Where do I begin? oh my… really, I can’ even wrap my head around the last 3 days. I’m not sure I mentioned to you that I still go "home" for Christmas. Home as in Mom’s. The nice thing is my Mom and the Husband’s family live about 2 miles away from each other (yet we didn’t meet until college… funny story I’ll tell you another time. :~) Anyway, Christmas Eve is a big day for us. Even though my Mom’s roots are Italian we go Polish for my Stepfather and Best Friend (who comes over for dinner) and yes both their last names end with "ski". ;~P
What’s in a Polish Christmas Eve meal? Well… carbs! Lots of CARBS! It’s all white foods… Potatoes, pierogies, fried fish, and a few other things. Then my mom adds a bit of an Italian flare with her linguine and clam sauce (also white.) So let’s see my options were… oh yeah… CARBS! lol
In all seriousness, it’s an AWESOME meal. All the foods we have are things I do enjoy but never make myself.. So one day a year I get to overload on potatoes and fried fish. Who can ask for anything more?
After diner my in-laws come over for dessert. We normally stick with cookies and I brought some Whole Wheat Dried Fruit and Walnut Oatmeal Cookies and some Chocolate Mereingies. So I stuck mostly with them. Besides the food, the evening is just so much FUN. I get to see my niece, my godson and his sister (my non-blood niece and nephew), my best friend (my non-blood sister), my mom and the rest of my close family that mean the world to me. THAT’S what I love about the holidays. Normally I’m so busy I don’t get to visit often but this Christmas I decided to unplug and just enjoy them. It was GREAT!
Christmas morning was, of course, insane with two young kids in the house (the toddler and my niece.) The toddler was hysterical as this was really the first Christmas he understood the whole Santa thing. The first words out of his mouth Christmas morning was, "I never heard Santa on the roof!". He looked genuinely worried. lol So I reassured him and all of us went downstairs to see the presents. It was a blast and really had so much fun seeing the toddler get excited about almost everything. EVEN the clothes (well at least the ones that had Lightning and Power Rangers on them.)
After Christmas morning at Mom’s we go to the in-laws for another Christmas "morning". This one we stretch out ALL day sometimes not finishing out the marathon present opening until 4 or 5PM. I mean we really draw it out. Taking breaks for Shrimp and an early dinner. It’s a tradition I’m really starting to love and the toddler was able to really enjoy his gifts throughout the day.
On the food front, I was going good until I broke into the smidgens… BAD IDEA! They kind of started a bit of a domino effect on the rest of the day’s food choices.
Christmas evening we relax back at Mom’s, put the kids to bed, watch a movie and enjoy a few cocktails. Another tradition I’m starting to really enjoy. :)
Today (the day after) my mom and I usually spend it together and grab some sale items at Hallmark for next year. We also go for lunch, just the 2 of us. Yet ANOTHER tradition I love. :)
Then it’s time to come home. It’s a 3 hour drive. The toddler catches up on some sleep. The husband and I chat about the holiday and we come home to start the clean up.
That’s were I am now. We are on hour four. The toddler is fast asleep and the husband and I are taking a break after putting most things away. Don’t get me wrong, the house STILL looks like a tornado hit it but at least we went through most of the gifts and cleaned out the toy box for the new stuff.
Right now I’m boiling the turkey bones for soup and watching the husband set up the Wii. I’m super psyched for both homemade soup and active video game playing! ;~P I also got a new blender/food processor
As for giving? Well for my Mom I wrote this poem (with a little help from the husband)…
The Daily Grind can be a Botha’
So I figured we oughta’
get away to the Borgata
Just Mom and Daughta’So pack your bags Ma
Get ready to relax and say "Ahh"
We’re going to the Spa
To relieve stress and every facial flaw
(Where gambling is permitted by law)
I had share… that just cracks me UP! I wanted to tell you guys about this earlier but Mom reads the site and it would have ruined the surprise! I’m taking her to Atlantic City Sunday for 3 days of Relaxing Mom/Daughter time. We are hitting the Spa and going out to dinner. I really can’t wait! Even though I’m craving the return to "normalcy."
