We have this fun family tradition of always being sick on Christmas. And when I say always, I am giving in to hyperbole. It has only been 12 years out of the last 14. Forgive me for taking some liberties with my math.
Shall I rephrase my opening sentence? It feels like we are always sick over Christmas.
And this year we were healthy.
Turns out this makes a significant difference in the festive environment in our home!
I have lots to say and I’m not quite sure how to organize blog posts to say it all so I am just going to write – maybe it will take me two posts to recap our Christmas and maybe it will take me twelve (don’t worry, it won’t take twelve; hyperbole again).
I’ll start by recapping the events, then maybe follow up with another post on gifts given and received, share all the details of our annual scavenger hunt (how we do it, the clues from this year, and the surprise at the end for the kids!), and then round things out with highlights and notes to Future Elisabeth of what worked/what didn’t?
I’m going to try something a little different for the overall recap and use time stamps as my guide! Kae has done this on some travel posts, and I’ve been inspired by Birchie’s recent Week in the Life series.
CHRISTMAS ADAM
For YEARS I have claimed Christmas Eve to be my Favourite Day of the Year, but I think that title has now officially passed to Christmas Adam (thanks again to Colleen for adding this term to my vocabulary).
Christmas Adam is relaxed and festive, and I know Christmas Eve is still to come. And this year Christmas Adam was basically a PERFECT day. Really, that is what I’m looking for from Christmas. Perfect days. (Is that too much to ask?) Of course no day is “perfect” but goodness December 23, 2023 came very close.
9:49 am – A wanted to braid my hair. I was dressed in comfortable clothes. I had a coffee close at hand. Sure. Why not?
9:56 am – L deep cleaned the kids bathroom. He took this job VERY seriously and spent significant time capturing before/after shots with my phone (and even a video of the spotless floor that was shaky enough to be straight out of the The Blair Witch Project). The mirrors might have been a bit streaky and the toilet not a whole lot cleaner than before, but I didn’t touch a thing. Clean enough is clean enough.
John, my FIL, and the kids did errands downtown while I prepped Christmas Adam supper (seafood casserole). I usually make the casserole in the afternoon right before putting it in the oven, but getting it ready in the morning and storing it the fridge ready to bake was THE BEST DECISION EVER. I also made up a double batch of unbaked cheesecakes.
After I finished my cooking prep and cleaned up the kitchen, I called Joy to see about an impromptu walk. She was available and the weather was perfect – crisp and clear. We walked around a local trail system – an outdoor area with water and evergreens which felt naturally festive.
2:14 pm – Friends came by to give the kids gifts. As always, they had incredible items. A very fun sling hockey game for L, along with a Pokémon shirt, video game sweatshirt, and candy. For A: hair items, a dice game, a cube calendar and the softest boot socks ever. Oh, and gourmet hot chocolate bombs for both! The daughter of the family (25) came along to tell us she has just gotten ENGAGED. When we met this family I was pregnant with A and over the years their daughter babysat our kids. And she’s getting married now? What time vortex am I living in? Where did those years go? It was a perfectly lovely, laid-back visit.
The kids wanted to watch Home Alone so they did that and called me down for the last 30 minutes (aka: The Traps, aka: The Best Part of the Movie).
We were sitting down to supper by 5:30 and it was DELICIOUS. (My best seafood casserole yet.)
6:24 pm – We played a rousing game of Just One. It is a new family tradition over the holidays and involves so much laughter. My dad hates games and even HE enjoys Just One.
We rounded out the night with a Hallmark movie (Christmas Island which everyone loved because of the familiar Nova Scotia backdrops).
I went to bed happy and contented.
CHRISTMAS EVE
After another leisurely wakeup, I prepped Christmas breakfast (a cinnamon coffee cake I’ve had every Christmas morning my entire life; the dough can be prepped 24 hours in advance), topped cheesecakes with cherry/blueberry preserves, made donair sauce for lunch, and ran the dishwasher.
9:29 am – I sat and watched A rearrange gifts under the tree by recipient.
Then it was off to church. I love church so much, and church at Christmas is extra special.
12:30 pm – Christmas Eve is the birthday of one of L’s friends who happens to be travelling over the holidays. L played Happy Birthday on the keyboard while the rest of the family sang and I texted the video to the mom!
Lunch time, which John was entirely responsible for this year (other than the donair meat/sauce I had prepared in advance). I sat on the couch and FLIPPED THROUGH A CHRISTMAS MAGAZINE.
12:40 pm – Festive selfie.
