This year has been indescribably hard for all of my family and lots of our friends. We said farewell to a loved one - a cherished bubba- way way too soon.
I'm not able to talk about it here yet- maybe some day but not yet.
We are all kind of waiting for next year to begin and shut the door on 2010. It's just been too sad for words.
Celebrating anything has just seemed too hard. Too many reminders.
I normally LOVE Christmas but have really really struggled to get in the spirit this year.
But then last weekend Hubby disappeared into the shed and came into the lounge room where all our five children were with a big long box.
In that dusty box was our Xmas tree and all the decorations.
There were squeals of delight and chatter about whose turn it was to put the star on the top.
All he did was open the box and the kids took care of the rest. It was beautiful. Mr.7 put on the daggiest Christmas Carols record he could find and they were away!
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| ...so I had to take a daggy portrait in front of the tree! |
A reminder of what Christmas is.
LOVE.........
IT REALLY IS ALL THAT MATTERS.
So since then the kids have been busy perusing the catalogues dreaming of all manner of goodies....hoping Santa will indulge them with all the things that us parents won't!
And taking down the decorations off the tree to play make believe games........
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| "Hi Santa my name is Santa" |
Now for the menu.........
What do you love to eat for Christmas?
Our family has always been very spontaneous with our menu- when I was growing up the rule was always to choose something you love to eat and love to prepare- we were all responsible for bringing a dish to the table to share. Not a bad rule me thinks!
The kitchen was full to overflowing with all of us cooking up delicious goodies. There would be curries, beautiful mayonnaises, pates, ham, and seafood. I remember my sister once making a killer home made Baileys too- YUM!!!!!
One of the things I remember always being on the table though was- Gravad lax- a Swedish staple. Our family learnt to love it from the days we spent living in Sweden. My dad made it - now most of us do the same.
A simple but DELICIOUS dish.
Click here for a link that gives you simple instructions with step by step pictures- and a link to make the accompanying Mustard sauce too. You need to prepare it 2 days ahead but it is VERY SIMPLE and soooo worth it!
I would love to hear what you love to eat for Christmas.
This week I have been listening to ......
