Christmas Eve Festivities

We had a different Christmas Eve than in years past. The impending snow-storm created a change in our usual Christmas eve tradition of being at Grandma and Poppy's house for dinner and festivities. We made a quick dash up to SL earlier in the day and visited with everyone in the afternoon and then headed home before it got dark and icy.

So this was the first year of our own Christmas Eve dinner at home. When we first told our kids about the change in plans, they were pretty devastated. So Michael rallied them by telling them we could have a "Grandma Rosie Christmas" by letting them do what he did as a kid - have everyone pick their favorite treat-type-food for dinner. This was a hit.

Our menu consisted of hot crab dip, made by Michael, Catherine and Emma; rolls, vegetable tray prepared by Mom and Spencer including Spencer's specially cut cucumbers; cheese ball and crackers; hot wassail (my choice); and the special delicacy and biggest hit of the evening: little smokies! We also pulled out the box of 'Christmas Crackers' that I brought back from our trip to England. The kids loved pulling the crackers apart and I loved looking at everyone wearing the paper crowns during dinner. Felt proper British.

Bed time still consisted of new pj's from Grandma and we remembered to bring back our Christmas stockings as well.
I felt extra sentimental about the stockings this year. These are a Sabine family tradition. My mom still has her stocking from when she was a little girl, knit by her own Grandmother Christopherson - Grandma Sabine's mother. When I was little, my great-aunt Daphne knit stockings for each of us as baby gifts. Now, my mom has knit each of my kid's stockings. They are a treasure.

My grandpa Sabine passed away early Christmas Eve morning. We knew it was eminent, but didn't know exactly when it would happen. It was bittersweet to have it happen that day. I will write more about my final experiences with him later.

Here is a fun clip of the kids having a "Charlie Brown Christmas" dance off at the Udall's that afternoon. We figured remembering Charlie Brown was also a fitting way to pay tribute to Grandpa.