Christmas (and all that it entailed) all cumulated into one beautiful day.  Christmas Eve was a busy day of preparation, but also involved some of our favorite things … going for a long run and watching some Bronco football with Shawn & Rachel and kiddos on their brand new enormous HD TV.  Lee, Myriah and I then enjoyed dinner with Randy & Allyson and (big) kiddos, Randy grilled up some salmon, Allyson fried halibut, I made some smoked salmon dip (salmon smoked by yours truly!), a variety of side dishes, and of course a plethera of Christmas goodies for dessert.  We came home to our Christmas tree which had a smattering of gifts underneath from each other and from the East Coast.  We had fun opening our gifts and then opening some meant for Christmas Day!   (As hard as I try to maintain tradition, occasionally I succomb to peer pressure!)  Christmas morning, I pulled a Lemon Pull-Apart Bread from next to the fire where it had been rising all night and popped it in the oven and began lunch preparations.  The other two slowly trickled into the kitchen and we ate breakfast and opened our stockings.  Put the oven on warm and we were off to church.  Upon returning home, lunch prep flew into full gear … Rachel and the kids arrived almost simultaneously with Shawn who had to work all day.  (Shawn is also a police officer and attempted to come over 3 times, once even made it to the bottom of the driveway, but received a call and was required to attend.  Miracles never cease, and when he did make it in the door, he was able to eat lunch uninterrupted and spend about an hour with us! Juneau apparently managed to keep its issues to a dull roar so that this Officer was able to enjoy some family time.)  Christmas night found us hanging out with the Mahoney family for a night of fun and good times….

Katy & Carl Lundquist, Nick Orsi, and Kate Crowell hard at work on gingerbread houses!

Stay tuned in for New Year's Eve when these quaint little houses get blown up in celebration of 2012!!

Stockings hung by the fire … Lee’s (on the left) I made last year and Myriah’s elf stocking (on the right) I made for her this year … my “stocking” is Lee’s X-tra Tuff boot (still in use at the time of this photo).

Our Christmas tree we found in our backyard …

Christmas Eve

new camera from Mom, Dad and Mimi Helen

new Louis Lamour books from Lee

patiently waiting his turn

rustic snowflake candle from Mom!

Lee enabled my jacket fetish with a new one! I love him!

The Christmas dinner spread: Ham Loaves (which tasted just like Mom's!), Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Pineapple-Cranberry Chutney, Baked Corn, Sourdough Rolls, Steamed Veggies and Cranberry Coffee Cake courtesy of Rachel Sr.

My Alaska family (Shawn, who was working, did make it to dinner but missed the group photo)

 Recipes:

Lemon-Scented Pull-Apart Coffee Bread

http://17andbaking.com/2010/05/25/lemon-scented-pull-apart-coffee-cak/

Pineapple-Cranberry Chutney

http://www.wholeliving.com/132425/pineapple-cranberry-chutney