Preparing for the Celebration

Christmas carols on the radio all. day. long.
A long -- really long -- grocery list
Allen and the boys went to one grocery store for the specialty items
Sarah and Maddie went to another store for the rest of it
All arrived home about the same time.
Put away groceries
Maddie made an encouraging sign

Started cooking and cooked for 8 hours
Allen and Maddie made biscochitos

Ben chopped celery for the chowder

Sarah made ham and corn chowder for Christmas Eve

Jon and Will took pictures

Sarah made Christmas morning casserole with help from Maddie and Ben

Dutch butter cake
Chocolate cherry crumb bars
Egg nog cookies
Chewy ginger cookies

Allen heated tamales
Maddie's friend Rylie stayed and ate dinner with us
All sweets were taste-tested
More than once