What a Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eve

We had friends over for dinner tonight and low and behold the Kitchen fairies are not on duty today. I am always amazed that we can create so many dishes with a few meals. I guess I am out of practice. I will face it in the morning.

So Christmas Eve...

Christmas Eve day was crazy. I did a bit of shopping before 11:00 and then had to shift into Martha Stewart mode. That means I had to find the lace table cloths. Our Grandmother's really knew what great things they were. If you put on a lace tablecloth, the table looks great. They also have little holes in them and lots of stuff falls through and the table continue to look great. If they have old stains or weird places on them that's where you put the candle with the wreath there until it gets dark and no one notices. It certainly works. We pulled it off.

We were able to go out the door by 3:15 for church. We found a couple of seats, a true Christmas miracle. I love Christmas Eve Mass. The kids are excited, there are lots of people there and we get to sing my favorite hymns. I have a new appreciation for Mary. I guess all moms know they have to watch their children suffer but during this season the thoughts are on the good times. The times full of warm places and special gifts. Usually it is the little things that bring a smile and a warm thank-you. The church is lit, the parents know they have made it to the last stretch. The priest is very too the point and poignat all at the same time.

We returned home and found the smell of crown roast greeting us. It was all good. A few friends joined us. Lots of discussion of Santa and what was going to be arriving.

Around 8:00 p.m. Johnny called M-E to tell her that he would not be able to make it. She took it like a trooper with that now well set stoic upper lip and said, "I love you, see you tomorrow." She meant it and I had not told her he said he was coming to dinner.

There are many things that Johnny is, but sometimes he does not exhibit that moral fortitude that it takes to walk into a house of people with his new family. He just hates conflict or having to fess up to things. Water, easiest path etc. Well, ten minutes later, in walked the rest of the Sierra Family. We could have ended Christmas at that moment. M-E was so pleased. She had all she wanted. Her family together for Christmas Eve.

Enter Isabel, Ana, and Yaya. Isabel quickly assessed the situation, Regalos (presents), Elizabet ( M-E) and "Mommy who is that (Sophie) and what toy does she have?" She was set. She is not too sure about me or the rest of the adults. We settled in for the rest of dinner, dessert and some Pre-Christmas chatter.

Thank God for years of training in my family about life and people and learning to let the waves wash over you. I think back on the things that happened in our family over the years and this will become a bit of the family history. "Remember when your father forgot to mention to you or me or his mother that he had been married for two years and you had a two and a half sister?" Remember when I cut off your Aunt B's finger? Remember when Uncle David forgot to tell anyone that he dropped out of school and was dating Madonna's Sister Paula and modeling in New York? Remember when Great Aunt Julia showed up for Uncle Alex's graduation a year early?. Remember when................................... It is just tapestry with a lot of interesting things to examine.