Christmas Week

Sorry for the lack of photos, my sister has yet to get them to me.

Anyway, Christmas with our families is crazy to say the least. 

The 23rd we did our normal Christmas Eve traditions at home which meant watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” and doing gift exchange between siblings.

The 24th we woke up early to go up to my Mama-Lou’s house (Dad’s side of the family). With my Papa Tom not doing great anymore we went up early to help cook. We left to attend 4:30 mass at the church my parents got married in, then returned for dinner at 6 o’clock.

Being that this family is all Italian we had lots of sea food. Clams, muscles, oysters, scallop, shrimp, lobster, and cod. My one cousin is allergic to shell fish though so he had chicken made special for him and promised to eat it all - of course he didn’t realize that there was a second platter not on the table.

There was too much food in general, as normal, considering the 10 lobster. We only had 3 courses this year as opposed to the usual 4 and by the time everything was cleared and all the gifts opened it was around 11:15.

The next day was Christmas at my Grandma’s house (Mom’s family) and there started off on a not so good note as the power to the kitchen went off for nearly 2 hours early that morning after the turkey went in. Thankfully my dad was able to fix it and we all went down stairs to open the presents. (It’s very different in this family since here all our 1st cousins are much younger and on the other side we are all around the same age.)

Dinner was set to start at 12, but with the power problems earlier it was pushed back to 1. We then faced the question of seating. Originally we were only having about 25 people for dinner. Then the phones started ringing and by the time everything was said and done we had 43 people siting there (though those 16 and under were set up in the kitchen’s breakfast nook.) 

It was crazy let me tell you.

We left that night to go home and the next morning we had our Christmas Day at our house and sent the afternoon with each other.

Over the following week I meet up with my high school friend, my brother had lots of people over, we saw Les Miserables (was good), saw The Hobbit in 48 frames 3D (awesome), played lots of games and just had fun being together.

I hope everyone’s holidays were joyful and I wish you all a Happy New Year!