Nurse on the Run

If you missed the first two installments of Nurse on the Run’s A Christmas Tale, rewind to the first two parts:

Part I:  Snow and BEAR DOWN!
Part II:  To the ER

Onto Part III!

tuesday morning – it’s christmas!!

Like I said, we moved the holiday up a few days so my entire family could celebrate together.  It’s really amazing how much of Christmas is a state of mind versus an actual day.  It felt like Christmas to me even though the calendar read December 22!  We started our morning with a typical NOTR family breakfast of blueberry muffins, a frittata, and some orange juice and coffee.  I didn’t want to push my stomach too hard, so I nibbled on a muffin top and had some ginger ale.  Yummyyyy.

Next up on our Christmas morning agenda?  Presents!  You’d be lying if you didn’t say it brings you at least a little joy to see a tree filled with presents underneath!  Life must not be too bad if you can have plenty of presents to give and receive.  Every year, my mom says, “This year is going to be a small Christmas”…I don’t know what her definition of “small” is, but this year didn’t disappoint in the least!  Let’s check it out:

Our tree on Christmas morning. 
  Stockings!  My grandma made them for us a looooong time ago. 

 
I gave my brother running gloves…complete with thumb removals for easy iPod access.

Matching sibling kitchen scissors!  Go mom.
  I can’t believe I’m putting this on the internet…but the Rocket Scientist brought back some REALLY bad tasting Japanese candy.  This was the face that resulted.

 
My dad got some really giant Illinois slippers…here he is modeling them!

 
For the grand finale…I fell in love.  WITH MY RED KITCHEN AID MIXER!!!!  Thank you, Santa!!

 
My family around the Christmas tree.    It was so good to all be together!

Other gifts included:  A book on opening your own bakery (!!), a bunch of stuff from Japan, a spice grinder, random stuff for the kitchen, tools (thanks, dad!), underwear (go mom), and a Bears tshirt.  I also got about four things that I already have, which became a running joke when I would open something and ask them if they took it from my room and wrapped it while I wasn’t looking!  Too funny.  Like I said, this was an amazing Christmas. 

tuesday evening – christmas dinner!

Despite my aforementioned gastrointestinal virus of fun, I managed to pull myself together for Christmas, which is a good thing since this girl loves to eat!  My brother was in charge of planning appetizers for Christmas dinner and I was put in charge of the big show.  Talk about pressure!!  My brother consulted the bible The Joy of Cooking for appetizers, and we ended up with:

1. Meatballs
2. Garlic-rubbed bruschetta – with veggies and feta cheese!
3. Crab dip (store bought…shh!)

I invited the Rocket Scientist’s family over for dinner as well, and his parents and grandfather joined us.  His parents brought chips, (homemade!) salsa, and a salad for dinner, so those were added in the mix.  Check out our appetizers:

Crab dip and meatballs!

  
Make your own bruschetta…soooo good!

“I’m too busy eating to take a good picture.”

For the big show, I thought about what kinds of food I would like to have at Christmas dinner and worked from there.  I think I ended up doing pretty good for my first big production!  Our dinner menu included:

1. Honey Orange Baked Ham
2. Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes
3. Green Beans with Almonds
4. Holiday Cranberry Chutney
5. Salad – Compliments of the Rocket Scientist’s parents
6. Rolls – store bought…warmed in the oven!

Check it out!

The whole spread. 

My first ham.    It was soooo good!

 
mmmmm ALMONDS

 
…it was better than it looked.

 
I looooove these potatoes!

Get those veggies in!

I <3 carbs.

 
My spread…obviously my tummy was feeling a little better!

Let’s just say…I’m a good cook.  I may be a bit biased since I tend to make what I like, but this was a tasty meal!  Everyone else agreed.  Don’t worry, next year,  you’re all invited! 

Let’s not forget dessert!  I found some Baker’s Square French Silk pie at the local grocery store (much like the one I made for Thanksgiving!), complete with the real logo and all!  However, it did NOT measure up and tasted terrible!  I was sooooo disappoinated.    At least I had fun playing with the chocolate shavings:

SO EXCITED.

Smiley pie. 

   
Although the French Silk disappointed, the berry was quite good!

And thus ended my Christmas and Christmas feast!  The food was delicious, the company was good, and I can’t believe it’s all over!  It’s crazy how Christmas is such a state of mind…it definitely felt like Christmas was over before it was even Christmas Eve on the calendar.  It was a very merry Christmas, and I hope yours was too, no matter what day you celebrated.