Family goes with Christmas as much as fruitcake, maybe because both contain nuts. (Ba dum tss.) Jason and I are grateful that we have lots of relatives around to enjoy that merry season with us. However, we also like to have time for our own festive traditions. Finding the perfect balance between familial socialness and insistent seclusion isn’t always easy but our merriments equalized alright this year.

We spent Christmas Eve among Jason’s kin. We ate a delightful meal with them and then opened piles of gifts. Their present-opening operation, per custom, included paper missiles and bow hairdos.

On Christmas afternoon we visited my family and did a round of gifting with them. Music is a holiday standard with my gang so pianos, violins, and even whistles were whipped out repeatedly during this gathering.

After those rounds, Christmas evening was ours to spend alone. Hark the herald angels sing! Jason and I prepared and excessively consumed chicken Marsala and cranberry spinach salad before even touching our presents to each other. Cooking a nice meal is a favorite Christmas tradition for us, albeit a tradition we can’t always accommodate with our relative schedule.

With full bellies, we did eventually get around to ripping off our wrapping paper. Jason spoiled me once again with more loot than anyone deserves. Between boarding goggles and an iPod touch, I experienced a lot of material weight gain that night.

But why limit seasonal expansion to the material realm? Jason and I kept up the baking during our Christmas break with treats like Yorkshire pudding. In my opinion, nothing is merrier than fixing fancy holiday fare with those you adore most.

Merry Christmas to all and to all an ideal blend of extended family partying and reclusive celebrating!