Our norm here at Chez Potchery is to have about 36 hours of crazy Christmas traditions, and preparations for traditions, then 36 hours of lazy. Then after those 3 days, we try to get back to normal.
I spent the afternoon getting some last minute stuff for Mr. P and gathering the supplies for our gingerbread house. Have you ever heard of "meringue powder"? Well, I had NOT. I had to make some substitutions, watermelon gum for green apple gum (for shutters, duh), and Starburst for Bazooka gum (patio stones, double duh). I have mixed the gingerbread, and we will bake the pieces tonight, so we are ready for assembling and decorating tomorrow.
Also tomorrow we will shop for Christmas dinner. We have Christmas dinner tradition that came about due to poverty, but the kids. won't. let. it. go. 14 years ago, we were struggling, seriously struggling with money, and we weren't sure we could afford a full blown Christmas dinner. So, we came up with this plan. Everyone got $10 and could get WHATEVER they wanted to create their perfect Christmas breakfast and dinner. (A turkey is typically $20 bucks, and there is half our food budget right there.)
The kids are militant about it. You are "allowed" mix-ins from the household cupboards, but that is it. For example, if you buy a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, you can use milk and butter from the refrigerator. We spend at least a solid hour in the grocery store, adding/subtracting, trading, bargaining...I will share these Vlasic pickles with you, if I can have half your chocolate milk. You can half one of my YooHoo's, if I can have one glass of your Apple-Pear juice. You can have half of this frozen pizza, if I can have 3 bites out of that tube of cookie dough. You get the idea?
A few years ago my sister and her husband and teensy tinsy Steamboat arrived on Christmas, and they participated as well...I don't remember what my sister got, but Warren (her husband) got one of those cheesecakes with the various slices, turtle, strawberry, etc. Great choice.
I tend to go with Toaster Strudel, Velveeta Shells & Cheese, peppermint ice cream and because I am the mom, and have to set a good example, a pomegranate.
So tomorrow, we will sleep late, go shopping, gingerbread, craft, and play games. Then Christmas, we will open presents, eat food, nap, then go to the movies and bowling. On Boxing Day we will sleep VERY late, and then get up and nap by Christmas movies. I love Christmas.
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6 comments:
I LOVE this idea. A boyfriend and I once did this as a date in high school. We went to a grocery store and each spent half our combined cash on supplies for a dinner and evening of snacking. SO FUN.
And I LOVE that now your kids won't let you stop!
That's a great tradition (I think)! The ideas are limitless floating in my head of what I would do with my $10....
And you can find meringue powder in any store that sells baking supplies like Michaels. It is a must for the royal icing to come out right.
Sounds like a fantastic holiday! I hope you enjoy it.
Christmas Eve! It is rainy and blah here, not sure if we will make it to Rockefeller Center, but maybe. I don't know why I don't just send and email...
i love the $10 tradition. srsly, i might have to mention that one to the hubs because it's awesome. don't you love the things you do that the kids pick up as "tradition"? too funny!
Wilton makes a meringue powder, so look for it with the cake decorating supplies next time. It's to make the royal icing and is really handy to have in the cupboard!
I love the Christmas dinner idea. It's fantastic! Takes a lot of the pressure off Mum to make a big drawn out meal.
We're having Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding, because we are all sick of turkey. :)
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