Christmas Day with the Fam

Christmas day started slowly for me.  I was still feeling a bit under the weather from the previous day, though slightly better.

In addition to the whole wheat rolls, hubby and I also brought a loaf of Great Harvest Chocolate Babka. I was itching to try this stuff – it looked so good when I picked it up!

Hubby’s mom toasted some of the bread up. I may or may not have snuck a (non-toasting) half while the bread toasted.

Then, I had the opportunity to be the taste-tester to verify the bread was toasty enough. I happily obliged.

I also got to enjoy a piece fresh from the toaster. I picked the chocolate-iest one I could find. The bread was good plain but boy was it good toasted! The way the chocolate was ooey and gooey…be still my heart!

Coffee to wake up and Orange Juice for the vitamin C.

Bailey tried to help me feel better.

Breakfast helped me feel better too: egg casserole with pesto, provolone, and tomatoes, hash browns, toast (whole wheat rolls and chocolate babka)

Per the usual, I had a bit of everything.

Then, it was present time. I scored big! I forgot to take photos of the presents but will try to recap some of my faves later.

Leftover breakfast made for a great afternoon snack: more casserole. hash browns, and chocolate babka. And no, you can never have enough chocolate-y bread in your life. I like to eat as much as my stomach will fit. 😉

After relaxing in the afternoon, it was time to get ready for the annual family Christmas dinner.

I kicked off the evening with some Frenzy Sauvignon Blanc.

I snacked on veggies…these pictured and a few not.

…while we watched a photo slideshow of hubby’s aunt & uncle’s recent trip to New Zealand and Australia. Such beautiful photos! Makes me want to visit.

Then, things got serious in the kitchen.

I was in charge of the mashed potatoes.

Large table for a house full of family.

This year, I had the 8th day of Christmas cup, along with some more wine.

My plate #1: salad, roll, dressing, dry dressing (yup, we have 2 types of dressing and the dry one is made by hubby’s mom and famous in this family), real butter, mashed potatoes, turkey, and gravy (made with BEER!).

I told hubby’s uncle that next year, hubby may have some brew he can use to make his gravy.

Small seconds on turkey and gravy.

Proof the potatoes were a smashing success!

Smashing…get it?  Smashing! 😉

More QT by the Christmas tree. Hubby and I received some generous gifts from our fam for our house: some gorgeous light-turquoise towels (a full set of 2 – bath, hand, and wash towels) and a Martha Stewart (yay!) light turquoise flannel sheet set.

After gift-opening, it was time for dessert!

I gave half of this slice of sorbet-cake dessert to hubby so I had room to try more goodies…

A small slice of apple pie (also split with hubby)

and a sugar cookie with a turquoise peace sign. I managed to eat this one all by myself!

Decaf coffee with milk and sugar…I love the way coffee tastes with dessert. Hubby, the used-to-not-drink-coffee-one requested the coffee this time and I’m glad he did.

Aren’t these spoons they served the coffee with beautiful?

I hope everyone had wonderful holidays and Merry Christmases this year!