Lain's Log: We wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

December 30/12.

Hard to believe this is blog post #400 since I started Lain's Log back in February of 2011!
Might as well celebrate by making this the Christmas entry!

The young generation of Christmas celebrants - Max, Kate, their cousin, Lee, and Kate's boyfriend, Damian.
(Lee is showing off the new sweater we got him from American Eagle at the Eaton Centre).

My sister, Carrie, Max and I prepared the concoction known as "Grampa-Lain punch" - a tradition handed down to us by my late grandfather, Arthur Burridge. He taught me well. Lots of Welch's grape juice, and a variety of other frozen juices, mixed together with Fresca and Gingerale to give it sparkle.

Lee also got in on the punch action! We always use the original punch pail and ladle from about circa 1970 I think.

The table looked very pretty. For the first time, I used the famous red (and green fringed-edge) tablecloth I inherited from Mum. And of course, everyone got a Christmas cracker!

It was a great meal! PC easy-carve turkey, gravy, mashed potatos, peas and two kinds of stuffing - traditional bread and cranberry, plus our cranberry-orange relish made from another old family recipe.

We had so many prezzies! Took a few hours to get through them all.

Great gifts for everyone in a room filled with packages, boxes, bags and tissue paper!

I got this coat of many colours from Sam, bought at Alchemy, one of my fave stores on the Danforth.

Max got a Beatles DVD from his sis, and his girlfriend, Robyn, got gift certificates for the Beach Cinema from us.

Lee had a tough time opening gifts because our cat, Tru, insisted on sitting on his lap! (Not the best thing, since he is semi-allergic to felines)! Yikes.

Christmas dinner wasn't the only meal of the day. We also had the annual brunch - all made by me, (believe it or not - ha ha!) Mac and cheese, quiches and the good old egg casserole, a favourite served only once a year! Also champagne and orange juice, croissants and jam! All delish!

In between meals and opening gifts, Max and Lee hung out in the basement, playing video games.

And later, Kate, Max and their cousin, Lee, jammed together for the first time, playing a string of songs from the John Mayer anthology.

Lee's voice is sounding great!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

and yep, St. Nicholas soon was there!

Max and Kate opened their stockings in the morning while still in PJs. Always fun!

Max got this cool Mona Lisa-style KISS t-shirt from Kate.

I was very happy the way things all turned out. Our family group dwindled to a smaller one this year...small, but mighty!!

Working backwards, December 24th started off early. I arrived at the Leslie Street Loblaws just as the sun was coming up,

to pick up the two dozen fresh croissants I'd ordered at the bakery - some plain butter ones and some, chocolate.

Also had lots of other last minute items to get.

The rest of that day was spent cooking.

I bought a new frying pan which made things easier. The egg casserole requires 24 extra-large scrambeled eggs!

Plus another dozen eggs, a ton of veggies and lots of shredded cheese

to whip up a pile of quiches! (this is NOT a low calorie meal. Gak!)

Christmas eve was spent wrapping all these bags of gifts and stuffing stockings,

while watching It's a Wonderful Life on TV,

one of my favourite traditions.

The few days before Christmas were filled with other activities like shopping for baby clothes for our youngest little cousin, 18-month-old Sienna. The new Walmart at Gerrard Square had plenty to choose from.

Kate dressed up in holiday colours,

for her annual caroling party. She and her friends braved terrible weather conditions to go out, sing, collect canned goods and cash for the Loblaws food drive.