One Final Celebration

The day before New Year's Eve, my family gathered to celebrate Christmas at our house.  For a variety of reasons, we all weren't able to come together on the 25th but what mattered most was being able to find a date when we could all share a meal and exchange gifts.  While my sisters and I prepared the main meal (beef tenderloin, mashed potatoes, corn pudding, pan-fried brussell sprouts, and sauteed string beans), the kids played Sour Apples to Apples.

We dug into delicious appetizers (antipasto and crab dip), and we ended our meal with two dueling coconut cakes and a pumpkin roll.  Mark and my brother-in-law, Tony, served as judges (like in Chopped) and both cakes won!

Before we opened gifts, I gave my sisters and mother a little tutorial on pinterest (everyone in my family is really creative) and the site amazed them all.

And finally, to the presents.

Kristina just received a personalized stethoscope from her proud parents as she's just begun her career as a vet technician -- hmmm, not sure Nicole counts as a proper patient though.

Among many amazing and generous gifts that the cousins gave Xavier and Miranda, Nicole gave Xavier a gift card trapped in a puzzle! 

Other treasured treats were new kicks (that's sneakers to you who don't speak teen language -- just kidding, even they don't call them kicks anymore!), more gift cards, perfume, lotions, and nail polish.

As you know, I knit up a storm in anticipation of gift giving and below is a photo of my beautiful nieces (and one boyfriend) in their knitted wear.

Mobius Cowl, Thorpe Hat, Xavier Beanie

So, Christmas is now officially done for 2011.  Anyone ready to start gift knitting for 2012?

Aurora 

P.S.  Thanks, Esther, for your wonderful photographs of our celebration!