A Christmas in pictures! (ok, and a few words… )

Jewish Coffee Cake was served for breakfast.

Insanely moist, cinnamony and with a hint of chocolate. MG.

We enjoyed our breakfast next to the roaring fire that kept us warm as big fat snowflakes fell outside all day. It was a picture-perfect, white Christmas!

 

The scene inside was beautiful too.

The stockings are…not so much! My brothers and I have had the same stockings since our very first Christmases. Ben’s, my sister-in-law’s and Finn’s have been thrown in the mix over the past couple of years!

I’ve rocked the white kitten for 26 years. Such an elegant cat – she never ages!

 

Hello!

My Mom has a "Christmas Village" that she put out and adds to every year. It’s one of my favorite things.

 

Dueling cameras!

The men retired to the basement to play ping pong…

While the ladies migrated to the kitchen.

 

Oh, here’s that Baked Ham in a Bag technique that a couple of you asked about!

1. Place one, pre-cooked Amana (or any other brand, Amana is best) Ham in a brown paper bag.

 

2. Cut off the top half of the bag and roll down the remaining portion tightly, until it touches the ham.

3. Place the ham, seam side down, in a roasting dish on a rack and place in the oven. Cook according to package directions. Best ham you will have in your life! No extra seasonings, no nothing. Just juicy, salty, perfection!

While the dinner ham cooked, the boys were called up and lunch was served.

 

My Mom’s version of Italian Wedding Soup! 

Served with rolls, warm from the oven.

We all digested with a heated game of Slam – a new game based on scrabble letters.

It was touch and go there for awhile…

But victory was mine!

Yesssss…

 

I also crushed everyone in Hearts. What can I say – I play a mean game of cards!!

We were waiting to see if my brother, sister-in-law and Finn would be able to make it back from Omaha (where they were visiting my sister-in-law’s relatives) to open presents, but unfortunately some really bad storms kept them there for the day. Good thing we had a Christmas picture of Finn!

Nice wrap job, Dad!

Soon enough, the ham was done.

The table was set.

And everything was ready.

Grandma’s Holiday Salad.

Crunchy Relish Tray.

 

Fresh Steamed Corn.

 

My favorite Party Potatoes.

 

And, of course, the Ham.

 

Oh, and some wine too.

Merry Christmas from us to you!