So I don't feel that late blogging about this... it still feels like Christmas here hehe.
Christmas was lovely! I pleaded my case to mom and she agreed to make the list over the phone with me, so we could cross off the ingredients we already had and divide the rest of the items so that we could finish all that food shopping before Christmas Eve, so that we could relax and spend as much family quality time together. The plan worked beautifully, when everyone arrived on Christmas Eve, we could immediately relax, Christmas style.
Our (recently - since Steph and I moved into our house) traditional chinese fondue & Cranium Christmas Eve was better than ever! We played cranium until 4am and as always, laughed our asses off. I don't know why I have such a hard time getting anyone to play Cranium, even knowing that once they do they'll laugh their ass off! (Is laughter not a very pleasant emotional and physical experience?)
For the first time EVER, my mom decided that we could open our Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve, because really at 4am it's more like Christmas morning anyway. On top of our awesome Christmas gift that my parents gave us in early December (Hey, do you guys want new winter tires for Christmas? Um, Hell Yes.) they also gave us thermal socks (Steph), facecloths (me), a cool elephant tea light holder... and when all gifts were opened, mom asked for a pen and dad followed her into the guest bedroom and they closed the door. Um... we all knew something was going on that involved a pen and a secret hiding spot. It was something good. We all talked awkwardly while they were gone, no one mentioning what had just happened... Mom and dad came back in the living room and gave me & Steph and Brian & Tammy cards with money in it! Ours said : Have a great trip in New York! Brian's said : Get back on your feet! Wow, were we ever spoiled this year!!
We all woke up late on Christmas Day and had a mid-afternoon turkey meal, which was delicious as always, because mom made it with love. Mom did all the cooking and I did all the dishes, I loved that arrangement. I think that it's time that I admit it to myself : I am a horrible cook. There. Steph cooks most of the time, and I clean most of the time. Oh yeah, have you seen my Facebook pictures with the huge ass turkey my mom made my buy, before Brian announced that he was going to Tammy's side of the family for turkey!! After my parents took a post-turkey nap, mom and I watched "Coco avant Chanel" and laughed at the horribly translated subtitles! The movie was great though, I really had no idea what Coco was avant Chanel.
On Boxing Day we woke up early, Tammy brought the kids over (they were with their father for Christmas this year.) and they opened their gifts. We were running late so we had to leave while everyone was still home, because we were meeting Steph's side of the family for breakfast & a movie. Between breakfast and the movie, we exchanged gifts in the parking lot hehe. I'm sure when Steph's parents get back from their big motorhome roadtrip, we will have more traditional holidays with his side of the family hehe. My nephew JL is so shy with us, since we see them so few times a year... so it really made my day to see him open his gift and grin from ear to ear screaming : NERF!! hehe.
Christmas 2009 was a lovely success :)