Christmas Eve at Gordon and Ann’s
Our Christmas Picture taken before we left for Gordon and Ann’s. I put it in this frame and posted it as our Facebook Christmas Greeting.
Everyone brought a little something which resulted in a great table of antipasti. Enough to feed everyone without anything else being added, like chicken, potatoes, stuffing, brussel sprouts and desert.
This year, with Covid under a modicum of control, things are getting back to normal. A few years ago Gordon had a Christmas Eve dinner at his house, well it was a partial house at the time, and we had a wonderful family time. And this year he and Ann said that they wanted to host another dinner on Christmas Eve for the family.
And so, on the 24th we got ready to go over to Gordona nda Ann’s. But, before we set out, we took our Christmas Picture. Susan even had her coat on and was ready to go.
It was a wet slushy night and driving was not pleasant. We got our feet wet getting from the car to the house, but, once there it was soon forgotten.
Flynn, Colin, Aiden and Gordon having a beer before dinner.
The party was on when we got there around 4:30. The table was set with antipasti most of which were brought by family. And from the kitchen came the wonderful smell of roasting chicken and stuffing.
It was good to see family we had seen so little of since 2019. I was glad to see Nora there after she missed the Marr party at Adrian’s earlier in the month. She is the oldest member of the clan now, being 6 months older than me.
Flynn was there with Sophia and Olivia. Sophia was the youngest Marr at the party. She is adverse to having her picture taken so it was fun trying to catch her off guard in a good picture. You can see below that I was successful.
Kathleen’s daughter Sarah and Gordon’s girls Laura and Holly were there and they are a delight. Now they are beautiful young women. They all grow so quickly!
Kathleen sitting with Ann’s sister and Nora.
Gordon, Flynn, Olivia, Holly and Sarah.
The best part of these family gatherings are the hugs with people you love and who are so comfortable to be with. On the left is me hugging my grand daughter Sarah. In the middle is Kathleen with Olivia and on the right is Gordon and his Mom, Nora.
This is great picture of Susan with my Grand Daughters Sarah, in the middle, and Laura, on the right.
Flynn, sitting with his daughter Olivia and brother-in-law Colin.
And here Flynn is with his daughters Olivia and Sophia.
Flynn sitting with his daughter Sophia. As I said above, Sophia is not keen on having her picture taken. She is so pretty I don’t know why!
Gordon’s daughter Laura with her beau Adrian.
And this is Mosey, patiently waiting for some chicken!
This is Holly’s boyfriend, François, who spent the evening cooking for us. …Although I am not sure he should be allowed near the knives!
And on to Dinner ….
Meanwhile, out in the kitchen, dinner was being prepared. Dinner, after we ate antipasti for two hours, was roast chicken, potatoes and gravy, brussel sprouts and stuffing. It was pretty amazing!
There were lots of hands to help in the kitchen. The house is “open plan” so everyone was drifting in and out of the kitchen, helping out when needed. But Holly’s François seemed to be the “man”. He was in the kitchen all night working on dinner. And out of the chaos the results were excellent. The meal was really fine.
Eating dinner was fun. It was “open seating”. You got your seat and then found an open spot to sit. And after dinner we had a really nice desert and on the table were Olivia’s cookies (loved them!) and an open box of chocolates. It couldn’t be better!
Chicken was on the menu! Gordon is showing us three birds in the oven.
Who would like chicken!
Dinner finally arrived and we all sat down where ever we could to eat more than we should!
And that was Christmas Eve at Gordon and Ann’s. It was noisy, disorganized and totally wonderful. It was my family.
At some point in the evening a game was organized but which I did not really understand. It apparently involved throwing one’s Christmas balls into a basket on a partner’s waist. Sort of a Christmas basketball.
I leave you with one final photograph of a silver ball flying through the air. And of Colin’s ….. whatever.
It was a very successful evening. I left thinking what a truly lucky man I am!
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