Traditions, Tinsel and Turkey

Ah, Christmas Eve at Nanny's house - always a spectacular display of culinary excellence and decorative genius.  My amazing, gifted cousin Natalie decorated the tree, the mantel and the table, of course. Nanny provided the fireplace, three-inch-thick carpet, and general air of cosiness. We all helped with the food.

 

 So the staples: turkey, ham, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes with marshmellows (and looooots of butter), rice crispy stuffing, my homemade crescent rolls, corn and green beans, and Nanny's legendary jellow with ground apples, oranges and walnuts. YUM! This  could be my favorite meal ever. Well, tied with mahi mahi at Leilanis that is!

I forgot to take a picture of my plate with all the food still on it. Too busy eating it to find my camera!

After dinner chats: Rusty, Dad, Nanny, Aunt Diana, Mom and Uncle Roger

Then came the entertainment portion of the evening, starting with a bang with the older cousins dancing "Gangnum Style." Choreography courtesy of Remi, Vanessa and Savannah.

Papa and Nanny hit it out of the park with their Sleighride duet. Nana shook the jingle bells and Kerry, Nanny's live-in help, slapped rulers together for the whip sound. It was awesome!

 

Talents of all kind were accepted. Sophie and Dad told jokes, above, then Brooklyn Ehardt and Aysia danced, Spencer Elison pushed the button on his singing teddy bear and danced around with it, and the Sout boys played their Christmas piano pieces. Sophie and I did her class's clogging dance, Supercalifragelisticexpialidocious, and Gary and Maggie did theirs, Tricky.

 

 

 

Then came the Nativity. Sophie got to be Mary, and was the sweetest little Mary anyone's ever seen! Spence was a shepherd. He liked threatening the sheep with his staff. :-) Maggie, who had been really sick all weekend before, sat this one out and cuddled with Papa on the sofa.

Then home again home again jiggety jig to get into our Christmas pj's, set the plate of cookies out for Santa, and get in to bed!