to drive home to Las Vegas.  We had a great time sharing memories and laughing.  It was a warm and wonderful time.  My aunt, who is 82, looked great.  She was sitting with her feet tucked up under her in a noodley way that I can't even imagine doing now, much less at 82. 

Last night another storm moved in, weak but cold.  It's moving out this afternoon but temperatures are going to stay in the 40s all week.