Whatever you're doing for whatever holiday, I hope you were able to be with those near to you.
12 thoughts on “December 24, 2024: Gathering”
We pick up or daughter from the airport this evening. Excited to see her again after 3 months overseas. Not much going on at the house tonight, but tomorrow we have both kids all day along with my sons girlfriend. I have some ribeye steaks thawing out that came off the 1/2 beef I bought from my chef. They will be our noon Christmas dinner. Later that day I will steam some king crab legs I have left in the freezer.
This will be the first time in six or seven years that we've had both girls home for Christmas, so I'm looking forward to that more than I figured I would. I have a tradition born of procrastination in which I always buy my wife's gift on Christmas eve (it's already selected, just have to go to the store to do the transaction), so I'm heading out soon on my final holiday errands. Tonight we'll watch classic Christmas shows and have all the party foods -- meatballs, smokies, shrimp, deviled eggs, charcuterie, etc. We have a 4-pound beef tenderloin in the fridge for dinner tomorrow. I found a good deal on wine yesterday so I picked up half a dozen bottles. The bar is fully stocked. I don't work again until next Monday. I think I've got this.
We are heading to the airport in about an hour to fly to Virginia to visit the in-laws, then we head to Minnesota on the 30th to visit my family. Not particularly looking forward to the planes and airports, but definitely looking forward to seeing everyone.
I'm working until noon, then heading home to meal prep and wrap presents. We did extended family Christmas this past weekend, and next weekend for the other side, so Christmas itself will be just us and the kids. Philosofette lectors and 2 of the kids altar serve tonight at the 6 p.m. Mass. Then home for fondue and presents. Tomorrow we're making a big brunch and a ham for evening dinner. I'm anticipating a lot of game playing and movie watching.
I've decided to stretch the definition of Christmas movie even further this year. We watched Lethal Weapon over the weekend and I think I'll go with Trading Places sometime this week.
I’ve been trying to convince my family to watch Gremlins, but so far we’ve gone with more standard fare. Christmas Vacation, Elf, Home Alone, That Christmas. And I’m sure A Christmas Story will be on tap with my wife’s family.
I'm in charge of most of dinner. We're making pinwheel pork tenderloin two ways - piggy von pig (boudin stuffed bacon wrapped tenderloin (with some dijon as glue for the boudin)) and green chili, pistachio cream cheese stuffed tenderloin (also bacon wrapped...). I was up until 1 am working on the parmesan potato pave (holy a whole lot of work batman.... these better be outstanding...). I'll be making cheese straws as well. I might need a nap.
for the entertainment while slaving, we've watched Die Hard, Scrooged, most of gremlins, and (unfortunately) Red One. The latter auto played around 1030 pm while I was knee deep in potatoes and cream making a terrine of potato. It's not the worst movie ever made, but it tried really, really hard to be the worst movie ever made.
Well, then. Christmas and this Eve will be smaller than expected because Younger Daughter's boyfriend has norovirus and they are staying home. Poor kid, I wouldn't wish that on almost anyone.
We pick up or daughter from the airport this evening. Excited to see her again after 3 months overseas. Not much going on at the house tonight, but tomorrow we have both kids all day along with my sons girlfriend. I have some ribeye steaks thawing out that came off the 1/2 beef I bought from my chef. They will be our noon Christmas dinner. Later that day I will steam some king crab legs I have left in the freezer.
The Random Twins are taking some time off over the holidays to spend time with their random families. They are scheduled to be back on January 3.
They could use a break - hopefully it helps.
This will be the first time in six or seven years that we've had both girls home for Christmas, so I'm looking forward to that more than I figured I would. I have a tradition born of procrastination in which I always buy my wife's gift on Christmas eve (it's already selected, just have to go to the store to do the transaction), so I'm heading out soon on my final holiday errands. Tonight we'll watch classic Christmas shows and have all the party foods -- meatballs, smokies, shrimp, deviled eggs, charcuterie, etc. We have a 4-pound beef tenderloin in the fridge for dinner tomorrow. I found a good deal on wine yesterday so I picked up half a dozen bottles. The bar is fully stocked. I don't work again until next Monday. I think I've got this.
We are heading to the airport in about an hour to fly to Virginia to visit the in-laws, then we head to Minnesota on the 30th to visit my family. Not particularly looking forward to the planes and airports, but definitely looking forward to seeing everyone.
I'm working until noon, then heading home to meal prep and wrap presents. We did extended family Christmas this past weekend, and next weekend for the other side, so Christmas itself will be just us and the kids. Philosofette lectors and 2 of the kids altar serve tonight at the 6 p.m. Mass. Then home for fondue and presents. Tomorrow we're making a big brunch and a ham for evening dinner. I'm anticipating a lot of game playing and movie watching.
I've decided to stretch the definition of Christmas movie even further this year. We watched Lethal Weapon over the weekend and I think I'll go with Trading Places sometime this week.
I’ve been trying to convince my family to watch Gremlins, but so far we’ve gone with more standard fare. Christmas Vacation, Elf, Home Alone, That Christmas. And I’m sure A Christmas Story will be on tap with my wife’s family.
I'm in charge of most of dinner. We're making pinwheel pork tenderloin two ways - piggy von pig (boudin stuffed bacon wrapped tenderloin (with some dijon as glue for the boudin)) and green chili, pistachio cream cheese stuffed tenderloin (also bacon wrapped...). I was up until 1 am working on the parmesan potato pave (holy a whole lot of work batman.... these better be outstanding...). I'll be making cheese straws as well. I might need a nap.
for the entertainment while slaving, we've watched Die Hard, Scrooged, most of gremlins, and (unfortunately) Red One. The latter auto played around 1030 pm while I was knee deep in potatoes and cream making a terrine of potato. It's not the worst movie ever made, but it tried really, really hard to be the worst movie ever made.
We did Gremlins. Very festive!
Well, then. Christmas and this Eve will be smaller than expected because Younger Daughter's boyfriend has norovirus and they are staying home. Poor kid, I wouldn't wish that on almost anyone.
We've been under a boil order all day due to a water main break. Also I failed Whamageddon tonight at 10:30 pm. Merry Christmas.