The kids and I drove down to Wynnewood on Monday, 12/23.  We had beautiful warm weather this Christmas so we went for a walk with Tara, Mom-Mom, Josie, and Aunt Jane.  Later that night we cooked bbq chicken, roasted broccoli, and Blaine and Sarah’s “famous made mac and cheese” for the group.

Here’s the deconstructed turkey getting prepped for the big day.

On Christmas Eve we enjoyed the traditional Mahoney Family bowling extravaganza, followed by a delicious lunch prepared by Andrew (filet mignon cooked sous vide with bordelaise sauce and mushroom risotto), with salad by Uncle Fran and followed by Tim’s famous bread pudding.  It was all so yummy I forgot to take a picture!  The group included: our 4, Mom and Molly, Fran, Tim, Liz, Josie, Nate, Aunt Jane, Uncle Hank, Aunt Jean, Kate, Jesse, Gus, Sean, Clare, Marcus, Moira, Uncle Peter, Janer and Daniel.  So that’s… 24!

Later that evening we took another walk and saw the beautiful sunset!

Christmas Eve… putting out presents, assembling toys, Love Actually on in the background… and some Irish carbombs.  Only because Andrew got all the tools and ingredients at the gift exchange!

Christmas morning!

The food was plentiful and delicious on Christmas Day!  Liz made devils on horseback appetizers and the cheese spread was huge thanks to Aunt Jane (including the #1 cheese in the world this year, a blue from Oregon).  For Christmas Dinner we had deconstructed turkey, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, green beans, maybe some other sides I’m forgetting?  Lots of dessert!  The group included 13 from the previous day (our 4, Mom and Mol, Tim, Liz, Josie, Nate, Fran, Aunt Jane, Uncle Peter) plus Uncle John’s 7 (John and Mary K, John Andrew, Leslie, Liffey, Megan and Ed), and 6 from the Walley side (Megan, Lan, Emmett, Janet and Alec, and Dr. Walley).  That makes 26, hope I am not missing anyone.  Later that evening we played a round of 99 and learned that Franny really enjoys egg nog.

The day after Christmas we got organized and went on an excursion to the Philadelphia Zoo, with Tim and Josie and Nate, Leslie and Liffey.

We saw turkeys, groomed some goats, and enjoyed watching the gibbons.  Sarah’s favorite was the red panda.

After the zoo we went out for lunch at Anthony’s wood fired pizza in Wynnewood with Mom, Aunt Molly, and Uncle Fran.  The next day we drove back to NY.  Thanks again to Mom and Tim and Liz for hosting us!  The house looks wonderful and it was fun having everyone back at Ingeborg Road this year!

We got a little snow on 12/2, and the kids were so excited to shovel it!  They even shoveled the grass.

On 12/4 we went to Tony’s to get our tree, and I tried once more to get a good Christmas card photo.  The tree was excellent, came to us from Canada if I recall correctly, and really took on water and lasted out the season.

Blaine has really become a reader!  I love seeing him wrapped up in a book on the couch.

One night we went to the Chatsworth culinary evening, where they try to introduce the kids to different foods.

On 12/7 we decorated the tree!

Also on 12/7 we went to “Light Up Larchmont,” our yearly town celebration featuring munchkins, photos with Santa (the kids once again avoided the big guy), letters to Santa, and culminating in a tree lighting.  We also went for our traditional hot Belgian cocoa at the Larchmont chocolate shop, aptly named Cocoa.

On 12/8 we went to New Roc City bowling to get ready for Christmas Eve!  Followed by Indian buffet brunch at Coromandel.

We had a little more snow on 12/11, but still not enough to really shovel, or sled, or build a snowman.  🙁

One day we went to see an ice hockey game at the Hommocks rink!

We also went to a STEM event and Blaine loved watching this 3D printer.

Sarah hosted us for her Kindergarten literacy event in her classroom, and shared some projects she’s been working on.  I took photos of the book she wrote, called “My Family.”  The ending is hilarious.

We also found some time to make the Ina Garten Spiced Pecan recipe to take with us to PA for Christmas!