Christmas 2010

Our Nutcracker Sweets. Robert’s black pants got left behind at home when they packed to come to our house. He doesn’t match, but he still looks handsome.

What a fabulous Christmas celebration we had!  Both of our children and their families were here Christmas Eve day, as well as another special young family who joined us with their 3-month old baby and 3 year old. With 8 adults and 5 children, it was glorious mayhem.

I bought this leather strap of 4 antique sleigh bells (2 hang on the back of the wreath) at our church bazaar in 1972, when Bob and I were newly weds. They had been donated by a family who removed them from the old family barn before they moved to Glenwood 25 years before that. At the time, I never dreamed that hanging them on our front door every Christmas would be a family tradition. Nor could I have known that they would become a family treasure.

Our son-in-law, Super Chef Harvey, brought two enormous to-die-for lasagnas for dinner.  Even Robert, the pickiest eater in the world, ate two servings.  With hot-from-the-oven gingerbread and whipped cream for dessert, everyone dined in holiday style.

After the children were “nestled, all snug in their beds,”  we plucked the antique sleigh bells from the greens at the front door and rang them loud and long, passing  below all the children’s windows.  Laurel rushed down the stairs declaring that she had HEARD them!!!!!  Santa was coming!  It was just magical.

The greenery, however, looked a little bedraggled after the bells were put back in place so hurriedly.

At 6:45 Christmas morning, Alastair wailed “Hi!”   “Mama!” again and again until everyone was awake.  This was an early reveille for the adults who had been up until 1 a.m. stuffing 5 stockings all “hung by the chimney with care” and assembling Robert’s pyramid and Egyptian army soldiers. 

Robert seems to be a budding archeologist.

The men pooled their years of expertise in this field and were well rewarded with Robert’s sheer delight.  Mid-morning, he came to me and confided breathlessly, “Nana, I never thought I would have my own pyramid!”

Laurel was overjoyed with her Molly doll and matching dress. By 8 a.m. they were dressed to match, including twin hair bows sent by my dear friend Judy Day.

A Molly-sized pine armoire was filled with a hand knit sweater, Battenburg collar to go over the black velveteen dress, a school dress, Molly’s original blue skirt and argyle sweater and more clothing and accessories.

But Laurel’s favorite was the matching Christmas dress. As she became acquainted with her doll, Laurel’s eyes had the same wonder-sparkle that mine did the day she was born.

Junior Chef Alastair with his grandfather

Alastair was most delighted with his block train and the wooden steps that Robert and Granddad made for him.  He loves the extra elevation that a little plastic stool gives him at home.  These are higher and sturdier.

He was less thrilled with his chef’s coat and cap.  His coat was a serious challenge, as it is advertised as “fits ages 2-5.”  The enormous difference between these sizes had to be addressed for this less than 2 year old junior chef.

I took 2″ tucks inside each sleeve, above the cuff and took a 2” tuck in each shoulder seam.  This actually worked quite well and the jacket’s fit was acceptable.

Alastlair and Senior Chef Daddy

Harvey loved their father-son matched set and tried to entice Alastair to wear the hat by donning it himself.  Alastair was unmoved and unimpressed.

Harvey’s hat is embroidered with his name, his jacket with “Senior Chef.”  They cook dinner together every night, with Alastair on a step stool stirring whenever possible.

After all the cooking he had done for Christmas Eve dinner, Harvey was not pressed into service for Christmas dinner.  The guys all played football outside in the warm Florida sunshine while the women cooked ham, turkey, homemade cranberry/orange relish, corn pudding, pumpkin and mincemeat pie and more.

What a joyous Christmas celebration we had.  Laurel is looking forward to sewing clothes for Molly and we all look forward to a happy and healthy 2011.  We wish the same for each of you.