Christmas this year was excellent. To change things up a bit my parents and us decided to do a "Christmas Around the World" dinner. We drew names for what course each person would bring and then which culture their dish had to come from. Here's how the meal was divided up and who brought what.
Chris - Side dish - Greek - Greek Pasta Salad
Michelle - Entree - German - Sauerbraten
Michelle - Sides - German - Brotchen
Michelle - Sides - German - Spaetzle Dumplings
Mom - Side - Caribbean - Caribbean cabbage salad
Dad - Dessert - Italy - Panna Cotta
(I was only supposed to bring the entree but wanted try out a few other German side dishes)
Everything looked and tasted amazing. We have decided that this should be a tradition, representing new cultures each year. It was FUN!
As for gifts, we took it down a notch this year. Last year I felt like a true over consuming American, even by American standards. So we held back this year. Jackson doesn't know any different and was ecstatic about the gifts he did receive. His favorite gift was something Chris and I found and weren't even looking for, a Green Bay Packers Tackle Dummy (see first picture below). There were a lot of football Christmas gifts for him this year and that made his Christmas. For those who don't know, Jackson is obsessed with football (and so is Chris...like Father like Son!).
I'll put some captions on the photos below describing some of the gifts and what we did Christmas day. And I can't forget to say a big THANK YOU to all our family and friends who sent Jackson, Chris and I presents this year. That was very thoughtful and we truly appreciate what we received.
Our Christmas can be summed up in the very last picture in this post. : )
I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!
The tackle dummy. After 4 hours of tackling it ripped at the seam. The Packer Pro Shop was great about giving us a new one, which has stood up to the trauma...so far.
Jackson and Chris going through the football plays sent by Uncle Jim (football coach) and Family.
Magnetic puzzle of America and the individual states.
This was actually Christmas Eve but it highlights the antics of my two children.
Jackson enjoying the scooter from the Bowers' Family. He loved that he could use this in the house (just for Christmas though). Maggee was not amused that we had armed "the boy" with additional weapons to get her. At least that's the way I think she interpreted this gift.
Christmas dinner from around the world. My Mom's house was decked out beautifully for Christmas. I'm not sure which is prettier, the place setting or the food.
The family ready to chow down on our Christmas experiments.
My Dad's dessert. It looked impressive (GO DAD!) and tasted amazing. I think the term to best describe this dessert is decadent.
Mom and Dad watching Jackson use his new football tee.
Mom holding up the Packer earrings we bought her. They so looked like my Mom, they were perfect!
Mom and Dad holding up the personalized ornament and photo we gave them. 
Grandma and Grandpa know just what to get him to send him over the moon...Packer PJ's and a Packer hat.
I'm not sure what these two were laughing at but it's a great, genuine photo of the two of them.
And I like this one too.
Grandma and Grandpa opening their homemade gifts from Jackson.
He fell asleep coming home from Grandma and Grandpa's while eating pretzels. A sweet ending to a great Christmas.
1 comment:
Great pics! The last one is awesome! I like the food around the world idea. Go PACKERS!
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