12:44 pm – I snapped a picture of A’s nativity scene. Friends had given her a little homemade kit with icing, candy, and graham cookies. It took her the better part of an hour to put this together (including colouring all the figurines) and it has graced the top of our water cooler ever since!
After lunch, cleanup, and a short rest, we went for a Christmas Eve walk. It was lovely to get outside and move our bodies. Our first stop on the walk was this giant teddy bear inflatable. When L was a toddler we would walk by this almost daily so he could babble from his stroller. He loved/loves this Christmas decoration so much. So, yup, my Mama heart swelled many sizes snapping this picture of my walking, talking 9-year-old hugging that same inflatable he loved as a non-verbal pint-sized toddler.
2:21 pm – Big hugs!
We got home in time to change back into church clothes and head to my parents church where my mom was singing in a cantata and my dad was doing readings. It was a short and sweet. We used to attend this same church so it was wonderful to see old friends. We were home by 5:30 and as we were pulling into the driveway new friends came to surprise us with a Christmas card and festive chocolates!
5:44 pm – While supper cooked, the kids opened – and hopped into – their new (thrifted) jammies and we opened our new tree ornaments.
5:56 pm – Then the kids + my mom played Christmas carols and we sang for the better part of an hour. It was a Norman Rockwell evening.
6:14 pm – L got tired of singing and made various Christmas-themed LEGO creations instead.
Supper, another Hallmark movie (Heidelburg Christmas which was a HUGE hit)…
9:11 pm – …and then I brought up the stuffed stockings. Having stockings already prepped was amazing and I hope to do this every Christmas for approximately forever.
I was in bed with the lights out by 9:30 on Christmas Eve!!!!
CHRISTMAS DAY
I was still holding my breath about family wellness. I’d made both kids pinky promise the day before they would not get sick and they held up their end of the deal!!!
7:10 am – The kids were awake and excited, but we all showered, and then I made a coffee for me and hot chocolate for the kids (those gourmet chocolate bombs they received Christmas Adam).
7:17 am – Inside and out, the atmosphere at our house screamed FESTIVE.
7:35 am – I had coffee and read my Bible (finished Exodus) while the kids watched an episode of Is It Cake.
Note: A whole sheet of gold stars to the kids for their behaviour these three days. They were just…so happy and content and well behaved. They didn’t fight, they were patient about waiting for grandparents, etc.
Around 7:45 am my parents had arrived and we settled in to read the Nativity Story from Luke 2 and started into the stockings.
7:50 am – Stocking time! A Star Wars hat ($2) and mini-stick and soft puck ($1) got our thrifted gifts off to a good start!
So fun.
9:15 am – I took a final picture of A’s adorable Christmas countdown. She has started back at 364 days…
While breakfast cooked, the kids played with their new things and I cleaned up all the bags and wrappings from stockings!
10:38 am – A chocolate bar L had picked out and wrapped for my FIL.
Then it was Christmas gifts which we do one at a time – it was almost noon before we finished. In addition to opening main gifts one at a time and slowly, we also add Bible verses to some of the tags which serve as clues so this REALLY extends the anticipation. I told L he didn’t need to use the verses and he didn’t (*sob* – I had come up with some great clues), but again everyone was just so happy with their gifts and everyone enjoyed watching others slowly opening things.
11:44 am – The last gift (per tradition) was the annual scavenger hunt which starts with a present that contains MANY wrapped layers, culminating in a tiny slip of paper with the first clue. The kids were SO excited to get started.
Lunch was sandwiches, veggies, and crackers…
3:22 pm – …and then we headed off to Halls Harbour – a local coastal oasis – with some friends who don’t have family in the area. It was a bit chilly so we didn’t stay a long time, but it’s nice to get out of the house on Christmas Day.
Supper was meatballs, rice, peas (my new go-to Christmas Day meal), and CHERRY CHEESECAKE FOR DESSERT. This may have been the best unbaked cheesecake I’ve ever made; I had seconds, and it was a very happy present for my taste buds.
One thing I’ve noticed in all the Christmas magazines is the elaborate table settings people have for Christmas. Do actual people do this? We light candles, but we also ate Christmas breakfast and supper off paper plates and drank out of a plastic multi-coloured IKEA cups. Oh, and for Christmas supper I WAS IN MY PAJAMAS.
I did laundry, we watched another Hallmark movie (Our Christmas Mural – another hit), and then I collapsed into bed.
Which brings us to today – Boxing Day in Canada.
