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Friday, December 31, 2010

Christmas in Rehab

 Christmas was just lovely, perfect, and very special. And maybe a little odd. We started the night before with the traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes done our way. Along with a nice salad, we served cornmeal fried oysters, a HUGE favorite of mine.
 We followed that with homemade bread and Cioppino, a light fish soup with mussels, snow crab, salmon, tilapia, shrimp, and cod. Totally delish, and were we ever stuffed!
After dinner, there was the opening of the Christmas Jammies! I outdid myself this year, seriously.
These were for Sam and Vannah, my Gleeks.
Then we enjoyed our annual viewing of A Muppet Christmas Carol, and I shoveled the children upstairs so I could get on with the stuffing of the stockings.
 Lollipops, games, dancing mice...
 ...candy canes and chocolate coal...
 ...and Life Savers canes for the emo kid with the mint aversion.
 The Feline Overlords and The Pack has surprises waiting for their furry butts too.
 A few scant hours later, I ran into Sammy in the hallway on a middle of the night bathroom run. He'd sensed me searching for my slippers and was waiting to pounce. Is he 19 or 5??? But the jig was up, the other two Minions sprang from their rooms, and I had no other choice than to haul the spouse out of bed, Glee pants and all.


 Good shots were impossible to get with these guys moving at vibration speeds.










 Dress socks. And yes, Beau Brummel is exceedingly pleased.
 Now, onto the couch and important things!
 Thom played Package Fetch while we tore our goodies open in an orderly fashion. One at a time. So we could enjoy the reactions.
Mom in her new jammies. No one is safe!
 I got a boxed set of chick flicks.
(Seriously, were you expecting Sex in the City???)
 Here's Sam with his new classic Star Trek Communicator.
Sammy with a year's supply of art stuff. Okay, yeah. He's 5.
 Smaller gifts like texting gloves and fedoras.
 Then the sewing machine and the PS3 appeared.
This year, the critter hats will be different!
 Light the fire and serve the cocoa, I have breakfast quiche in the oven, and then we'll play the rest of the day.
You have your traditions, we have the Simpson's "cold beer on a hot Christmas morning."
I don't think I had a shot at Mother of the Year anyway.
Dinner began with shrimp bisque finished with a touch of sherry.
 Sam's fabulous artisan bread.
 A smattering of begging.
 Roasted root vegetables with fresh herbs.
Sauteed mushrooms.
 And mustard and pepper crusted prime rib.
 Rare.
 REALLY rare.
Moo.
And Yorkshire Puddings.
 One with beef fat for the carnivores.
One vegetarian friendly.
 Why do we only make this once a year?
 Finish that up with my chocolate gingerbread cake...
 ...and Sam's eggnog bourbon homemade ice cream, and you have a few extra walks around the block.
Tomorrow.

 For now, it's nap time.
Smidgen can handle tomorrow's blog post. At least that will be my testimony to the grand jury. 
So as the sun sets over Jack, the Pumpkin King...
...we at Rehab wish you all a Meowy Christmas...

 ...and a Nappy New Year.
 Wut? You're still here? That's it for today.
 Shoo.
Unless, of course, you have tuna.

15 comments:

Musings from Kim K. said...

OH MY GOODNESS. All your food is to die for. That chocolate gingerbread cake is divine. Looks like a splendid Christmas and I especially love that teenagers can also act like five year olds. Bring on many more Muppet Christmases!

Mel said...

Must have my own GLEE PJ's!

What a wonderful view of your Christmas celebration! Great to see your Mum was able to be there to enjoy.

Nikki ~ Let's Craft!! said...

BE-U-TI-FUL!! Your family if the true essence of family. The purpose is to enjoy one another and you can truely tell you do!! Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year my friend!!

~ Nikki

Tami / Maddie Lumpkin said...

You guys have to be one fun bunch! Plus your food looks yummy! It would have been nice to have been invited! Haha! Glad you had a nice Christmas.

Deb said...

What a wonderful Christmas celebration :) And similar to ours with the jammies, food (um, roasted root veggie recipe please? yum!) and chocolate coal (great minds and all that)! I love that your kids still get up early because they are so excited - makes my heart warm :)

La Vie Quotidienne said...

You got me with the fried oysters...and then the rib roast - my goodness what a wonderful feast. Happy New Year!

Jane @ The Borrowed Abode said...

I'm jealous - that looks like the perfect holiday. Wow. Now I'm hungry, too. Please share that shrimp bisque recipe.

Tell Smidgen I hope she/he's good at editing for typos!

HNY.

MJ said...

Wow, this looks wonderful! And not a fight in sight :) Glad to see some families can have great fun too! Also pleased that am not the only one who watches the Muppets Christmas Carol every year (several times) hihihi... Ok, it's 1am here so am nearly off to bed but Happy New Year!!! Big hugz from London!

Sharon@Keen Inspirations said...

I enjoyed sharing your Christmas...you guys know how to have good time! :-) Your Mom looks great and cozy in her new jammies! If Sam is willing to share his recipe for the Artisan Bread, I'd love to have it! Your gingerbread cake is amazing too!
Happy New Year!!

Sherri B. said...

Looks like you all had a wonderful Christmas and how great to have your mom home..it was so nice to see her finally with her family...Happy New Year to you all...stay safe.

Heather{Our Life In a Click} said...

What a wonderful Christmas and having Mom home too!! Looks like a magical day and that food oh my goodness...all that amazing looking food! Your take on 7 Fishes looks like my kind of feast! You had me at those fritters!!!! All the way through to that charming gingerbread cake at the end. My mouth was watering!!

lisbonlioness said...

Right... stick the communicator to incredibly sweet Mum (so she can, well, communicate), then get Minions, every mouse and Yorkshire Pud Creator (ach, it's this time of year, just grab momma and the critters, too) and hop on a plane to...- Yorkshire. Just stop stewing fish, guys, you might just get arrested over here if you dont deep- fry it and then shower it in salt and vinegar.
D'you think Mum could board a plane in her jammies just to annoy security at the airport?

TracyMB @ Crows Feet Chic said...

Oh my gosh this looks fun and delicious!!! LOVE the stockings you made for everyone! Happy, happy new year!!

Be Colorful Coastal said...

Any leftovers? I'll be right over and I'll bmob. My mouth is watering. i don't eat beef but the rest of it looks scrumptious. Plus, I know this is a family that knows how to have fun and celebrate. Leave the light on would ya?
xoxo
Pam

Kim Lawyer said...

You are my kind of folks!!! Looks like a lovely family and incredibly yummy food!!!