christmas 2012

This year was my family's "on year" for Christmas so we headed to Arizona for a week of QT with my awesome family. All eleven of my siblings were home for the holidays and it was so great to be all together - something that doesn't happen very often. It was crazy as we had thirty people all staying in my parent's house - we were like a can of Nielson sardines - but the chaos, noise and closeness are products of our family ties and I love it . . .  now that I'm back in the comforts of my own home. Haha!

For the last few years my family has been celebrating Christmas with some Danish traditions to celebrate our family heritage. We started off by having Æbleskiver at my sister's house for Little Christmas and had a little talent show from the grand kids and my funny brother in law performed one of his legendary original songs.

Perry dressed as St. Lucia

Then on Christmas Eve we made spritz cookies, my beautiful niece dressed up as St. Lucia and we had a delicious dinner (table decorated by yours truly with my mom's collection of nutcrackers and pine boughs) followed by dessert of brûlée rice pudding with the traditional almond hidden inside one of them (and my oldest sister made my chocolate peppermint trifle because it's not Christmas for some people without chocolate)!

One of my favorite parts of Christmas Eve with my family is our family sing along. My sister, Helena, is a talented pianist and she plays Christmas carols as we all sing along and it's a wonderful sound! Then my sister, Alice, reads The Other Wise Man - a tradition she's carried on ever since my grandma died.

Christmas morning was wonderful. William finally understands the concept of Santa which is really fun. We gave him this awesome wood Noah's ark filled with wood animals that I got at Goodwill for $20. Score of the year! He loves it (and also loves that furry bear hat that he got from my in-laws).

My dad makes omelets every Christmas morning and we all had a great time enjoying more time together as a family. We also enjoyed a few delicious meals at our favorite restaurants - including my second home, Tia Rosa's. Seriously, as we pulled into the parking lot I thought, "Ahhh. Now I'm home." Seems kinda sad but it's true. Best Mexican food ever.

Another wonderful Christmas where I feel incredibly grateful to have wonderful family that has surrounded me all my life. I am really blessed.