Wednesday, December 23, 2009

t minus 36 hours and counting



the danes think christmas is the 24th, even tho' they do refer to it as christmas eve, as one should. they torture their children by making them wait all day, until after the food is consumed and the dishes put away before finally letting the sugar-crazed, zombie-tired little darlings tear into their gifts. imagine how much more peaceful the day would be if they just waited until actual christmas, let the kids open their gifts in the morning like normal people and then they had their new games and toys to play with all day while the adults cooked. you know, like the normal order of things.

at our house, we try to do a bit of both. it works out because sabin's big sisters come to our house on the 25th, which is actual christmas, and i save a stocking of small prezzies for sabin to have in the morning. we do our big christmas meal that day and just have a good soup of some sort - tho' not my mom's oyster stew because i can never find oysters 'til after christmas - and some good bread on the 24th.


nigella fruitcake #95

as of this moment (midmorning on december 23), the only tree we have up is the little lego tree pictured above. and as you can see, the presents don't really fit under it very well. i baked up a storm yesterday - making a beautiful and easy fruitcake from nigella's christmas cookbook, a couple of loaves of cranberry-orange bread (recipe coming soon to domestic sensualist) and a thyme focaccia. when i wasn't baking, i was playing outside in the snow with husband and sabin and her friend, so there was no time to put up the trees (one big one and a little one for sabin's room), which we went out and cut down on monday.






after seven nearly uninterrupted hours of playing in the snow yesterday, around 8, sabin began complaining of a stomach ache. her cheeks got rosey (not in a good way) and her eyes glassy.  her friend, who was going to stay overnight, reluctantly tore himself away from her computer and went home with his parents who had come by to inspect the fort and have a bit of hot apple cider and freshly-baked nigella fruitcake. it was a good thing he did, because she spent the entire night throwing up, then fitfully sleeping for a little while, then throwing up again. and it's no better this morning, tho' now her little tummy is empty, so there's not as much throwing up. what a way to spend christmas!

17 comments:

Ju said...

Sorry to hear Sabin is not well. Same happened last year to many family members, so Xmas lunch was quite uneventful.
We also celebrate on the 24th in Brazil. Kids up till midnight for a feast and presents, although I must admit, I prefer the "normal" Christmas day celebrations, much more relaxed.
Hope she gets better by tomorrow.
And again! Merry Xmas.

Elizabeth said...

Hope Sabin will be better soon, so she can enjoy christmas.
Really like you lego tree.
Well have a great christmas with all the yummy things you planned for the people you love.

(The snow is disappearing rapidly here)

Anonymous said...

oh no. poor little sabin. hope she is feeling better soon.

f8hasit said...

Best wishes to Sabin on a speedy recovery! Poor thing...

Hope you all have a Happy Holiday despite the sickness.
:-)

Lisa-Marie said...

i hae a few things to say, so here's a list
-I am sending get well vibes and mental hugs to Sabin
-I want a lego Christmas tree
-I love Nigella, I want to be her.
-I want to eat your food
-Christmas Ee is not Christmas Danish people!!!!!

- I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, and I am happy to have found you this year!!!

Sandra said...

I am sorry Sabin is not well. I hope she will be better by your celebration.

Shokoofeh said...

Aw little beautiful Sabin... :-( I hope she gets well so soon! xo

beth said...

may the get healthy angels show up at your house and may your christmas be filled with love and warmth...

Char said...

poor honey - hope she is feeling better soon.

happy christmas julie. hope it is a beautiful one.

Chiara Ulivi said...

Hi Julochka! Don't worry, children recover so speed!! Sabin will be better soon and you'll spend a Great Christmas! Best wishes, chiara.

Magpie said...

I hope she feels better.

Have a lovely Christmas.

Marion Williams-Bennett said...

I love the lego tree with star, it's just perfect.

Hope Sabin is feeling better and you all can enjoy the beautiful Christmas you are creating - so full of warmth and joy!

Happiness to you!

Molly said...

Ah the 24h bug, I know it well...
I'm putting up the tree right now (8pm on the 23rd) after putting my daughter to bed who has just been diagnosed with ... german measles!
What's with these kids?!
I'm sure Sabin's recovery will be aided by presents and sisters and fun.
Have a lovely few days, merry Christmas!

spudballoo said...

Oh no poor Sabin. A bug? A little chill on the tummy? Let's hope it passes soon enough...

Your baking sounds delightful, and the cake looks fabulous! I kind of wish there was 'something' about christmas eve in the UK, other than leaving out stockings and a snack/drink for Father Christmas and the obligatory carrot for rudolph.

I think it would be lovely to have a rather elegant dinner on christmas eve night for the grown ups, and one present each ot open from under the tree or something?

My children have new Christmas PJs waiting for them when they get out of the bath on Christmas Eve...an early Father Christmas drop off while on his way round the world ;-) he leaves them just outside the bathroom while they are in there. Funny how he does that...

x

will said...

I think Xmas with palm trees and beach sand seems perfectly reasonable - nay - more than reasonable - desirable!

Sammi said...

Oh no!I hope Sabin is feeling better now!

Looks like you're having a great time and maybe you'll have a white Christmas yet?!

Suecae Sounds said...

That last image is fab!

Happy holidays! :)