Our Christmas Celebrations

Good Friday morning!  Christmas has come and gone.  We had a very nice Christmas.  I will try to sum up the highlights here on my blog.
A few days before Christmas, Greg and my Mom and I, went out to visit some dear friends.  Dan lives in the canyon, amidst 400 year old oak trees, and has a beautiful property that I love to visit!!  While we strolled the property, I realized that I  had left my camera on his kitchen counter.  Darn.  His lovely older sister Marjie, and her husband Jerry were visiting from their home in Santa Maria.  I just love this couple.  They are so special!  Oh, and she has chickens!!!! 

Last summer at Bass Lake, Margie was interested in learning how to crochet.  We worked on it for a bit, but didn't have enough time to really get her going on something.  So Mom and I got her a loom, and yarn for her for Christmas, so she can make some hats and scarves.  And Jerry always had several straws in his pocket, for sipping his beverage of choice.  We got him a sippy cup with an attached straw and some Christmas straws.

I was so interested in these stockings that were hung in Dan's kitchen.  There was one made for every member of the family.  Dan has 12 siblings.  One of his sisters knitted one for everyone, their spouse, and all of their children.  That is more stockings that I can count. 

The detail was incredible! 

Dan has a daughter with the same name as mine.  I grew up as Kristy.  And all of the family still calls me that.  My full name is Kristin.  Dan's Kristy, and I, used to ski tandem behind the boat, around Bass Lake, over and over.....and over again.   Ahhhh, youth!
My Knitty Biddies would have loved to see these stockings!

I always love to visit Dan's place!  He has lots of chickens, and a beautiful sprawling property, with lots of trees, and vegetation.  His wife used to raise orchids, and Dan built her a green house.  They have a wonderful caretaker that lives there on the property in his own home, with his family.  He happily shows us around, on the property he so lovingly cares for.
On Christmas Eve, we had our third annual enchilada making party.  Everyone contributes in some way.  All must wear an apron, and each one has a job to do.  We make dozens and dozens of enchiladas, and a huge mess along the way.  We had a blast, just as we did last year too.

 ( WARNING.....awful photo of me!!!! )

We  made 12 trays of enchiladas.  Over 12 dozen, because some trays had more than twelve in them.  Gennifer brought a huge crockpot of homemade refried beans.  Erika made Mexican Style rice, and our good friend Armenia had dropped off tamales earlier that day.  We had a feast!!!!  And then each took home lots of enchiladas for later.  I gifted my Mom and each of my brother's family with a tray on Christmas.
We steamed the tamales in my favorite steamer.  I got this at a thrift shop, a few years ago.  My Swedish friends will have to tell me what it says.  But I sure do love it!!

The inside of the pot contains a steamer basket, with handles to remove contents, and a divider tray to separate your items to be steamed.  Which works great for the tamales.  We stood several upright in the dividers and they steam perfectly.  You can see that enchilada making is a messy affair!!!  But ever so worth it. 
The kiddos ran around like excited kids will do, on the Eve of Christmas!!!!!

After dinner, we let each of them open a few gifts.

Ducey and Dusty were right in the middle of things!  You can see on Ducey's front legs, where he was shaved for his IV's when he was sick.  He doesn't have a poodle hair cut.

Genny and Jake took their tired and excited girls home to go to bed so Santa could come.  Noah put out a plate of cookies and a mug of milk for Santa, and then we took our tired selves to bed.
Noah woke at a decent hour, and we all gathered around the tree to watch his excitement as he saw what Santa had brought him.

It was all about him, and we enjoyed watching, as he opened each gift with the excitement and enthusiasm of the 6 year old boy he is!!!

Greg and Noah, and Drew and I ran over to Gennifer's to see what Santa had left for the girls.  This is what it looked like on the 5 minute drive over.  Sun roof wide open...palm tree in the background...with Geeps in his Santa hat.  I think it got up to 85 degrees on Christmas day here!

 The girls were very excited to show us what Santa had brought them!!  But first, I captured this animated exchange between Noah and his Aunt Genny.

They got all sorts of great things!  Clairey got a princess necklace that she loved.

They both got some pretty cool sleeping bags, with their names on them.  Lots of games, and artwork, and jewelry, and...and...and.........Here they are playing Flickin' Chickin'.

Uncle "Goo" played piano with them.  First it was Claire who crawled up there with him.  I loved capturing this series of photos.

The one above MELTS me!!!  Then Hannah and Noah joined him, to sing us some carols.

We went back home to have a big breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and Paula Deen's decadent Gorilla Bread, that we make every Christmas morning.   Sir Noah requested Snowman Panny Cakes.  And that is exactly what he got!

We sat down to our feast, before getting ready to go to my brother's house for the day.

My little brother Tim hosted Christmas dinner at his house.  We had decided that we would be having a pajama party that day, since no one really wants to get out of their comfy PJ's on Christmas morning. Some chose some very interesting Jammies for the day!!  Nephew Matt, in his Santa jammies.

Nephew Joe, in his onesies.

My brother's beloved pup, Rocky there at Joe's feet.
Erika apparently wanted to be in every photo.

A little of my brother's sense of humor.

Guessing he is having a bit of a plumbing problem?  I just noticed that he thumbtacked it to the wall!!!  I am so proud of my little brother!  He has raised his four kids as a single Dad!  He has three boys, and one daughter.  All living at home.  He has kept that family together, and strong, and they are all very close.  I am SO proud of him!

There is my brother "Timmy" in the red shirt!  Love ya little Bro!
My Mom got all of us a Duck Dynasty Tee Shirt!

My Mom made a fabulous beef tenderloin!  It was so tender it melted in your mouth.  She also made creamed corn, and creamed spinach.  Everyone brought something, and we had a most delicious meal!!!

My Mom's dear friend Judy sent me some of her famous fudge.  She knows I have a sweet tooth, and she is a wonderful baker, bringing all sorts of goodies to my Mom's house when she comes

 Thank you Judy!  It was so good!
Instead of my Mom giving each of us gifts this year, she put the money she would have spent, into a glass jar, and brought us the jar, with the explanation that we were to be thinking of something fun to do as a family, together!  Maybe a trip to Catalina?  The horse races?  A nice dinner out somewhere?  We are all thinking about our ideas, and when we have each had to time to submit our ideas, we will vote.

I love this idea!  Can't wait to do something with everyone!!
We often go to the movies on Christmas night, but decided we would just go home this time, since we were in our jammies and all.  It was a really nice Christmas.  Family.....it is everything!!!!
I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas too!
Oh, and what did Santa bring me?  Well, I actually got it for myself.  A cute Pottery Barn chest of drawers  The drawers are heavy wicker, that slide onto a wooden rail. Each basket has a pretty leather pull.  It it three tier, with each tier having a different size basket.

Oh my gosh, I love it!  I spotted it out of the corner of my eye in the Goodwill store the other day.  It was 29.00 dollars!  It came home with me!!!   I had the perfect spot for it.  Which I will show you later.
Yesterday, I spent the entire day taking all of Christmas down, boxing it, and putting it away until next year!!!!   It always feels so good to get the house back to normal, whatever that is?
We are heading up the hill in a little while here.  I will be back in a couple of days with some mountain fun to post.
XO  Kris