Practicing my firedancing skills . . . the woman behind me is my sister, Amy, probably breathing in the ocean air with a big "AH!"
I know I look rather stiff, but this is me playing our new DDR game. Usually I'm moving' quite a bit more.
Our men helpin' out in the kitchen. The one on the right is my brother-in-law Mike (married to the dramatic sister above).
Ahh . . . Christmas Eve Dinner. Yum! (my hubbie was there, he's just taking the picture)
Christmas Eve (sigh) this is what Christmas is to me. Once Christmas morning happens it is all over, Christmas Eve has always been what's important to me. This year it was my family's turn (the Arnolds) to have us for Christmas. It was different this year, as the holiday was nearing, I kept thinking, "This is our last!" Atleast for a little while. We'll be in Europe next year (yes, we've made our decision, we're officially going to Brussels!) So our next holiday we'll be all alone, poor little paupers! I was VERY excited to be home this Christmas! Probably more than I ever have.
In our family we have a little rotation of gift giving- we each have someone different every year. This year we had my parents and as they live on the coast, and eat fish my Dad catches every single day, we bought them a FAST FISH cookbook! It's AWESOME!!!! I was a little nervous, as my Dad LOVES the way my Mom cooks it already (lemon and pepper, yummy, but not that exciting day after day after day). This book has SO MANY different recipes all organized by the fish. PERFECT!!!! And if you know Mom, you know she likes FAST meals. I wanted to copy all the recipes down, but really, how often do we eat fish?
This vacation has been SO RELAXING!!!! There are only 6 of us this year. By far the smallest holiday I've ever experienced. And I must confess, I really really enjoyed it. I love ALL my family members, but not all in one house. It can really overwhelm me! So this was so nice and enjoyable. It was strange not to have to keep doors closed and important things out of reach with no little ones around. And the quiet and clean atmosphere! Unusual for family gatherings!
Our Christmas Eve gift was from Rebecca (my sister) and Darin (her husband). We LOVED their gift! We've recently realized that we LOVE OPERA!!!!! So she bought us some Pavarotti and some Chopin concertos. (I'm inlove with Chopin.) I have become such a classical music addict lately. It's almost all I listen to now. When I listen to classical music it takes over my whole body and touches all my senses. I LOVE IT!!!! So we were THRILLED to listen to it all through Christmas breakfast!
So the Arnold tradition has always been and, I've realized this year, always will be the same. SWEETS SWEETS SWEETS!!!! Plates of chocolate mint cookies, sugar cookies, chocolate covered caramels, almond roca, chocolate pie, 7 layer bars, and 7up. The last 10 days, I feel like I have eaten more sweets than I have the last 5 months. I don't have much memory of eating real food or meals. I DO however remember eating atleast 50 caramels, LOTS of cookies, oh man it's incredible!!!!! I'd usually have a cookie, or many that is, before breakfast, and so I'd eat a small breakfast. Then I'd stuff myself before lunch and then I'd think, "Oh I should eat lunch." But since I was full of caramel I'd just eat a piece of ham and call it good. I was so full of sugar there wasn't room for me to get hungry. WOW!!! I'm excited to dejunk-food my life starting TOMORROW and DANCE DANCE DANCE my way back to my old body. Good plan is what I have to say.
Among other Arnold Traditions . . . the Christmas Eve Program. This has altered throughout my life. Not too many years ago we'd dress up like angels and shepherds and act out the Bible story. This year we read the story out of the Bible, which was very enjoyable, while singing hymns inbetween. It was great. I loved it. Greg spiced it up at the end with an animated reading of The Night Before Christmas. I forgot how much I love that poem. Greg and I have decided that's going to be our tradition, and I'm excited about it. I'll post later about Christmas Day! Love you all! Merry Christmas!
In our family we have a little rotation of gift giving- we each have someone different every year. This year we had my parents and as they live on the coast, and eat fish my Dad catches every single day, we bought them a FAST FISH cookbook! It's AWESOME!!!! I was a little nervous, as my Dad LOVES the way my Mom cooks it already (lemon and pepper, yummy, but not that exciting day after day after day). This book has SO MANY different recipes all organized by the fish. PERFECT!!!! And if you know Mom, you know she likes FAST meals. I wanted to copy all the recipes down, but really, how often do we eat fish?
Our Christmas Eve gift was from Rebecca (my sister) and Darin (her husband). We LOVED their gift! We've recently realized that we LOVE OPERA!!!!! So she bought us some Pavarotti and some Chopin concertos. (I'm inlove with Chopin.) I have become such a classical music addict lately. It's almost all I listen to now. When I listen to classical music it takes over my whole body and touches all my senses. I LOVE IT!!!! So we were THRILLED to listen to it all through Christmas breakfast!
So the Arnold tradition has always been and, I've realized this year, always will be the same. SWEETS SWEETS SWEETS!!!! Plates of chocolate mint cookies, sugar cookies, chocolate covered caramels, almond roca, chocolate pie, 7 layer bars, and 7up. The last 10 days, I feel like I have eaten more sweets than I have the last 5 months. I don't have much memory of eating real food or meals. I DO however remember eating atleast 50 caramels, LOTS of cookies, oh man it's incredible!!!!! I'd usually have a cookie, or many that is, before breakfast, and so I'd eat a small breakfast. Then I'd stuff myself before lunch and then I'd think, "Oh I should eat lunch." But since I was full of caramel I'd just eat a piece of ham and call it good. I was so full of sugar there wasn't room for me to get hungry. WOW!!! I'm excited to dejunk-food my life starting TOMORROW and DANCE DANCE DANCE my way back to my old body. Good plan is what I have to say.
Among other Arnold Traditions . . . the Christmas Eve Program. This has altered throughout my life. Not too many years ago we'd dress up like angels and shepherds and act out the Bible story. This year we read the story out of the Bible, which was very enjoyable, while singing hymns inbetween. It was great. I loved it. Greg spiced it up at the end with an animated reading of The Night Before Christmas. I forgot how much I love that poem. Greg and I have decided that's going to be our tradition, and I'm excited about it. I'll post later about Christmas Day! Love you all! Merry Christmas!
3 comments:
I loved your blog again! I know I say that alot, but I truly do. I am looking forward to dejunking my life also!!I haven't eaten this much junk in long time. I loved having you and Greg, Amy, and Mike also. It was fun, relaxing and wonderful.
haha, I enjoyd your blog! That is so funny the picture of me in the backround, because that is what i was doing, and I had no idea a picture was being taken! ha! I love the picture of the boys. And your narrative throughout the pictures were really great! it was like a story! I love you! And the idea of reading the night before christmas- is I a good one- I was actually alread ythinking- "I bet greg will do this with their kids everyear- but even MORE dramatic!" I love you!
i've just GOT to say... amy is so freaking hilarious, that picture of her breathing in the ocean air is so amy and i'm in love with it!!
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