tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9219236556397495909.post6952347762097636737..comments2023-11-03T08:13:04.072-04:00Comments on anabegins: Home for the holidaysAnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00006807775816627217noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9219236556397495909.post-11234971055980029592014-12-28T18:04:51.281-05:002014-12-28T18:04:51.281-05:00We had Christmas with my family this year for the ...We had Christmas with my family this year for the first time since 2011. In 2012 we were on a ski holiday in Japan with the ILs & 2013 was a beach holiday with all the ILs (11 adults, 3 kids). My family has FULL ON tradition to uphold which is fun but a bit exhausting (think a 20 person gingerbread house decorating day, a lunch menu that has been the same as long as I can remember & Christmas morning breakfast with a fully dressed table, Christmas Eve seafood dinner...) in a sense it's a lot of work, but the nice thing is that the menu is always the same so I no longer need to consult recipes & can allocate jobs to my siblings and everyone knows what is expected. <br /><br />Because we will almost always have Christmas with either my family or my ILs, I'm trying to establish a few traditions that cross over. In both families I'm responsible for the glazed ham and I make a port & orange cranberry sauce. Both families have a traditional Christmas breakfast- this year I made a panettone French toast casserole for my family & I think I'll make it for the ILs too. Mind you, I've got no idea where the ILs Christmas will be next year - possibly Europe although there was some talk of Christmas with the extended family at a campsite for 60 people...<br /><br />I've also got a New Year's baby who is turning 5. It's summer here so a couple of days before her birthday I'm inviting a few of her friends (mostly the ones that overlap with my friends) for a play in the paddling pool & ice cream cake. Then on her actual birthday she's requested fish & chips for dinner by the beach. And trifle for dessert. Possibly we may have the trifle the next day as I don't think it will work with fish & chips... Zenmoonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9219236556397495909.post-2203009384535345842014-12-19T08:02:31.411-05:002014-12-19T08:02:31.411-05:00Dollhouses are AWESOME. Dyl continues to get mile...Dollhouses are AWESOME. Dyl continues to get mileage out of the one her grandpa got her a year ago. Sounds like a lot of fun!OMDGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17937425894428802591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9219236556397495909.post-11627615219834461852014-12-17T13:42:12.165-05:002014-12-17T13:42:12.165-05:00You sound really on top of things! I'm trying...You sound really on top of things! I'm trying, this year. It really is a lot of work/money/stress, but it's also cool to think of being able to create that kind of joy for kids. Some years I just can't manage it, though.<br /><br />I have a New Years' baby, and last year we did nothing for her. (It was her first birthday, too, so really terrible!) This year, we are going to have a party in mid-January, because that's when we anticipate having the money and energy. I am looking forward to it. On her birthday itself, we'll have cake, with one of those NYE party kits with the noisemakers, hats, leis, etcDeborahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335915683875653154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9219236556397495909.post-40959641830093313142014-12-16T12:06:30.073-05:002014-12-16T12:06:30.073-05:00Yeah, that sounds really fun. We did the in-law th...Yeah, that sounds really fun. We did the in-law thing for the past 4 years, so we are ready for a break (will probably get back to it next year, since we won't be as able to travel off season with a kid in "real" school)Anahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00006807775816627217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9219236556397495909.post-51127966278318048462014-12-16T11:52:03.551-05:002014-12-16T11:52:03.551-05:00We're going to my in-laws this year. My MIL h...We're going to my in-laws this year. My MIL has decided on a roller-skating themed family birthday party for our post-Christmas kid. :) Sometime in January we will have a Pokemon party at the local game store (he's outgrown museum parties, we think). <br /><br />As much as I like staying home and having a peaceful Christmas, there's something to be said for my in-laws taking care of everything and going all out. Trade-offs! At least we got a peaceful Thanksgiving this year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com