Whatever "normal" is, anyway. I really feel like I’ve been going a bit overboard on the food front for too long now. Even looking at picture of myself after this weekend I can now tell I put on some weight. I’m not freaking out. Well, at least I’m trying not to freak out. I keep reminding myself it’s not a big deal. I can’t gain back all the weight in a couple of holiday weeks. This is life. This is what maintaining is all about. Balancing these few days and KNOWING they are not the norm. KNOWING that I’m in control and yes.. it will be hard to over come the cravings that these few days will cause but it’s the "tomorrow" mindset that will kill me in the end. I have to make the decision right NOW that I’m back in control and I am. :) Keep an eye out for my food journal tomorrow as I WILL be keeping it on Twitter and I WILL be posting it at the end of the day. That’s what I need to do to feel better and get back in control, I know that.
*sigh*
Ok, I feel better. :) Thanks for letting me get all that off my chest and out of my head. Now I’m off to kick the husbands arse in Wii tennis
. ;~P
Before I go… a couple of pictures. My favorite snap shot of the toddler and this years ornament from the husband… PERFECT! It’s the 1 year anniversary of GreenLiteBites and he knows how much that site means to me. :) He did it again… :) We really had a great Christmas together too, exchanging gifts alone after the toddler went to bed 2 days before Christmas. It was really sweet.
Side note before I go… I was trying to answer everyone’s comments on my last few posts but I can’t keep up! The end of year is really getting insane. Seriously.. just know I need to thank you as much (if not more) as you thank me. It’s you guys that keep me going and inspire me EVERYDAY!
Until tomorrow! :)
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About Roni
Roni started this blog in '05 to journal her weight loss. 70lbs later, she's committed to living a conscious, healthy life and hopes to inspire others along the way. Read more on the about page.
Roni, sounds like you had a fun filled and action packed Christmas!
Our 1.5 year old celebrated his second Christmas, but the first one where he kind of understood the presents thing. He was quite funny. About half way through his gifts, he got tired of opening them, demanded “Daddy, out!” which translates to take the toys out of the boxes now, I want to play. His mother and I had to finish opening his presents for him!
I also know what you mean about food. We are somewhat unique in that we eat lasagna for Christmas, and it is high on my list of “weakness” foods, so I have been stuffing myself with that. I like to remind myself that indulging occasionally is good for both the metabolism and the brain, at least for me, since it knocks down cravings for a while.
Looking forward to following the journal over on twitter!
Talk soon.
Ben
Roni,
WOW! Where does the “Husband” find his ornaments? They are all so cool! Have a great time with your Mom! Happy New Year!
Blessings,
Barb
Barb… He’s a hallmark guy. They really have TONS of awesome pop culture and special themes. I always buy mine now for next year as they are half off after Christmas!!
Glad you had a great Christmas! Enjoy AC with your mom!
Sounds like a great holiday!!! (darn good food too) Happy New Year.
Roni,
Sounds like you had a great Christmas with family. Enjoy your mother daughter time, that is so special!
sounds like so much fun :) My parents came here and it was great! I did the cooking the day before so stress-free. I have eaten way too much the last week or so……………ready to get back on track so I can have energy again. It’s funny how poor eating zaps my energy!
Oh dude….we just OD’d on pierogies last night. We always make them as a tradition of my husband’s family. So for our alone time this year we stayed up and made them. Had a blast. Neat to see others share the same traditions.
Glad your holiday was good!
Sounds like such a lovely Christmas! :-)
Roni..Thank you for sharing your wonderul holiday..I love you and the hubby exchanging gifts,,very sweet,,and keeps the romance going,,By the way,,I want to THANK you (not)..as one year ago you introduced me to Smigens..and I am officially addicted..I typically have ONE a night,,but well, as you I broke into them, which lead to the Peppermint Bark..This is life and living..and I will enjoy, hopefully not too many days..Happy Holidays…
It was a really great Christmas Eve – with my “sister” and “nephew”!
What a great ornament! And I just posted on Bella’s blog about how fun Wii tennis is. Great workout! Merry Christmas!
I, too, have over-eaten for the last couple of days (dare I say weeks?). Even though the holidays are not over yet and the husband and I plan on taking a road trip next week I have to impose a cut off limit – NOW!
PS your ornament this year is TOO cute!
I could even imagine trying to eat well around Christmas time or any of the holidays! But I always have work out plans right at the tips of my fingers when I get home from those holidays when everyone eats everything! Nice post by the way :)
I think holiday meals are especially important for weight loss goals. You need to give yourself a break once in a while and have some fun with your food. Most holiday meals aren’t terrible either! So if you’re gonna load up on carbs, you’re right, just do it on those holidays lol