The Many Days and Many Ways of Christmas 2024

Let's start at the very beginning - making Ushki noodles for our Christmas Eve cream of mushroom soup. We made them at Sandy's this year, Jamie, Zoe, Sandy and I.  Anders and Kuba came for a little bit of it.  They look like little crowns or ears.  They are stuffed with mushrooms and are delicious.  

Next, we shuffled off to Buffalo and rented an Airbnb with Sandy, Jamie, Aj, and Zoe. Luckily, no snowstorm so the driving conditions were fine.  Our place was right near Paul's house in Lakeview, literally about four minutes away from him.  Our house had four bedrooms, a gas fireplace,  and it really was perfect for us.  We did not have a Christmas tree, so we went out and cut some greens.  We put them into a vase, added lights, popcorn, and candy canes, and whala, Christmas magic! This is the first time we've all been together as a family in years and the first time we've gathered without mom and dad.

 

We had lots of fun at the Airbnb, playing cards and games, and even doing little holiday crafts.

We celebrated Christmas eve at Tim's.  There were 26 of us in all!  It was a traditional meal of Mushroom soup with ushki noodles, pierogi, fried fish, and coleslaw.  

  

  

  

There were many children of the next generation!  

Anders, Kuba, and Adalyn, Zoe, Brianna, and Manny were the youngest of all.   

 

 

After dinner we had a Pavlova that Sandy made for dessert....among many other cookies and sweets! 

We had a Yankee swap between the adults and it was a mob scene of gifts and people. 

Christmas morning we woke up early to a giant pile of gifts.  
We opened gifts and then had a delicious breakfast made by Sandy, Aj, and Anna.  

Uncle Paul joined us.
 

After breakfast we played more games like pinocle, and the new Ransom Notes, and Alien game.

 

On Christmas day we went to Mark and Sharon's for a delicious dinner. Once again, there were 26 of us, yet we managed to fit in the house. We ate, and then we played games, went caroling around the neighborhood, and did the oplatek. We also did a photo shoot with all the kids, trying to recreate an image of Jess, Kaitlyn and Jamie from 20 years ago.  The whole Christmas day was pretty spectacular.  The food, the family, the merriment and goodwill.