‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring… and you can be darn sure I wasn’t! I always relish the exhausted descent onto my cushy bed (I know, it seems like I’m there a lot these days… grin)and then lay there and revel in the highlights of Christmas eve:
- My son’s crazy expression every time I tried to take a photo of him (do you think it was because I’ve had my camera pointed at him 24/7 since he came home?)
- My mom’s “cryptic” story at dinner… filled with “you knows” and “that machine” and “those guys”… and I had to laugh because I saw myself in her. Funnier yet, the kids knew exactly which news story she was referring too… ahhh, those sharp young minds!
- Katie teaching my mom how to pose for photos! Arm on hips, shoulders turned…
- Skyping with my brother Rich in Japan then placing the camera in the living room so he could watch us “virtually” unwrap the presents… how I wish he and Rie were actually with us.
- My Dad the ever masterful chef alongside my mom in the kitchen.
- Marie-Claire and I reflecting on our first Christmas with Nick and Katie and how tiny they were in their little onesies… now we have big families with full-grown children… How did that happen so fast?
- My beautiful niece, Nicole, Matt and their pretty little Annie.. and watching her fall asleep curled on her side on her makeshift bed in the kitchen.
- How much baby Julia has grown, just in the last month and how her smile could light up the darkest day in winter… and does
- My brother-in-law George… rushing for a trash bag to scoop up the wrapping paper before it could hit the floor, exactly like his brother (my husband) Dave (Ahhh, so it’s a family trait, then…). Paula saying, “There’s a rule in our house, if you can’t find it George threw it out.”
- How the person that adamantly specified that she not be given Christmas presents this year, was the one who was most delighted with her gifts… (Nanna!)
I recall looking around the room and wishing that I could freeze time, that I could keep everyone here, together.. safe, happy, healthy…
And I resist the urge to lock my son in his room so he can’t leave again… to tuck Katie in so tight that the sheets hold her there and nothing could ever harm her…
How fortunate I am to love and be loved by so many, for no particular reason other than because we are family…
Christmas always make me feel a touch of melancholy… I think it’s because I look around and am astonished to think.. “What in the world did I ever do to deserve to have these wonderful people in my life?” And I remember those that were once with us… grandparents, friends… and especially Georgie…
“What do I want for Christmas?” you might ask. Well.. this moment, right here, right now… is my Christmas gift, this year, every year…
And in the morning I get to wake up, put the coffee on, put the “Christmas Morning Wife Saver” in the oven and cut up fruit for the fruit salad… another simple tradition.
Then I think about the incredible number of hours and the preparation that goes on world-wide just for this one day and how it’s over in a camera flash and the crush of wrapping paper. Then I think…
The world could be completely transformed if every single moment of this human energy and intent was directed towards changing the world for the better…
What if we all came together with one common goal? That all we need to do would be to calculate the hours spent in the mall, the hours baking and blogging, the time spent wrapping and decorating and then we could choose to dedicate these same number of hours to that one cause..
our world would be irrevocably changed…
But such are dreams of one little blogger, typing away in my chilly little corner of Canada…
So, instead, I guess it’s time to pour the coffee and slice up the Wife Saver… and wake up my children… and give hugs all round… how lucky am I?
To print a copy, click here: Christmas Morning Wife Saver
Christmas Morning Wife Saver
- 8 slices white bread, crusts?removed
- 4 large or 8 small slices Canadian
- back bacon or? ham
- 4 large or 8 small slices sharp
- cheddar cheese
- 3 eggs
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/2 dry mustard
- 1/8 cup minced onion
- 1/8 cup finely chopped red pepper
- 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup butter
- Special K or crushed Corn Flakes
- Set 4 pieces of bread into a 9? x 9” buttered, glass baking dish. Cover bread with slices of back bacon (about 4 large). Lay 4 slices of cheddar cheese on top of bacon and then cover with remaining slices of bread to make it like a sandwich.
- In a bowl, beat eggs and pepper. To the egg mixture add dry mustard, onion, green pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and milk. Pour over the sandwiches, cover with plastic wrap and let stand in fridge overnight.
- In morning, preheat oven to 350 F.
- Melt butter and pour over top. Cover top completely with Special K or crushed Corn Flakes.
- Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour.
- Let sit 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve this with fresh fruit and hot cinnamon rolls.
- By Best of Bridge
Your post made me quite misty-eyed. Thanks for the recipe and Merry Christmas 🙂
Me too, when writing it. Merry Christmas to you…
A very merry Christmas to you and your family, B.
