![raynebowranger: ([ATA] quattro)](https://v2.dreamwidth.org/623111/630148 "raynebowranger: [ATA] quattro")
I hope you all had a very merry and safe Christmas!!!
Things are hectic here and trying to find quiet time to update and all that jazz is hard. Especially since my bedroom has been taken over by James, Dawn and Amy and I'm sleeping on the sofa. I'm bound to forget something, but here goes...
Mum and I cooked for the family again this year. Ten people in total, but only nine eating food, since Amy is still being breastfed. Our oven blew up last week and none of our pay-later catalogues could get a new one out to us in time for Christmas due to the snow. Luckily, only the bottom ove had blown and not the top oven/grill so we had to cook our Christmas dinner in the top oven, two halogen ovens and a steamer, and my Nan leant us her Hostess trolley to keep everything warm in.
So Christmas Eve was the day for getting as much ready as possible. We went to Nan's for mince pies. Roger and Barbara were already there, then Dunc, Tish Josephine and Anna arrived, and then Jean and Ray turned up, followed by Patrick. Back at home the turkey had it's legs and wings chopped off so it would fit in the halogen oven and was covered in bacon, veg was prepared, pigs in blankets wrapped, stuffings made, breadcrumbs made. The table was set, glasses and cutlery washed and polished. The house was tidied. Cheese lables were made for the cheese board.
Dad went out to the pub and woke me up when he came over, by flopping down by the sofa I was sleeping on and cuddling. At least he was only in the happy drunk stage and not the nasty stage. He has varying stages of drunkness.
Christmas Day arrived. Santa has brought a mountain of presents - but they wouldn't be opened until night. Dragged myself up, and sorted the cats and rabbit out. Next I started by making my pâtés into heart shapes. I next sorted the cheese boards, after dinner chocolates and mints tray and crackers tray. I put the white sugar and brown sugar cubes into bowls for the coffee. Made my prawn salads and plated up the pâtés - complete with their santa butters and salad. Mum made sure the meats were cooked and cooked the veg and made sure the Christmas pudding was steamed properly. We sliced some fruit for some of the water jugs on the table.
Jumped in the shower and got myself ready before heading back to the kitchen.
Jean, Ray and Nan arrived about 1pm. We were supposed to start eating at 1:30pm, but James, Dawn, Dylan and Amy were late getting here. I took Willis out to the cattery when they arrived and they got the kids settled, and then it was time to start eating.
Mum, Dad, Jean and I had prawn cocktail. Nan, James, Dawn and Dylan had pâté and Ray had orange juice. Next we all had lemon sorbet apart from Nan, Jean and Ray. Then came the main course - pork, turkey and all the trimmings - carrots, brocolli, cauliflower, mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts, roast potatoes, roast parnips, sausage stuffing, sage and onion stuffing, pigs in blankets, apple sauce, bread sauce and two kinds of cranberry sauce. Mum and I had a washing up session next to give everyone a break. Next was pudding! Mum, Jean, Ray and I had Christmas pudding - they had brandy sauce, I didn't. Mum and Dawn had pavlova, Nan, James and Dad had profiteroles and Dylan had ice cream with chocolate biscuit stick things, so I made it into an ice cream bunny using them as ears and chocolate chips for eyes and a nose. Another break was followed by the cheese course and the coffee.
It was a really nice day, and the kids were really well behaved. Once Nan, Jean and Ray left we washed up and let Dylan open all his presents so he cold get them all open before bedtime - the first year he has actually managed to do it all in one session. Once Amy and Dylan had been settled into bed we tidied away the tables and opened our presents.
I'll try and list everything, I'll try not to miss anything...
From Mum & Dad: A Cricut personal cutting machine, A snuggly fleece lounger, two silk nighties, Doctor Who Winter Specials DVD (Water of Mars/End of Time boxset), Two Doctor Who novels - The Doctor Trap and Shining Darkness, Two eyeliners, Faraway perfume/body lotion/shower gel, Dragon Quest IX, Roald Dahl's Phizz Whizzing collection.
From James, Dawn, Dylan & Amy: An awesome nail kit with a whole bunch of colours, base coat, top coat, files and jewels.
From Nan: Body Shop Spirit of Moonflower body mist gift set.
From Jean & Ray: Slippers.
From Roger & Barbara: Next Cashmere Cosmetics gift set
From Patrick & Karen: Body Shop Festive Body Butter Trio - Merry Cranberry, Nutmeg and Vanilla, Black Velvet Apricot.
From Duncan, Tish, Josephine & Anna: A journal.
From Sandra: Red Door perfume and a Westie cross-stich.
From Julie at work: Scarf, gloves and I love... strawberries and milkshake body butter.
From Karen at work: Body scrub.
From Lady: Dalmation teddy.
From Santa: MUA eyeshadow, MUA eye liner, Glee lip balms, a photo frame, PG Tips Christmas Monkey, A candy cane, hot chocolate lip balm and a torch.
From the Fairy on top of the tree: A pink and black note book.
Today has been a quiet day - well, as quiet as it can be with a talkative two year old and a four month old in the house. Amy opened the rest of her presents - with a little bit of help from Dylan and James. I spent most of the day in the kitchen cooking food for our buffet tea - for which I totally over-catered... oops.
Heading to bed in a few minutes, since it'll be morning soon and a little boy wakes up and comes downstairs plenty early enough.
Tomorrow we're heading over to my Nan's for a buffer dinner there. So that'll be fun. Hopefully Roger and Barbara will be joining us.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}