Christmas in Maine

December 30, 2005

We've had a wonderful Christmas week here in Maine. Here's some photos from the past week:

So, what have we been up to this past week? Well, last Saturday - Christmas Eve day - we were busy in the kitchen preparing food for Christmas Day. Christmas Eve we went to church and I was responsible for co-ordinating the children's contribution to the service. Thankfully that went well but I was so busy preparing for that and preoccupied with it that I didn't enjoy the service as much as I usually do. I also didn't get any pictures which is too bad because the kids were adorable.

After church we came home and had a traditional Christmas Eve. We carried on the Tougas tradition and prepared easy snacking, appetizer type food (packages mostly from the frozen food aisle in the health food store - vegetarian dumplings, roasted vegetable pizza, spinach with soy cheese pastries and the like). Thankfullly we didn't wait till midnight to open presents! Both Damien and I grew up opening presents on Christmas Eve. My family opened presents on Christmas Eve after a big meal & program (songs, skits, carols, reading the Christmas story) with all my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents etc... So, we opened all our presents and the kids played with their new toys - it was 10 o'clock by this time. Then we set up our futon bed in our living room, got out the kids sleeping bags and thermarests and all settled down for the night in front of the tree.

Christmas Day we had french toast for breakfast (we made the bread a couple days in advance in our new bread machine) and the kids opened their stockings. Then we cleaned up and got ready. Basically all the food prep was done in advance so all we had to do was put prepared dishes in the oven, set the table, make punch etc...At 2 pm our guests arrived - a family of 6 and a couple - including our family we had 13 people. Everybody brought food and we had a wonderful vegan feast.

Our menu was: cold blueberry soup - was kind of like eating dessert before the meal, stuffed squash (description does not do it justice), vegetables with peanut sauce, cabbage rolls, mashed potatoes and gravy, carrot salad, fresh baked whole wheat bread, fruit, wine, cider and cranberry punch. We topped all that off with a very rich chocolate mousse served with maple sugared almonds and raspberry coulis. The whole meal was vegan, homemade (no boxes or mixes), mostly organic, largely locally grown and thoroughly delicious. I can't quite explain what a joy and pleasure it was for Damien and I to host this and enjoy this type of meal on Christmas Day.

After all of our culinary pleasures we talked, played games, ate munchies and more dessert, listened to music, laughed and just had a great time. The family that came over have 3 young adult & teenaged kids - 3 sons and a daughter. Well, Celine latched right on to their daughter and Laurent loved showing off his new remote control car and ping-pong ball air gun (presents from Nana & Papa & Grandma & Grandpa respectively). After everyone went home, around 7:30, we left the dishes unattended, cuddled on the couch and watched Star Wars with the kids. A thoroughly enjoyable and very memorable day.

Boxing Day, not celebrated in the US, we cleaned up and played with the kids. Celine and I Iearned how to play Crazy Eights. Daddy and Laurent built Lego and shot each other with the air guns . (Daddy also got a matching gun from Santa). That evening we finished the Star Wars series. We started them early December or maybe November. We skipped Episode III because it's pretty dark and graphic for the kids but we watched all the rest in order. Celine and Laurent really liked the whole series and it goes without saying the Damien and I love them.

Tuesday we headed to Portland and surprised the kids with an overnight stay at the Hilton. We went there specifically to enjoy the pool with the kids. It was such a fun little trip away. Felt like a mini vacation. We did some post Christmas shopping - books, socks and the like. I can barely stand the mall at the best of times and post Christmas is just too crazy for me. We had a great time with kids and they were so pleased with the surprise - they just love staying in hotels - who doesn't.

Wednesday we came home in the afternoon and had friends over for Japanese supper. Today we stayed at home mostly, got some groceries, did errands and basically tried to stay dry from all the rain. Yes, ridiculous rain! I don't know if climate change is to blame but whatever is the cause I'm not happy about it. Christmas is supposed to be snowing, not raining. We had planned to go sledding with the kids, drink hot cocoa - the whole hallmark movie scene - when Damien was home from work this week. Instead we're wearing rain gear??!! Good news is that it's melted the built up ice and snow in our driveway.

Whew, that was an exhausting run down of our Christmas happenings. But I just wanted to let you all know that we had a wonderful Christmas. Thank you for all the gifts and greetings that were sent.

So far we have no plans for New Years Eve. Tomorrow night we have friends coming over for supper and Sat afternoon Damien and I will go to see Narnia. Damien goes back to work on Tuesday so we still have a couple more days to hopefully get some small projects done.

If I don't blog sooner, Happy New Year everyone!

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