Saturday, December 27, 2008

Christmas 2008


As I sit here typing this, two days after the main event, I'm happy to report that I've survived yet another Christmas. Every year, I don't know how I'm going to get everything done that I want to -- but I do. This year got a bit complicated as a belt broke on my car the week before foiling my shopping plans for that day and the locks froze on Bob's car earlier in the week which meant he had to use my car to get to work so, again, I was "carless." I ended up wrapping my last present on Christmas Eve at about noon. So it was then time for the festivities to begin.

Liz and Bryan arrived with our "First Christmas" baby Brady on Christmas Eve afternoon. Our plan was to decorate the tree in the family room and have an antipasto. I know my friend Eloise loves when I post pictures of the food so here is our Italian feast.

We've basically decorated the tree with pretty much the same ornaments for the past fifteen years but, this year, I went with a new silver and red theme. I love how it turned out. There's some pictures below that show it although I don't think any of these pictures I've posted do the decorating justice. That night, everyone gets to open one present and it's always the new pajamas I give them to wear to bed that night.

Everyone was up at 8AM on Christmas morning and the opening of the presents began. As you can see from the picture of the gifts under the tree, Michael's are in red and Liz' are in white which makes it very easy for them to decipher which are theirs. Of course, Liz always looks it over to make sure she sees more white than red. If she does, she's happy. lol Since we don't have a fireplace in the living room, we like to have the channel on the TV that shows the Yule Log. I have to admit that this is last year's picture as they were already in the room with the baby by the time I came down this year. But, you get the gist of it. The TV this year has been replaced with a flat screen that Michael bought after his win in London. It definitely looks a lot nicer.

Bob then makes breakfast for everyone (sorry no pictures of that) and then we get ready for the rest of the day which includes a big dinner (pork royale) and the arrival of my mother. Here's a picture of the Christmas table before we all descended upon it. Setting the table is one of my favorite things to do. Over the years, I've accumulated so many beautiful things and many different colored tablecloths. It takes me hours just to figure out which one I'm going to use. Once I pick out the tablecloth, everything else seems to fall into place as far as which dishes I'll use and which stemware set will grace the table. I went with a lot of silver and red/burgundy's this year so my dining room table follows suit.

Since Liz and Bryan were staying for the weekend, we had a few more great dinners. Here's some ravioli and meatballs served on our Snowman plates the day after Christmas. When I served the dinner, I was so happy with the presentation. It was right out of the Top Chef competition. Over the years, I've bought a few different holiday dinnerware sets. When Michael was younger, I used to change all of my dishes the day after Thanksgiving so we only ate on those that were holiday related. I always enjoyed the day I pulled out the dishes "of the season."

A special treat this year is the addition of Jenn (Michael's girlfriend) into our lives. We got to witness their gift giving as well and Jenn's gift was so thoughtful that it had Liz and I crying. She arrived with a huge basket which included about 10 numbered picture frames. Michael had to read through a list and find the coordinating picture. What it boiled down to was that it was a weekend in New York City and each picture included what they would be doing. For instance, #1 was a picture of the Hilton Hotel where they would be staying; #2 was a picture of Rockefeller Center where they would be ice skating; #3 was the Top of the Rock Observation Deck at sunset; #4 was the Sea Grill where they would be dining #5 was the NBC studio where they would be taking a tour #6 was the Chelsea Brewing Company where they would have lunch #7 (and Michael's favorite) was New York Rangers' tickets and #8 was Tavern on the Green where they would have brunch before returning home. They're in the City right now and enjoying this gift together.

I was shopping with Michael as he was buying some of Jenn's gifts and afterwards, I call Liz and all I could say was that I wish I was Michael Martin's girlfriend. He has such great taste and she absolutely loved every single thing he bought.

I wanted to post some of my "decorating" pictures so my out-of-town relatives can get to see them. And, since it was Brady's first Christmas, here's a few of him as well so that Bryan's relatives can take part in his first Christmas festivities. They're all avid readers of my blog so here's a shoutout to those of them in Colorado and Florida.

