0 days: Merry Christmas
The stockings are hung by the chimney with care...the presents are wrapped and under the tree, Calvin's stocking is full, and the santa gifts set out, just waiting to be found. Now the parents pour a glass of wine and sit back to enjoy the sight. Tomorrow will be a day of shredding wrappings and exuberant thank yous, but more importantly it will be a day spent together in laughter and joy.
12 days of Christmas 1 day: Xmas eve at Kerrytown
Tradition, tradition. Up and at 'em, Christmas Eve morning always finds our family descending upon the Kerrytown shops shortly after they open. We stop at the toy store, the spice market, the antique seller, the kitchen department, and end up at the grocery and seafood counter. We top it all off with seafood chowder and bee-bim-bop for brunch.
As I've gotten older the traditions have changed some. While we used to fool around all afternoon, waiting for the evening's festivities, now those of us in the middle generation spend the midday hours in last minute shopping trips and lightning quick baking endeavors. But some traditions stay the same, and when dinner rolls around we always sit down to oyster stew, cabbage rolls, and mostaccioli, and finish with chocolate whipped cream cake (a.k.a. freezer box cake? Or Christmas Eve cake, as it is called my recipe box).
12 days of Christmas 2 days: cooking together
A family affair. Myself, my husband, my brother, and my dad, all dancing around each other in the kitchen, getting in each other's way and laughing up a storm. And through all the shenanigans we were able to create a delicious lunch of pork buns with sauce, and had a great time together doing it. Yum.
12 days of Christmas 
