Thanksgiving Weekend 2023 - Black Friday

Friday, November 24, 2023

Pete took us all out to lunch at a very nice restaurant named Cooper Hawk. The food was delicious. I had the shrimp and scallop risotto and it was divine. 

They also made me up a very well done Canadian Old Fashioned. 

After lunch we dropped Xander off at basketball practice and then headed home. Steph, Abby, and Emma put up Christmas tchotchkes although Mom helped out with decorating the tree. 

I found the crackling fire channel on tv and sat and got comfortable on the couch. Abby played some Christmas music on her phone. It wasn't connected to a speaker so it sounded like it was coming from an old transistor radio. 

Steph put a Santa hat on Thora Peaches which looked very cute. 

Mom took a picture of me with the manger scene she and Dad made oh so many years ago. 

Abby made a power point of her Xmas wish list. I got a kick out of that. Most of the things were found on Amazon and she made note of when she found an item on sale. 

Pete made cheese fondue for dinner along with some chicken breasts (internet photo). 

Abby had a friend over and they played games with Xander and Emma for most of the the evening while Mom, Pete, and I had some Bailey's Irish Creme and watched Password on tv. It was a laid back and enjoyable day. 

Oh, and by the way I got Whammed today while scrolling through Instagram. I believe last year I made it to just before Christmas. 

Technically I don't think the Whamaggedon thing starts until December 1 but I'll still consider myself out. 

Christmas Eve 2019 - Mom's

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Mom moved this past spring from her condo to senior living apartments which was another change in our Christmas routine. We'd spent to last 11 Christmas Eves doing cheese fondue and steaks at her condo in Edina. Her new place is as equally charming and comfortable. 

Since her move I'd forgotten we were storing her artificial tree in our basement and she never asked for it. I offered to bring it over a few days ago but she said she'd just pass on the tree for this year and would decide if she wants to do one next year. I brought over a little tabletop tree that I'd left decorated from last year. Dale was unaware of I even had it and was a little taken aback that I could produce a decorated tree like Mary Poppins magically pulling something out of her nanny bag. 

Anyway, dinner was lovely. We finished out the evening with Baba dessert. My favorite dessert from childhood which was introduced years and years ago by Grandma Jean. 

Christmas Eve 2017 - Greetings to Sam and Pete

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Shortly before Dale and I headed of to the Christmas Eve service I texted Sam and Pete the above picture. Sam texted back the following... 

...with the message that they ended up with a white Christmas. I texted back that that's pretty good for Kansas. Pete texted that they're doing cheese fondue at their house.

Christmas Eve 2015 - Fondue

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Mom gets the fondue cheese ready.

Christmas Eve 2012 - Fondue

Mom made the traditional cheese fondue for Christmas Eve dinner.  We also had steaks, salad, and dessert. It was all absolutely delicious.

Christmas Eve 2011 - Dinner at Mom's

After the Christmas Eve service, Dale and I went   to Mom's for dinner. We started with some lovely hor d'ourves of brie cheese and jelly on crackers. For dinner we had cheese fondue and steak. Brownies  for dessert.