During the holidays, we all have a role to play. My role has always been the cook. Yes, as much as I hate planning, shopping and preparing them, I always end up doing it. Well, this year we decided to go with something non-traditional for our feast so I marinated some ribs which hubby barbecued along with some kielbasa while I made sashimi, stuffed mushrooms and macaroni salad. For dessert, I made two banana cream pies and a jello cheesecake. Normally, we have those tiny nilla wafer blueberry and cherry cheesecakes but this year I wanted to experiment with the cookie cutters to make Christmas shapes out of green jello against the strawberry jello topping. It didn’t look as pretty as I had hoped but it was still off the hook, as my sons would say.

Kamalani was happy with the things she got for Christmas. She got two dresses, one that she used for midnight mass, she got a metal Little mermaid musical jewelry box from her mom. She got 2 more books for her leap pad library. She also got a porcelain Little Mermaid display which I’ve tucked away for safe keeping. She also had a little pony which she can add to her other little ponies and she has a set of Mary Kay and Ashley dolls so she and her mom can play together.

I spoke to all of my sons and we exchanged Christmas greetings and that made me day. It’s not the same as being with all of them but hearing their voices was more than I could ask for on Christmas.

We’ve already taken down the Christmas decorations around the house, which wasn’t much anyway. We’re not sure yet if we’re going to have a New Year’s get together with the boys from Hawaii. Last time we got together on New Year’s I ended up sick from too much tequila shots. Them local boys are so sneaky!!!