Here's one with my mother and Brady. He just loves when she sings those "old time" songs to him. Here she is singing about Josephine in her "flying machine" and raising Brady's arms every time the plane goes up in the air.

Here's Brady opening his first Christmas present from Santa. And also what we call the "Brady" sandwich. Liz and Bryan just can't seem to get enough of him.

Of my decorating. I've collected these carolers for over twenty years so my collection is quite extensive and I have them all over the house. The majority are housed in my breakfront but, as you'll see in the pictures below, they also appear in the dining room window and family room as well. I also started collecting the Department 56 villages when they first came out in the 1980's. I'm sure I have well over 150 houses and each year I pick out a few to display. My favorite is my "Christmas in the City" collection as it reminds me of growing up in New York. On one end, I have Times Square and that ball actually drops on New Year's Eve. On the other end, I have the Empire State Building and I can change the color of the dome at the top from white to red to green. In honor of the closing of Yankee Stadium this year, I've displayed the stadium right in front of the Empire State building. Mostly all of these have been gifts over the years from Bob and the kids and my brothers. This year, Bob bought me Woolworth's which was really special to me as my father always used to take me to the Woolworth's counter for lunch when he took me to work with him. Michael bought me one that's an old time 1950's diner. These will definitely be displayed when I do Christmas 2009.

So I hope you enjoyed The Martin's Christmas this year. We surely did.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Hallmark Movies


I defy anyone to watch a Hallmark movie and not cry. And, if that's not bad enough, you end up crying during the commercials as well when someone gives someone they love a Hallmark card. I know it's sappy but I just can't help myself. And tonight, they had back-to-back-to back Christmas movies.

First it was Our First Christmas about a blended family trying to work out their first Christmas together. I think I cried at least five separate times during that one. It was followed up with A Grandpa for Christmas about a girl being sent to live with her grandfather while her mother is recovering from an accident. Another movie sure to bring on tears. And after that, it's Silver Bells which is adapted from a Luanne Rice book of the same title about two people finding love in New York City during the Christmas season. I'm in Christmas movie heaven.

I remember, when I was growing up, watching every single Christmas movie that was on TV. I wasn't alone in this as everyone in my family did the same thing so we all sat around the TV all night watching.

But I feel I deserve all these good Christmas movies as I worked very hard all day decorating the house......pictures to follow tomorrow. Michael flew home from Vegas tonight so now the real Christmas celebrating can begin.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

And the Decorating Begins

It actually began a few days ago but I had a problem when I tried to download pictures on my newly fixed computer. The Windows Wizard, that used to automatically appear when I plugged in my camera, did not appear. I tried everything to fix it and ended up calling Sony. After 45 minutes on the phone, we weren't even close to getting it fixed so I hung up. After doing some research on Google, I found someone who had the exact same problem and just followed his instructions and it was fixed.

This first picture is a "before" picture. I'm doing this one for my friend JoAnn who can't stand these carolers. I happen to love them and have been collecting them for at least twenty years. Here they are all displayed on my dining room table before I begin dispersing them around the house. I counted them and I have 57 of them.

I pack them away in their original boxes and I have written, on the outside of the box, who gave them to me and the year I got them. It brings back some good memories when I'm doing this especially those of Liz and Michael going to Feeney's (a Christmas store) with me and picking out their favorites each year.

These are made right here in Bucks County, Pennsylvania by a company called Byers. You can even tour their factory and see how they are made which I've yet to do. I will post the "after" pictures shortly.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Christmas Quiz!!

I thought this might be a nice way to jumpstart my Christmas blogging. I borrowed this from my friend JoAnn's blog.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? -- Definitely wrapping paper....and the really nice kind. I also do the kids' gifts in the same color so, when they're under the tree, they know which ones are theirs -- as in Michael's are always wrapped in red and Liz' are always wrapped in white and Keith's were always in green. Keith isn't usually here on Christmas morning anymore so Bryan has inherited that color. I just decided, the other day, that my new grandchild Brady would have his wrapped in silver.

