Christmas 2009

I approached this holiday with anticipation and determination. With the passing of my mother-in-law in June, I knew that this Christmas was going to be very different. Christmas was her favorite holiday, a time where she baked a ton of cookies, cooked a huge dinner, decorated every square inch of her house and piled more presents under the tree than we ever needed (or wanted). This year, it was just the four of us and I found myself really looking forward to the day, despite the emotional impact her absence would have on my family.

My husband and I didn’t go hog-wild on gifts this year. Due to the economy and its impact on our household, we took the simple approach. The kids had fun playing their video games and munching on the snacks that I had made. I called my grandmother and had a nice two-hour conversation with her, something I’ve always cherished.

This was the first year that I attempted to make Rouladen (a traditional German dish) by myself. I wound up having my husband help me because we wouldn’t have eaten until late, otherwise. The meal turned out better than I expected. The meat was so tender that I could cut it with a dinner fork, even the next day. I always experience a bout of anxiety whenever I attempt to cook something that I’ve never cooked before. So you can say that 2009 was a year of “firsts” for me––the Thanksgiving turkey and the Christmas Rouladen.

My brother called after I had just finished eating, with some wonderful news. He landed a job a day or two before Christmas! After being out of work for almost a year, that was fantastic to hear.

Yesterday, I plowed through the rest of the book I was reading for my book club, which I will review later. My parents called me later in the afternoon and we talked for a while. After I got off the phone, I finished Chapter 10 and started on Chapter 11, managing to finish the first scene before my youngest brought out his new Monopoly City game. If it weren’t for the confusing directions, we would have had more fun. The object of this version of the game was to have the most money. So on that end, my youngest won, much to his delight.

Today I plan on relaxing, perhaps finishing up the chapter I’m working on now, and going to my book club meeting later this afternoon.

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