Same to you.. have a wonderful time!
Beautiful, so beautiful written piece… Happy New Year and Merry Christmas to you with your family, dear Barbara… These photographs seems so beautiful too, and should be so delicious… Thank you, with my love, nia
Thanks, Nia.. I hope all is well with you and your family:) xo Smidge
What a touching piece. Merry CHristmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family.
Thanks Janis, hope you had a wonderful Christmas as well!
Your wife saver (fantastic name).. sounds a lot like my bacon and egg souffle.. I had forgotton all about it. Poor old Logan worked up on your ski fields on christmas day. Though I don’t think he minded. I had none of my children with me this year so I could empathise completely with wanting to lock them in and just KEEP them! love c
Ah, wish I could take credit, it’s a Best of Bridge series of cookbooks done by a group of women. It’s an old tried-and-true recipe so I’m sure their are versions… but your bacon and egg souffle sounds like a new one to me. I’d love that recipe.. or to see you post it:) We aren’t up at Sunshine this year, so no chance to send him Christmas Greetings for you.. it would have been neat to be able to. Yes… let’s just lock them up and throw away the key.. xo Smidge
A touching post. I know what you mean about grown children. Not sure how it all happens so fast.
Am with my son’s family and their four children, 8,6,4, and 3 so we are having a wild time.
My daughter lives about 20 minutes from them and came with her new husband James and my other son lives in Croatia so we missed him but thank Goodness for SKYPE.
Your recipe looks like one we have made other years but better!
Funny about George keeping things tidy.
Wow, that sounds like a very rambunctious and large group of family… it would be so great to hear them running around, laughing! I love those ages around Christmas time! I’m so glad to hear you are delighted and have family near!
Beautiful, touching post. I know what you mean about wanting to freeze moments. 🙂
Yes… if time could stand still…Merry Christmas!
Sounds like a fabulous time!
It was, as I’m sure yours was as well… now looking forward to New Year’s!
A beautifully written post, Smidge. I’m sure many parents would agree with you. And your recipe sounds like the perfect breakfast for a houseful of people.
Thanks, John, I hope you had a wonderful family Christmas as well.. I can’t wait to read what you all cooked, baked and ate this year!!
Another beautifully-written, gorgeously-illustrated, thoughtful, heartfelt and heart-tugging post. Showing up here is always such a lovely experience. I savor it each and every time. Thank you once again, Smidge!
Thanks so much Spree, your kind comments are always so sweet.. just like you!! Merry Christmas!
Beautiful touching post and the pictures are fantastic.
Happy Holidays!
Thanks and a Happy New Year as well:0
Merry Christmas- well written with gorgeous photos!
Thanks so much!
Beautifully written. My father also can’t stand scattered wrapping paper. He’s always collecting it up before I’ve managed to salvage the cards that were attached.
Haha, yeah, although I have to admit it’s kinda handy, you do have to make sure you’ve got the cards saved:)
Such a beautiful post, Smidge! Blessings of the season to you and your lovely family!
Thanks so much, Celia… blessings to you and yours as well:)
How beautiful….I share your feelings with my own family. We are miles apart but I do have my kids with me and I’d like to lock them both in their rooms for safekeeping too! I love the name of that recipe; I will have to make it just to share the name!
Thanks! Yes, just dropped my son off at the airport… it was the only flight available to have him back in time for hockey. As long as he’s happy… I’m happy! That recipe is so common and a bit “old school” around here.. I think most of my friends make it! Glad it’s “new to you”:)
You make me want to go freeze my kids where they are right now. I know I’m going to miss them and cherish each day while I have them. 🙂 Merry Christmas Smidge! I hope it was a fabulous day.
It was a great day, wish it had lasted a day or two longer.. but now we have the holidays to look forward to!
That fruit salad looks amazing!
Well.. that was the healthy part:)
Wow, everyone else has said it, but what a deep post. Hope you had a great Christmas!
Thanks Joanne, I hope you and your family have a happy holiday together!
Thanks for this lovely reverie cuz! I do love how you write! xoxoxox
Well… thanks cuz, I missed having you here as well!!! It’s not fair:( I hope you had an awesome birthday and great Christmas!!
Oh that fruit salad you have on the table.. is calling me. I mean I can’t stop looking at that photo lol. I have to make me some and fast lol. I love this post.. and I hope you had such an amazing Christmas 🙂
What a lovely, evocative post. 🙂