It’s the last day of December as I am writing this. I can already hear fireworks outside and it is only now that I am blogging about our blended family Christmas. Pardon me for not blogging since Christmas week. The holidays are always a very hectic one for our family.
Being a blended family during the holidays is never easy because we have to split the girls’ time with us, our families and their dad’s side of the family as well. This year is no exception.
Our Christmas celebrations started with a family get-together with my father-in-law’s side of the family. We all got together and had lunch at the Quezon City Sports Club a few days before Christmas. Of course, this means food, food and more food. I couldn’t pass up the lechon of course. Below are some of the reunion photos taken by my cousin-in-law, Bennette.
On Christmas Eve, hubby had to go to work (boo!). But of course, we had to celebrate first before he left for work that night. We went to my brother’s house first during the afternoon and met up with my side of the family there. We only got to stay for about two hours just hanging out and exchanging gifts. It’s so different from how we all used to spend Christmas years ago. We’d all stay up until midnight when we’ll have our traditional Noche Buena. But, I guess things change.
Dinner time was spend at my sister-in-law’s place with the rest of hubby’s immediate family. We brought a really big bilao of Mixed Sushi with Tuna Sashimi. The rest of the spread were either prepared by my mom-in-law and sister-in-law or brought by my brother-in-law. Aside from the mixed sushi we also had paella (the regular kind) and paella negra, baked macaroni, homemade ham and this really big turkey that my mom-in-law ordered. It was oh-so yummy!
But I think what I enjoyed the most was the sparkling wine that my brother-in-law and his wife brought. Haha! Wish I could have the whole bottle!
The kids, of course, had a blast with the opening of gifts. Ziggy received the usual trucks, fire trucks and cars he’s always crazy about. Zoe and Ziya received a wide array of tween gifts that included stationery, bags, book bags, bracelets, etc.
After dinner, it was time for us to leave because hubby had to go to work and the girls had to go to their dad’s place. So, it was really a simple Christmas Eve celebration for us. Ziggy and I spent the rest of the night alone at home. Actually, for the first time ever, I was asleep by 10:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve and didn’t wake until morning. At least, I was able to receive the gift of rest even for just one night. Haha!
The next morning, Christmas Day, we didn’t really get a chance to sleep in because we went with the in-laws to Resorts World to attend the High Mass. This is our second time to attend the High Mass there and it’s an experience I love. Hoping this would now be part of our yearly Christmas tradition.
We continued to celebrate Christmas when my mom came over to stay overnight on the 27th. Her coming over is usually a special treat because she gets to spend bonding time with her grandkids, which she doesn’t get to do very often. We treated her to dinner and some malling time at the newly-opened SM BF Homes the next day.
All in all, it was a pretty nice and quiet Christmas. I’m looking forward to everything else that will happen in 2014 though. Hope you guys had a really nice Christmas as well!!!