The 12 Days of Christmas, 2024-25

Finally got all the details typed up!

End of Advent

I felt like Advent was super short this year, and so I never got around to hanging our pink and purple Advent lights. With Byron’s graduation falling the Saturday before Gaudete Sunday (the day we normally get our tree) I convinced Tony to snag a tree a few days early. We had great luck this year scoring a tree for $25! I actually put out all the decorations (except for the tree and lights) the weekend prior, and then on Gaudete Sunday, and the following week we decorated the tree and hung Christmas lights everywhere. I don’t know why I haven’t purposely broken up decorating over two weekends previously. I can never get it done in one weekend anyway. I made my first batches of cookies on December 23. How many do you think lasted until Christmas????? NOT ENOUGH!!! We also watched the new Red One movie and, once is enough. I don’t think we’ll be adding that to our yearly rotation.

Christmas Eve

I got all the wrapping done in the morning. (So much easier with older kids who don’t try to barge in and find out what I’m wrapping or with a house of littles who still believe in Santa and can’t learn the truth!) Tony and Edie made ravioli.

Around supper time we went to our friend’s Christmas Eve open house and filled up on various cheeses and dips. Afterwards we headed home and lit our tree candles, sung carols and then, no one went to midnight Mass! Usually Addie is home and goes with Tony, and if that were the case, I think Teddy would’ve gone along and maybe Edie, but without Addie, none of the other kids were that interested and Tony was honestly happy to get to bed at a regular hour. Once the presents were set out, we all went to bed.

Christmas Day

I woke up around 6:30 a.m. and came into the living room to enjoy some coffee and panetone. Byron joined me soon after and shortly after 7 a.m. the younger boys were asking to get out of bed. Edie awoke soon after. We exchanged stockings and gifts and still had time to relax before heading out to the 10:30 a.m. Christmas Mass. Heated blankets and other cozy wearables seemed to be the popular items for everyone. It was weird not having Addie with us, and our family picture taken at church felt incomplete, but her and I texted throughout the day and I knew she was having a nice time with her boyfriend’s family.

We snacked on appetizers after Mass and while I didn’t go overboard on the meats and cheeses, I over-compensated on dip. We had football on while Tony and I finished making dinner and we ate around 3:30 p.m. I talked to my mom after dinner and later in the evening I set out what cookies remained as well as a pecan pie.

Menu:

• ham
• pineapple stuffing
• duck with gravy
• regular stuffing
• mashed potatoes
• homemade ravioli with marinara
• roasted green beans
• fruit salad

For the record, we were just going to have duck, but then I couldn’t find duck so I bought a ham and the ingredients for pineapple stuffing before finding the duck in the store so, we just had both. (And if you ever have leftover duck in your fridge, one of the best things you can do with it is make poutine.)

Day 2, Thursday

On the 26th, we drove over to Lancaster to visit with my parents. We arrived, had dinner and then opened presents. That evening Tony and I went out and visited with a high school friend I hadn’t seen in two years (and Tony hadn’t seen in even longer). We had a fun time catching up while the kids watched a Christmas movie with my parents.

Day 3, Friday

The next morning, Tony and I went to brunch with another group of high school friends and spent hours laughing. We have the oldest kids of anyone in our high school friend group and so for those who still have young children, its a bit jarring to hear us talking about graduations and having kids of drinking age. After heading back to my parents and packing up, we went to visit with my grandmother. She’s 94 and had some health scares over the last couple of months, but she’s overcome them all and is still mentally sharp. Considering the last time I saw her, I thought she was dying, it was nice to hug her and have all the kids give her a hug. Afterwards, we picked up Byron’s girlfriend and she came back to NJ with us for the weekend.

Days 4-6

At this point in the Christmas season I started to lose track of time, but I remember lots of snacking. We did light the tree candles Saturday night for Byron’s girlfriend to enjoy. Everyone was staying up later and sleeping in more. We finally watched Die Hard. I had a cold and some days it felt like it was getting better, then I would slowly seem to get worse again. All the feasting was throwing my whole system for a loop.

Day 7, Tuesday, New Year’s Eve

I purchased way too much snacky food and set out a large array of processed junk after we arrived home from the vigil Mass. It was rainy and we got a thunderstorm, so we did not head out to watch the blueberry drop downtown. We watched Daddy’s Home 2 and then put on A Christmas Story before I feel asleep on the couch. I eventually made my way to bed, but woke up at midnight to Tony kissing me on the cheek and wishing me a Happy New Year. I fell back to sleep right afterwards. I blame my cold.

Day 8, Wednesday, New Year’s Day

Addie rung in the New Year on the road from Cleveland and arrived in the wee hours of New Year’s Day. She had to work late, and only left Cleveland around 6 p.m. A devoted night owl, she did just fine with the drive and said there’d been no traffic. I did wake up to greet her, before immediately going back to bed. She slept in and my parents came over for dinner (traditional pork and sauerkraut) later in the day. Addie opened all her gifts and we played games including our favorite Think In Sync. (affiliate link)

Day 9, Thursday

Another relaxing morning before we all headed out to a local restaurant for an early family dinner. Afterwards we worked on a gingerbread house, with Edie and I completing the bulk of the work while other members added a few pieces here or there and then tried to take more credit than they should’ve.

Day 10, Friday

Addie and Tony made more homemade ravioli; an easier task than trying to save her any from the batch he made with Edie for Christmas dinner. That night we watched the new Wallace and Gromit movie.

Day 11, Saturday

The oldest daughter of long time friends got married and we all attended the wedding ceremony while Addie, Tony and I attended the reception. Addie and the bride had grown up together and did many of the same activities as girls. It’s the family we host for Martinmas every year and so I was so happy for everyone; the bride, her parents, and her extended family, many of whom we know.

Day 12, Sunday

We attended Mass and Tony and I planned to attend a volunteer luncheon however Fulton seemed off, and upon checking I realized he had a low grade fever and elevated heart rate. He was in bed for the remainder of the day. As warnings of an impending snow storm lit up our phones, Addie made the decision to head home a day early to avoid getting stuck in NJ. I was sad we had to say goodbye sooner than we expected, but we’ve already started planning a spring visit. She arrived safely back in Cleveland well ahead of any foul weather.

Epiphany

The snow didn’t arrive as early as predicted, but it did come and for South Jersey that meant everything shut down. We hunkered in at home watching the snow fall. Fulton was still sick but improved through the day and was thankfully feeling mostly normal by bedtime. It was the last day of our winter break and I did get a bit of undecorating done, as well as worked with the boys to weed out some old toys. We still need to chalk our door and bless the house with Epiphany water, but hopefully we’ll get to that within the octave, or worst case, by Candlemas.

It was a wonderful Christmas break, with Tony off the entire time except for Epiphany. I’m ready to really lean into that New Year’s resolution regarding healthier eating. I hope you all had a joyful Christmas season and entrance into 2025!