Recapping my continued adventures here in Kansas City over the Christmas holiday:
At 6:50 Christmas morning the lights snapped on and two little girls bounced onto our bed. “It’s Christmas! It’s Christmas! Santa came!”
So we threw on some clothes and headed upstairs. Sure enough, Santa had paid us a visit overnight! The snacks and eggnog that had been left by the fireplace had disappeared. All that was left were a few crumbs. Santa must have been hungry.
First things first, we checked our stockings, which had been hung by the fireplace with care.
There were all sorts of little goodies inside. Thankfully, no one received any lumps of coal, so we must have all been good this year.
Then I prepared breakfast: homemade biscuits with sausage and gravy. Very nice start to a holiday, if you ask me.
After breakfast we went to the family room to unwrap the gifts that Santa had brought. Amazingly enough, Santa had heard that Tawn was celebrating the holiday in Kansas City and had brought his present here: a picnic basket and set, complete with plates, glasses, corkscrew, cutting board, knife, etc.
Above: Emily and Ava don’t even look as Tawn shows off his new picnic basket.
In the afternoon we headed to my grandparents’ house for dinner. It was a tasty dinner but what I really want to share is this picture from the candied yams. My grandmother ran out of small marshmallows halfway through completing the dish, so she had to switch to large marshmallows. I thought it was kind of funny.
Later, she served us a special dessert that she hasn’t made for years: homemade cannoli. This Sicilian dessert is a pastry shell filled with a mixture of sweetened ricotta cheese and chocolate shavings and candied citrus peel. Very rich. She’s quite a cook and this was a really nice treat. Below, my grandmother and a close-up of the cannoli.
My grandmother is very talented. Below is a picture of my niece Emily’s Christmas gift from her: a dress that my grandmother made. On the piano in the background are two dolls that my grandmother made, too. Not only did she make the dolls, she made the costumes for them. She’s made dozens of these dolls over the years.
Very talented lineage I come from, eh?
In the evening after we returned home (I have a hard time getting used to this midwestern schedule, eating dinner at 5:30!) we were nowhere near ready to go to bed, so Tawn and I went to watch the new John Patrick Shanley film, “Doubt”.
A brilliant screenplay and no doubt an amazing stage production. However, I don’t think that it translated so well to the big screen. The film felt very claustrophobic and I was so relieved in the one scene where Meryl Streep’s character and another character go for a walk outdoors.
The acting was superb, especially Philip Seymour Hoffman as Father Flynn and Viola Davis as the mother of the first black student at the school. Meryl Streep did a good job as Sister Aloysious, who suspects Father Flynn of abusing the boy. But she is such a strong actor that I couldn’t really ever get past seeing her and thinking, “That’s Meryl Streep acting like a really uptight nun.”
Still worth watching but maybe only a three out of four stars.
All in all, a relaxing Christmas.
christao408 
I thought the two of you would be up and about at 6:50! I really like the picture of the children and Tawn on the bed. Wow – dinner at 5:30? That’s really early for me.
Hey Daniel,I am back in SFAre you coming back this way anytime soon?
Cute pictures- I really like the dress your grandma made.
emily is the only one that doesn’t look tired that early in the morning! looks like you had a wonderful Christmas Day.
Looks like you all had a blast!Happy Holidays! =)
Grandma made Sicilian dessert!! Yumm!! That reminds me of an episode of “Golden Girls”. Tawn looks at ease with little kiddies….seems like he’s ready for starting a family? LOL
What a lovely time. Looks like you inherited your creativity and cooking aptitude – no doubt about it. The cannoli look scrumptious. I’ve only had homemade once and they were like heaven.
I have seen your posts from early this year(?) about your grandmother’s extraordinary talents. What a wonderful trait to have in your family’s DNA! I am disappointed with your commentary about the movie. I was hoping to go see it this afternoon. But I don’t like all indoor scenes and dark atmosphere. I will decide on something different. Mohamed and I saw the Valkyrie on Christmas day. That, I thought, was powerful.
@Wangium – This is Chris. Tawn and I will be back in SF on the 31st about noon. There until the 2nd. Was thinking of arranging a late afternoon get together in SF on the 1st, maybe at Sweet Inspirations or somewhere like that.
@ElusiveWords – Normally I’d be up by then, but with the late evening the night before (went to see a movie) and the fact that my sister’s guest room is in the basement so we don’t get any visual cues like light coming in a window, it is easier to sleep in.
@ElusiveWords – Oh, and I agree about 5:30 being early for dinner. I’ve barely even finished my afternoon tea.
@Dezinerdreams – It is a cute outfit, isn’t it?
@coletteatsea – She is much more of a morning person than either Tawn or Ava.
@ZSA_MD – Have you seeing “Slumdog Millionaire” yet? I’ve heard many positive reviews from friends although have yet to see it. I suspect it may not make it to Thailand so want to see it while here.
@Thatsfirecracker – Happy holidays to you, too.
@curry69curry – Yeah, and she isn’t even Italian. Go figure. Yes, I think Tawn would love to have children although as he’s quickly learning as we take nieces out and about, they don’t have any patience.
@murisopsis – That must be where the genes come from. Considering my hair genes are from my grandfather! Ha ha…
I have no idea why I typed Daniel… Must have been chatting while I typed this…Sorry ChrisSo 1/1 sounds good!
@Wangium – No worries – I know that Daniel and I are easily confused, except when I take off my shirt! =P
@christao408 – No I haven’t and I don’t think it will come to Quincy. I heard it was phenomenal. I may see it in St.Louis or Chicago when I go there in the near future. Quincy is just not the right market for movies like that.
Hm…didn’t see Doubt. Sounds like maybe I should wait for it to go to DVD? But aw, the girls look so happy! Hope you two enjoy the rest of your stay in the states! :o)
Kids do Loves Christmas…….look how excited while they opening up thier gifts….
Great pictures and the video about Santa’s snacks. Love the marshmallows. And your nieces and Tawn look like little angels in the morning.
You do indeed come from a talented family tree! Those cannolis look absolutely amazing š
@minhaners – It is the devils that look like angels you need to watch out for! =)