Christmas is being merry with family and friends; eating, drinking, laughing and loving each other.
" 'Tis the season to be jolly, falalalalala-lalalala! ".
Our family bonding started early this season when Jim's brother, his wife and daughter from Vancouver visited in late November. His name is JOY and his wife, BESS, they were the first to bring the "Bess Joy" this holiday season.
Right after they left, I was suddenly called to Singapore to help my grandson adjust to his new nanny. I've looked forward to seeing him this Christmas, little did I know that I'll get a bonus bonding with him for a week.
I've been preparing for these family Christmas visits for quite sometime now because for once in the last decade, all our children will be here on this, the holiest and most celebrated season of the year.
Jim said that we should put more emphasis on quality time bonding with them, but as a Mom and the host with Jim, I can't help but anticipate everything that will make being together more joyful and memorable.
This is just the second Christmas in this "new" home that's why I want to make sure everyone will be comfortable. There's so much to think about that it's easy to forget things like coffee or tea. Just being together with family on Christmas is already great, but food will put everyone in the best of moods, food that excite and delight and that could only be found at home, and not anywhere else is what I think I'll prepare.
Feeding family who are used to and are often tired of hotel and airplane food is quite a challenging feat if we want them to feel special. That's true of my son and daughter-in-law who travel on business frequently and who can only visit with our 2 1/2-year-old grandson at most twice a year, one of which is Christmas.
Likewise with my younger daughter and son-in-law who are equally busy with work and can't be bothered cooking regularly that they often eat out or take out food. They too are missing local home-cooked meals and I'd like to prepare their favorites.
This Christmas is doubly special and exciting because my sister and brother-in-law are in town as well, they haven't been home for Christmas since they migrated to the US in the early 80's. I know that there are food that they too have been missing for quite sometime and Its a good thing that they tell me what they like.
Knowing their preferences, I have to put my spin on local home-cooked meals; however for Noche Buena, I have to incorporate traditional holiday food to make the menu more festive.
We are not used to an over-flowing Christmas table and worry about left-overs afterwards. So I plan to make enough for everyone and make sure to prepare traditional dishes so that each family member will feel that they are worth coming home to.
Meanwhile, I just completed putting together our gifts. Now I look forward to our tradition of exchange gifts, not really because of the gifts but for the surprise, the laughter and the joking as we open them. The fun of taking pictures will round up the celebration.
The menu for the next four days is final but flexible. Now, I say that I'm ready and excitedly looking forward to our family get-together, not only on Christmas Eve but throughout the Christmas holidays.
I'm sure that you too, my friends are just as excited anticipating this happy occasion. From our home to your home, I'm extending sincere wishes of love, peace and joy to you all. Merry Christmas!