9:03 am – When I left my bedroom. I’d been awake for a while, but 9:03 am for an exit is a Christmas gift to beat all gifts.
Tonight we’ll have our turkey/stuffing/veggie supper, with more cherry cheesecake for dessert and thus will conclude the formal traditions for Christmas. It was a wonderful festive season and I will be back with more specifics another day.
Phew.
Your turn. Did you household stay healthy this year? What was your highlight from Christmas 2023? What’s your favourite day of the year? I think mine is now Christmas Adam! Are you “fancy Christmas dinner table” or more “PJs and plastic cups”* like I opted for this year?
*Fact: I can do some things – but not all things – without burning out. So things like scavenger hunts and verses and Christmas Day adventures to the beach are my “things,” which means I need to feel ZERO guilt about showing up to the dinner table in my PJs instead of Christmas finery.
Daria
I do not own ANY Christmas finery. Okay, I have ONE Christmas sweater and it has a kitty face on it (of course) but that’s it. So I am all for showing up to dinner in comfy clothes. Very much loved the walk- we took a nice, long walk, too. It’s good to get out of the house!
Elisabeth
This makes me feel better! I think some year I might be able to make an effort on fancy table settings, but it was definitely NOT THIS YEAR!
mbmom11
What a peaceful and joyful holiday for your family! It sounds like you’ve figured out what works best for you!
We’re not PJ’s at dinner but mostly get everyone to sit down without screaming and let’s not use the breakable dishes. I like Christmas after the presents are open – at night with just the tree glowing with the Nativity nearby. For holidays, I prefer Thanksgiving – no gift pressure. People liked their gifts so no returns necessary – that’s my highlight!
I hope you stay healthy into the new year!
Elisabeth
No screaming is a plus. I cannot believe how happy the kids were over this Christmas. Their best one yet, for sure, and a nice departure from the recent non-stop sibling squabbles.
Not having to do returns is such a relief. I don’t think I have anything I have to take back either?
Sophie
What a wonderful Christmas- hooray for everyone staying well. We also stayed well (which was a worry because Covid is doing the rounds right now). We are visiting family and it’s been lovely- my SIL hosts and she does do the fancy table spread- but Christmas lunch is the highlight of the day so it makes sense. We also have a tradition of playing darts all afternoon, it’s casual and fun, and good to watch even if you don’t want to play. Love the idea of the scavenger hunt- I think it’s fun when there’s family specific traditions. Not sure I have a favourite day of the year but I love Boxing Day because all the excitement and effort of Christmas is over and now there’s tasty leftovers in the fridge, new toys for kids to play with, and nothing to do but relax.
Elisabeth
There has been so much illness lately; I’ve come down with a touch of a headcold, but I think that has more to do with my body finally relaxing from the intensity of December?
Darts sounds like a very fun Christmas tradition.
I do enjoy the leftovers, but Boxing Day through New Year’s is a sad time for me. I just feel such an emotional crash after all the fun of Christmas anticipation.
Suzanne
Hooray for a healthy Christmas! Love this recap. It truly sounds like a wonderful holiday. And your Christmas tree is so beautiful.
Elisabeth
Thanks! Despite the early issue with FALLING OVER, it has been a wonderful tree and I just love looking at it <3
Jenny
Ooooh! I love hearing about everyone’s Christmas. I’m so glad you all stayed healthy and you had such a nice three days. We of course call “Christmas Adam” Festivus, but I agree- it’s such a great day. Not only is it festive, but there’s all the anticipation of the fun still ahead.
So…. i try to make the dinner table look nice for Christmas. We have holiday plates, napkins and glasses, and I have some decorations. But we’re VERY casual. As a matter of fact I was wearing my daytime pajamas for Christmas dinner (not to be confused of course with my nighttime pajamas…) That’s why I like having a cozy Christmas at home with just the family.
I’m looking forward to hearing more details about presents and this scavenger hunt! And I hope you’re not feeling too down tonight. My sister informs me that Boxing Day is when we can start looking forward to next Christmas- and A’s countdown calendar, re-set to 364, reminded me of that.
Elisabeth
Words cannot express how much I love that you have daytime vs. nighttime PJs. This is awesome, Jenny.
I definitely do feel “down” but it’s not horrible and it’s expected. This too shall pass. I think it’s the post-Christmas mess that bugs me too? There are just so many loose ends of things scattered around, leftovers in the fridge etc. BUT SO MANY HAPPY THINGS and I am trying to focus on that!