2. Real tree or Artificial? -- There's absolutely no thought given on this answer....a real tree is a must. We actually have two trees -- one for the family room and one for the living room. We open our Christmas presents on Christmas morning in the living room so there must be a tree in that room.

3. When do you put up the tree? -- They were actually purchased this weekend and both of them are up but not yet decorated. I'll do the living room tree this week and we are all doing the family room tree together on Christmas Eve.

4. When do you take the tree down? -- Probably the second weekend in January.

5. Do you like eggnog? -- Love it but only buy one container which takes us through the entire season.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? -- This is going to sound crazy but I always loved finding the 64 box of Crayola Crayons under the tree. In line with that, my other favorite was the Venus Paradise coloring sets.

7. Hardest person to buy for? -- Definitely my mother. I usually end up taking most of the gifts back.

8. Easiest person to buy for? -- Liz -- She loves everything!! (as long as it's a name brand)

9. Do you have a nativity scene? -- Yes. I made one in ceramics years ago and it looks like a Lenox set with the gold trim. It's beautiful but I stopped putting it out as so many of the pieces have broken.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? -- Definitely mail. I do not like emailed Christmas cards so, if you're one of my friends and you're reading this, do not email me my card. Put a stamp on it.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? -- There's a tie here. My first worst was a Chia Pet from my brother Michael. He thought it was funny...I cried. The second worst was a necklace with a black pearl on it that Bob got me a few years ago. I had gone to a local jewelry store and picked out a pearl necklace that I really, really, really wanted. Liz told Bob about it and he went to buy it. Unfortunately, he went to the wrong store and bought the only pearl necklace they had. I cried again.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? -- It has to be the original 1951 Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol with Alastair Sim. I remember watching this with my brothers every Christmas Eve. Next to that it would have to be Love Actually.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? -- Liz and I usually go the day after Thanksgiving but that's more of a search mission. The actual shopping probably starts online and from catalogs and then the live shopping happens the next week. For instance, this week I'm going to Willow Grove Mall with Linda on Monday, Short Hills Mall with Pat on Thursday and Roosevelt Field Mall on Long Island with Liz on Friday -- to have Brady's picture taken with Santa!!! So a lot of my shopping will be done this week.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? -- Definitely not but I wish I'd saved that Chia Pet to send back to my brother Michael.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? -- After we open our presents on Christmas morning, Bob makes us all a special Christmas breakfast. That's my favorite thing to eat that day. The only year I didn't eat it was the year I got the black pearl....I was crying too much. lol

16. Lights on the tree? -- All white and there can never be too many lights on the tree.

17. Favorite Christmas song? -- Two favorites -- Hey Santa by Wilson Phillips (which I can't even download on my Ipod because Itunes doesn't sell it) and All I Want for Christmas is You from Love Actually and also on the Mariah Carey Christmas album.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? -- Definitely stay home. We always used to go to New York City on Christmas Eve and everyone (except me) skated at Rockefeller Center. We stopped doing this a few years ago when my mother moved to PA and there was no need to go to New York to visit her on Christmas Eve. I miss it.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? -- Yes

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? -- For a few years, I had a big bow with streamers coming down. Now I have stars for both trees.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? -- We open gifts from relatives on Christmas Eve and I let the kids open one gift each (of my choosing). It's always pajamas as I've always bought them new pajamas to wear to bed on Christmas Eve.

22. Favorite Christmas Tradition? -- It's probably all the dated ornaments we put on the tree that I have bought from Hallmark over the years. It's just fun reminiscing as each ornament comes out of the box. When the kids were little, I had so many more traditions that I've now stopped. For instance, the day after Thanksgiving, I would put all of my regular dishes away and replace them with my Christmas dishes. Then there were the annual visits to Feeney's with Michael, the taking of the Christmas picture and so many more.

