Christmas Eve

This year, I hosted our family Christmas Eve dinner.

I'd been thinking of recipes to try, and trying to keep it all relatively simple for myself.

I had managed to make a very quick batch of sugar cookies during one of Isaac's naps, because I knew trying to make them with him under foot would serve disastrous.

For the past few years, I've gone a little bit overboard with the cookie making,

but since I don't really like cookies that much,

I decided less is more : )

I attempted to make holiday wreaths, out of rice krispies. . .

They looked and tasted fantastic, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to tie bows on them with licorice whips! I got way too frustrated and decided to focus on something else.

Well, in the meantime, the wreaths sort of joined themselves into one giant, green pile or blob. Still tasty, just not as appealing to look at.

For the dinner portion of the night, I made a butternut squash bisque, which I've made before. (I forgot that someONE accidentally broke my blender over the summer.

It's certainly not very easy to blend a huge pot of bisque with a hand mixer,

so it was a bit more lumpy than I would have liked)

I cooked a ham in the crock pot, with brown sugar and sliced apples,

my mom made a gluten free eggplant lasagna, which was delicious,

and my sister brought a huge salad.

I had just finished reading The Kitchen House, in it was this yummy sounding molasses cake. While it was in the oven, it filled the whole house with this amazing warm, sweet, buttery Christmas smell.

I wish I could have bottled up that smell and turned it into a Christmas candle!

Isaac came into the kitchen as I was grinding some cloves and said

"Mmm mama, this smells like Christmas Eve!"

He was certainly right!

A friend of mine decorated her tree very early this year, and as a thank you,

Santa visited her house extra early.

He knew that she would be able to bring Isaac a present,

so he left her Elf on the Shelf.

Isaac named him Prince, and every morning he finds him, says good morning, and then spends the rest of the day on his best behavior,

because Prince flies to Santa every night and lets him know if he should stay on the nice list,

or if he has to be put on the naughty list.

(It's a very cute new tradition)

Isaac worked VERY hard on a special picture just for Santa,

he put it with the three best cookies from the batch.

(One of each color)

I love all the magic that Christmas eve holds.