NGS
We do a pretty festive table, to be honest. My FIL’s wife has a lot of home decor and the table settings are not immune from the explosion of Christmas. In our house, though, it’s still the day-to-day placemats and plates. I don’t know if I’ll ever get seasonal themed table settings!
It sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas! Congrats to everyone for staying healthy and behaving well!
Elisabeth
That sounds lovely! We don’t even use placements ever, let alone Christmas. I light candles and that is it. I love the look of the fancy table…but we’ll see if I ever go that route.
It was a wonderful – WONDERFUL – Christmas. To have everyone happy and healthy was just such a wonderful gift.
Beckett @ Birchwood Pie
How fun to get to hang out with you in real time on Christmas on the blog! Thanks for taking us along!
Elisabeth
Thanks for the inspiration.
Shelly
Yay for good health! It sounds lovely and just what you needed this year. Your meals sound lovely and not too over the top which sounds just right.
We did ok. I’m tired and will rethink some things to make next year less stressful. We ended up with 15 for Christmas Day dinner, due to some illnesses. My enchiladas turned out, refried beans where too “soupy”and we had way too much food. Today we had a Turkey lunch at my Aunts. I’m looking forward to being off and having nothing planned the next couple of days. Which will include lots of reading!
Elisabeth
You had a lot of people coming to your house which is STRESSFUL.
I hope you really get to sink into the days off and get lots of reading done. You deserve a relaxing rest.
Michelle
I’m so happy that you and your family were healthy for Christmas this year! It looks like you had such a nice time, and I enjoyed seeing all your photos. I’m definitely on “Team Casual Christmas.” I love simple and cozy, solo cups and jammies!
Elisabeth
Yay for Team Casual. I appreciate the aesthetic of fancy place settings, but have basically no desire to go to those efforts myself?
Lisa's Yarns
We are team casual dinners in our house. I actually don’t even own candles so we don’t even use candles for our table. We have place mats and pretty cloth napkins but I usually use them when we have guests over/special meals but it was just our family of 4 plus my MIL so I didn’t do anything for the table! It was like a regular day. But the kids didn’t eat ANYTHING I made for our Christmas meal! The adults enjoyed the food at least.
I am so glad you had such a nice Christmas weekend! We were all healthy, too, which felt like a Christmas miracle. The highlight was going to the Christmas Eve party. The boys were SO FREAKING LOUD and when we tried to contain them, the hosts said they loved the noise of young children – plus one of their sons was chasing them around/riling them up, so I just let it go and enjoyed myself and tried not to worry about how boisterous they were being!!
Christmas Eve or Thanksgiving Day are my 2 favorite days of the year, I think. I like the low key aspect of Thanksgiving Day and it’s one holiday we always spend with my family so the food is extra amazing (my mom and brother are fantastic cooks). But I love the excitement of Christmas Eve, especially that party we attend!
Elisabeth
You don’t have candles and I don’t have placements; we really need to tag-team a Christmas dinner some year and we can pool our resources and make a quasi-fancy table together – haha. (I also don’t have cloth napkins in my house.)
Ugh. That’s frustrating about Christmas dinner and the kids. Such is life. But…sigh.
I’m just so, so happy you were all healthy and able to go to the Christmas Eve event. I know how much you love it. And as much as I appreciate how low-key Thanksgiving is in Canada (and how early it is in the fall), I can appreciate that it’s basically like a wonderful Christmas WITHOUT THE STRESS OF GIFTS in the US. So maybe I’m slightly jealous of American Thanksgiving now?
Joy
Yay for staying well–that’s the best gift. Your Christmas sounds so fun and festive.
We do festive– Christmas linens, good China and silver, fancy meal, etc. But I don’t go for a long walk in the afternoon so I can stay home and cook and relax and chat.
Elisabeth
Being able to prepare a meal while relaxed is just the best. I’m looking forward to some leisurely cooking during my Year of Shmita. Stews, rice dishes…lots of hearty, slow-cooked things hopefully at a less frantic pace than I’m used to?
San
This was a delight to read, Elisabeth. I am so happy that you all stayed healthy over the holidays and that you had such a great time with your family. Every day sounds wonderful and so relaxed. All the photos made me so happy 🙂
P.S. You’ll be surprised to hear, but yes, my (German) family dresses up for Christmas Eve dinner and they always have an elaborate table decoration (and I usually contribute a menu card every year that I design and that they can print out when I am not there in person. This way, I feel like I’ve contributed a small part to the festivities.)
Elisabeth
Thanks for sending that picture! You create such lovely things and I’m always so impressed with your fancy table creations (ditto your sister!)