23. Favorite ornament, theme or color? -- The color theme on the family room tree is red and many of the ornaments are dated. The theme on the living room tree is more of a formal one with a lot of gold and cream colored ornaments.

24. Favorite Christmas dinner? -- I don't have a favorite Christmas dinner as I make something different every year. What we do love, however, is have an antipasto on Christmas Eve after we decorate the tree.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? -- I really can't think of anything I want other than a new cell phone. I was supposed to get one for my birthday but that never happened so perhaps it will come from Santa.

Please feel free to add your comments and answer some of these questions yourself if you like. I would love to see them.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

A Belated Thanksgiving Entry

This is so late that I almost decided not to blog about it. But then I remembered how cute Brady looked in his Thanksgiving outfit (given to him by my cousin Colleen) and felt the need to post some pictures. Here he is with Bryan and Liz, who never take their hands off him. Most of the time, they actually bump heads when they go in to kiss him at the exact same time.

I always cook on Thanksgiving except for one year when we decided to drive into Queens to visit my mother. After spending over three hours in the car in bumper-to-bumper traffic, we finally arrived, picked her up and headed off to the restaurant where we had reservations. After eating turkey that tasted like cardboard, we vowed never to eat out again on Thanksgiving. Now that my mother is living in Pennsylvania, it makes it a lot easier.

I think I spend as much time figuring out what tablecloth, dishes, napkins and glasses to use as I do cooking the actual meal. Over the years, I've bought so many different entertaining items and I just love setting up the table for each holiday. Here's a picture of my 2008 Thanksgiving table.

I should have taken another picture after everyone was sitting down but forgot. So please picture my mother and Michael on the left side of the table, Bob at the other head and Liz and Bryan on the right....Brady is on the far right in his infant seat.

Everyone said it was one of the best meals I've cooked yet even though I made the same thing I make every year. Sometimes, though, it just turns out better. There's no rhyme or reason for it. I think as women, we usually follow the same menu our own mother's made on this holiday. Mine consists of mashed potatoes (I definitely make the best), sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, corn, mushrooms (another speciality of mine) and, of course, the turkey and gravy (Bob's speciality). We usually have to wait about two hours after the meal to have the dessert which is usually an assortment of pies.

The day after Thanksgiving, Liz and I usually brave the crowds and go Christmas shopping. We went to Short Hills Mall in New Jersey this year. It's an upscale mall and, while it was crowded, it wasn't unbearable.

So all in all, it was another successful Thanksgiving in the Martin house.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

To Repair or Not To Repair.....That was the question!!


Just a little update. My laptop is in for repair. I had to ship it to San Diego to be fixed and have no idea how long that's going to take. I'm lost without it. Everything I do is on that laptop. I had to backup everything so it wouldn't get lost in the transition or the translation. This Sony Vaio is only two years old but everytime I touch it or move it, it shuts down. It became impossible to use. I know I could just go out and get a new one but I really like this one so I'll have to wait for the repair to be completed. And you too, my loyal blog readers, will have to wait for more frequent posts as a result.

Michael left for Prague today to play in the European Poker Tour event there. I've never been but I've heard it's beautiful. He's staying at the Prague Hilton which looks fabulous from the pictures I've seen. I hope I'll be able to report some good news from that tournament. This map shows all of the different stops on the tour for the 2008/2009 season. So far, he's been to Barcelona, Warsaw and London (where he took first place). The next one after this is Deauville in France which was won by one of his best friends, Brandon Schaefer, a few years ago. The weather in this picture looks very mild although I bet it's freezing there.

I have some great pictures of Thanksgiving to post but that will have to be in another entry as they're on my other computer. I've asked my FSIL Bryan to send them to me in an email so I don't have to wait for my computer to come back especially since it might not come back until after Christmas.

Right about now, I'm getting ready to decorate for Christmas and was hoping to be able to post some of those pictures as well. Perhaps I can figure out how to do it from my PC. Until then, enjoy the rest of your Sunday.