Christmas photos

I'm not a big holiday person. I know that's almost an un-human thing to say. But there is a long and complex explanation for it. I as 20 when my son was born. The first few years of his life, we did some basic Christmas things at home, but we had to split our holidays between Christmas Eve at the in-laws and Christmas day at my parents', so we never really developed our own holiday traditions. When my son was about five, I started sharing custody with my now ex-husband. This meant every-other-Christmas I didn't even have my only baby with me. So I got accustomed to traveling over the holidays. The years I did have him, we went to my family's Christmases. When The Boy was about 10 or 11, I had him full-time but I still liked the holiday travelling. So, even if we had did have Christmas at home, it was usually a simple low-key affair because we had either just traveled to somewhere or we were going somewhere in the next day or two. 

The first holiday season I owned my own home, my son was a freshman in high school. I actually did up a nice Christmas with decorations, a tree, Christmas cookie and presents. My family came to my house for Christmas meal. It was really the first time I had had my own traditional-type Christmas.

Our Christmas tree when we first put it up

This year when I asked The Boy what he wanted to do about Christmas, he said he would like to have a nice Christmas at home, with all the decorations, a nice meal, and not travelling anywhere. So in early December, we bought a tree and decorated the house. We made Christmas cookies I gave to my staff as Christmas gifts. The house looks so cute and festive. It makes me wonder why I don't do this every year.

The tree on Christmas Eve

My immediate family is pretty small. Besides The Boy and myself, there's my parents. I have one brother who lives in the Midwest. I have some aunts and uncles and cousins. Everyone always seems so spread out. They all have their own families and things to do. For holidays it's usually just a small group.

On Christmas Eve my parents came to stay the night and spend Christmas together as a little family. They filled under my tree with gifts and my frig with foods and snacks. We had a really nice Christmas Eve with pizza, and The Big Bang Theory, and card games. It was one of the nicest times I've spent with my parents.

Maxwell

Abigail

The Boy in a new gift

My new coat

Yes, that's me in the picture. I know I haven't posted one of myself until now. Christmas day we opened gifts, hung out, ate too much good food, and generally just enjoyed ourselves. It was very nice and relaxed. My mom and I did lots and lots of cooking. She made breakfast. I had a whole french menu planned for our Christmas meal at The Boy's request. For appetizers we had mini-quiches, crudites, and baked brie. Dinner was slow roast duck with a port wine and cherry sauce, potato gratin dauphinois, roasted carrots with herbs de Provence, and braised green beans. Dessert was bittersweet chocolate and orange pots de creme with real whipped cream. This was the first time I have ever cooked duck. I've eaten it several times, but never roasted one myself before. It was all a huge hit. 

Christmas buffet, small family style

Christmas dinner: roast duck, port wine cherry sauce, gratin dauphinois,  roasted carrots, and braised green beans. All very yummy.

After all of this rich, high calorie, fatty food and desserts, I go back on my diet. Holidays are a time for indulging. I have definitely indulged my stomach. I've done fair with keeping my goal of not gaining weight over the holiday season. As of yesterday morning, I'm still the weight I've been since November 1st. Another week of maintaining and then back to an actual weight-loss plan. My next goal will be down another 14 pounds by April.