Christmas Dinner

At about 2, we headed on out to my Mom's house, where the rest of the family was to be gathering for our Christmas dinner.  We have a big family, and when we are all together, it is always a lot of fun.  These are a few of my good lookin' nephews.

My niece Deanna got a pair of Hello Kitty PJ's with feet, that she wore all day long.  Here is a picture of she and my nephew Tim.  I said that they looked like they were presiding over a court room sitting there like that.

Nana has been having some difficult days lately.  Every time we get to be with her is a gift.  Here she is with our oldest daughter Gennifer and granddaughter  Claire.  This is Nana's great-great grandaughter!!!

My Mom lives on a lake, and it is always fun to spend time out on her boat.  The kids love to help drive!

There are so many of us, that no matter what room you are in, or where you go, there is something fun going on.  Checkers.......boating, cooking, or sitting out on the patio.......Mom's house is a great gathering spot!

 I am not sure what is going on with the shoes and boots there.   That is my oldest brother David, and his youngest son Chad.  We sure were missing their oldest son Don and his wife Kaylen, who were at her family's home up in Northern California this year.   
I love this photo of my son in law Jake and oldest granddaughter Hannah!!!

While we were all enjoying the day, there was a delicious meal being prepared inside.  My brother Mark is friends with Nate Berkus' Dad, and he hooked us up with 30 pounds of prime rib deliciousness!!!!
Here is my brother Mark preparing to slice it up for dinner.

Don't you wish you could smell it?  It was SO good!!!  My Mom made creamed spinach, and creamed potatoes, a ham, and rolls, baked beans,and a green salad with toasted pecans.  Everyone brought something to enjoy as well, so we had a fabulous feast!

It was such a good meal.  Shared with all of my favorite people. 
My Uncle Joe, Nana's older brother, who just celebrated his 101st birthday in November, Nana and Mom.
We exchanged gifts, but there was so much paper flying and confusion, that I didn't even try to take pictures.  But I want to show you what my Mom got for us.  You may not be familiar with STICKS furniture and artwork, but there is a place in Laguna Beach that carries it, and it is beautiful wood pieces, that are carved and painted with whimsical designs, and inspirational sayings.  My neighbor next door even has a custom made table and chairs in her home that was special ordered and made in Iowa where their main building is.  It is beautiful, and I have never seen a piece that I didn't love.  My Mom has had a Lazy Susan that I have admired for years.  She got each of us a different piece for Christmas.  Ours is a Lazy Susan.

I love the sayings that rim the entire outside of the piece.

We just love it Mom!!!  It is in the middle of our family table in the kitchen, where we will enjoy it every day!

I want to show you something that my brother Mark got for me.  For those of you who know me, and know my family, you know that my Dad had a nickname for me growing up, and it was Mouse. We were very close.  He always got me mice, where ever he and Mom would travel to, they brought home mice for me.  I have crystal mice, stuffed mice, large mice, small mice.  Christmas mice, indoor mice, outdoor mice.  Every kind of mouse you could imagine, I have them.  I have them all over my house, and I even had an artist paint some mice into the artwork that we had done in the kitchen several years ago, as special reminders to me, of the nickname that my Dad affectionately had for me.  My father passed away 9 years ago, and it was rather sudden, and so very devastating to all of us.  We miss  him every single day.  But  he lives on in each one of us.  My brother Mark has continued to give me a special gift each Christmas, just as my father always had.  It is a mouse, or mice of some sort.  I cherish them.  Each one of them.  And I just know that my Dad is so happy that his tradition lives on.  This year, he gave me these two darling felted mice, with the whimsical hats, and big shoes.  I just love them.  I know that he and my sister in law Monica look for them all year when they are out and about.  It means so much to me.

They are so cute, I don't think I can put them away with the other Christmas things.  I will be finding a place for them to reside all year so I can enjoy them.
As we were leaving my Mom's house, she ran back into the house and said, I have one more little thing for you, and she handed me this.

She  handed me this cello wrapped silver mouse knife, with the cute tag.  I turned the tag over and it read...

You know me as Kris.  I grew up as Kristy.  My Dad always called me Kristin.  There are no words adequate to describe what this meant to me.  I kissed my Mom and blubbered all the way home.
It was such a lovely Christmas.  From our festivites leading up to Christmas the week before.  Parties we attended, and our night at the Festival Of Lights at The Mission Inn with our kids, and grandkids.  Visits from good friends, and holiday cooking......a visit with old friends from the park, to Christmas day with all of my loved ones.  It was a really, special Christmas.  Filled with all of the things Christmas is supposed to be.
One last fun thing to show you.  My son's girlfriend Diana brought this to us Christmas night.  It is a bottle of sparkling cider with a darling bow on top.  Her Mom is making these and started a business of selling them.  She is in the process of getting them into some shops and has even applied to the show on tv called Sharks, to get some financial backing.  I think the idea is terrific.  She calls them Bottle Toppers.

I just love this idea!  So fun and festive.  Can't you see this on a hostess gift with a bottle of wine, or champagne for New Years!!    She has a website, and sells them for I believe 5 dollars each.

It has a cleverly designed hard plastic top that secures the entire bow, and you just slip it right onto the bottle of your choice.  It fits nice and snug, and makes a terrific gift!  I hope you will go see her website and if you order, tell her Kris sent you.  Thank you Diana!!!
My house is happily littered with the aftermath of a wonderful Christmas.  Today I will do some organizing, and packing away of the holiday decor.  Leaving only the outside lights  until after New Years.  My husband has taken all of next off and we are so excited to go see some movies, and use some of the wonderful gift cards we received as gifts to restaurants we love.  Probably will be heading up to the mountains to spend a couple of days after New Years.  Hoping for lots of snow!!!
Thank you for sharing my family Christmas with me.  It is my sincere hope, that you each had a wonderful Christmas as well.  And from my house to yours.......may 2013 be a year of happiness, health and peace.
XO  Kris(tin)