The Bi-Weekly Ramble 12/10/23

Wow. I haven’t had a chance to breathe the last few weeks, so a quick “what’s coming up.” Specifically, the Christmases are coming!

I’d like to say that this holiday season has been full of cozy nights by the fire, warm mug in hand while Christmas carols play and lights twinkle.

That has not been my reality.

Life seems to have picked up speed in this race toward the end of the year. I’m not sure I love it.

I think a lot of it has to do with the rhythm of my days being orchestrated by the kids’ school schedules. In the old days when I ran the show myself, I set the calendar. Some years we did school all through the summer so we could take the entire month of December off.

These days with online classical school and college courses for four kids, the family calendar is being run by outside forces, meaning the kids are stressed and busy through the end of this week.

Some are not as busy as they should be, so that makes me stressed and takes my focus off getting my own stuff done.

I am really looking forward to Saturday when the break starts and I get my minions back! Speaking of which, hold that thought while I send a group text, alerting them to deep cleaning duties next week.

Moving at the beginning of the school year is not something I recommend. I am still recovering…

As such, our tree is up, but not yet decorated. I’ve ordered a couple presents, but still have the bulk of my Christmas shopping to do. And we’re having two Christmases!

Part of me is freaking out, but the other part of me knows I can sort this — especially since I love organizing. Let’s do that together, shall we?

1st Christmas

This will be Bryan, me, and the five kids that live with us. While they’ve all been great sports about moving our main celebration to accommodate their older brother’s schedule, I feel it’s important for our in-house culture to do some special things.

In November I sent them all a Google survey to get their input on food preferences, so I’m drawing heavily on those results.

For 1st Christmas Eve, we will have frozen Asian-style entrees from Costco. There are several reasons for this:

1. We did it last year, so it’s becoming tradition.

2. It’s a meal we all love and that we can’t get take-out due to nut allergies.

3. We are planning a trip to East Asia for next year.

4. It’s easy and I don’t have to cook.

Reason #3 will likely be cause for busting out a little bit from our standards yakisoba, orange chicken, and potstickers. The girls and I are doing a Christmas Pamper downtown and I hope to find a larger Asian market to explore.

For 1st Christmas Day, we’ll have Monkey Bread (a lazy twist on Cinnamon Rolls) and an egg bake and open our Christmas Books.

We’ll grill something nice like Tri-tip or pork tenderloin and have some yummy potato thing. I’m kinda playing with the idea of Duchess potatoes, especially if I can make them in advance. I’ve never had them before, so we’ll see!

I am hoping for a chill day reading. Here’s hoping!

2nd Christmas

Our 2nd Christmas begins on the 26th when our married kids, my in-laws, sister-in-law, and nephew come. I’m not exactly sure how it’s all playing out, but I drew a map last week of where everyone could sleep if everyone stays in-house (v. hotel). It will be cozy, but doable.

I’m going in with the focus of making sure people feel comfortable, myself included, so Bryan is helping with the meals and organizing.

Some of the meals will include:

Our traditional tamale dinner – We did this on the 24th every year until our eldest moved out. Now, we do it when he and his wife can get home. I usually make two kinds of tamales: these easy cheese ones and a meat-stuffed one (pork, chicken, or beef) as well as enchiladas, rice, beans, etc.

Ravioli casserole – I’ve made this 4-ingredient casserole a couple times this fall and it’s the easiest thing ever, especially when I buy sale marinara at the store. Bryan decided we were having it for Big Christmas. I already bought the ravioli at Costco (the organic spinach and cheese was the best value here), so I’m all set. (You only need cheese and a meat to add and it can be made in advance. I’m thinking of playing with some variations, like Chicken and a White Sauce and Beef with a Red Sauce. We’ll serve them with a big Caesar salad and make-ahead garlic bread.

Egg bakes galore – I have 20 free coupons for eggs left to use in the next 21 days, so will be buying all the eggs and making egg bakes! I already have a ham and Swiss quiche in the freezer, but will be making more egg dishes over the holiday.

There is a lot to do in the next two weeks, so I better get busy!