Christmas Eve

"Back in the day" we used to do the very traditional Italian Christmas Eve...lots of pasta, lots of fish/seafood, and lots of Italians gathered together to eat, argue and criticize one another with much love and affection of course! But, as time passes families gow and then they branch out on their own splitting off from the original group it seems. Today everybody goes their own way and the parties are smaller, more tame, and with a lot less fuss. Tim and I hosted this year. Mostly because we have 5 children one of which is just a little bity and we don't like dragging them here, there, and everywhere if we can help it. Tim and I enjoy hosting gatherings like this. Tim's a great cook and I'm not too shabby myself (but it all depends on who you ask). I made mostaciolli cookies and biscotti - very Italian...Uncle Dave, Aunt Linda, mom and dad, brought food too. One of these years I'm gonna try to make Auntie Virginia's home made ravioli from scratch. But I need to get a pasta maker first. (You know the thingy that rolls out the dough to the right thickness ) I really wish Kelly were here to do that sort of thing with. We could banish the kids from the kitchen, put in both leafs for the table, cover it in flour and spend the day making ravioli, drinking wine, and laughing our asses off. (Too bad I can't really laugh my ass off - that'd be a hell of a lot more fun than jogging on the tread mill...)
Speaking of which - I'd better dust it off (again) and start running cause I was a BAD girl this Holiday season and I STILL need to lose the pregnancy weight!!!!!!! Yes, yes, Christopher is only 4 mths. old but I have an irrational fear of being labeled "that fat stay-at-home mom with all those kids!" I'd much rather be known as "that mom of five - can you believe it!!??- she looks great!" I'm about 25 lbs away from THAT commentary... so it looks like salad and jogging are in my future...