Holiday Plan: Activities and Menus

I'm a planner.  I like things to run smoothly.  And that's so ironic, considering I end up flying by the seat of my pants half the time.  But when it comes to special events and family time, I like to have done my prep work so that all that is left is to enjoy it.  I also like to take some time to journal special memories and write down things we'll enjoy remembering next year.  So here is how the holiday week will go for us.  I'd love to hear how yours will go, too!

Christmas Eve:  During the day, the kids and I will "holiday clean."  And then we'll read all kinds of fun Christmas stories, make a craft (probably just something simple so the house will stay kind of clean), and watch a holiday movie.  For dinner, I always make something a little extra special.  After the kids go to bed, Awesome Hubby and I will wrap up their presents and set up the living room to "wow" them when they wake up.  Then we'll go to bed, knowing that morning will come quickly!

• Dinner: Homemade gyro meat (a mixture of ground lamb and beef with seasonings), homemade pita bread, tzatziki sauce, salad, and wild rice.
• Dessert: Homemade banana pudding (except I'm not making it; it was a gift from a friend who knows I've had dreams of her specialty!).

Christmas Day:  We start out the morning by reading the Christmas story.  I'll have hot cocoa and coffee made and ready to drink as we gather around the tree and turn on the lights and dedicate this day to the One we are celebrating.  I will have muffin bites and fruit out to nibble on while we open presents and brunch is baking in the oven.  We will have a relish try out for nibbling on during the day and an Italian feast for dinner.

• Mini muffins: homemade cranberry orange bites and chocolate bites, apple slices.
• Brunch: Egg bake (egg, ground turkey sausage, cheese, bell peppers), French Toast with peaches, Homefries, fresh pineapple.
• Relish tray: Triscuits and spreadable cheeses, olives, pickles, cucumber stick, celery sticks, ranch dip, chips.
• Dinner: Salad, garlic bread, stuffed shells, sausage and meatballs.
• Dessert: Believe it or not, we don't always do one ... but I made some sugar cookies :)

New Years Eve:  We started a tradition in our home to ring in the New Year.  We don't like going out to parties or even separating to go our separate ways at church (Kids to kids class and us to service).  We like to be together.  So we have a PJ party!  We put on fun jammies, watch a new movie (usually a Christmas gift), eat hor'dourves, and everyone gets one gift to open.  Then we play a game, read a bed time story, and hit the sack.

• Stuffed jalapeno boats, potato skins, taquito style wraps
• Ice Cream Sunaes (Awesome Hubby's favorite ... he's going to be so excited!)

New Years Day:  We chill out.  We take the first day of the year to relax and spend together as we intend to continue the year with a family focus. We each talk about our goals and any themes God might have shown us.  Food is simple, but satisfying.  The focus is on growing together as a family.

• Breakfast: Pancakes, Eggs, Homefries, Fruit
• Lunch: Toasted Subs (hopefully turkey, avocado, bacon, provolone, lettuce and tomato if I can get all the ingredients on sale!) and chips.
• Dinner: Blackened Chicken Alfredo, salad, homemade garlic knots, sparkling punch