Holy cow!  Did I just type 11th?  The 11th Day?  How can that BE???  Where did the TIME go?  Where have the days gone???  I always feel this way when we’re down to the wire a couple of days before Christmas and I think, wait, did I enjoy the season ENOUGH?  Did I reconnect with friends?  Did I make new memories?  Did I spend enough time with my family?  Did I keep up our traditions?  Did I hear all my favorite Holiday music at least once? Did I get ALL the presents?  Did I forget someone? Gosh, the questions go on and on!  Because you KNOW you always forget SOMETHING, right?  Hopefully it’s just the batteries.

This day started out pretty funny.  We sent a singing Elf telegram to our friend the Chiropractor!  He’s turning 40 on Sunday, and well, we didn’t want it to go unnoticed! He was completely embarrassed!  But hey, to make up for it I baked him that yummy cake you see there…it’s our favorite Hummingbird Cake that we talked about like crazy while we were in Houston….just about the best cake EVER!  Banana, crushed pineapple, cream cheese frosting.  What’s not to love?  I threw in a handful of mini-chocolate chips too…just ‘cuz it sounded like a natural addition!  Here he is with the singing elf in the background….he’s trying to figure out what to wish for!  (I think he was wishing we’d all disappear!)

I had to do all the food shoppin’ today too, because there’s going to be a LOT ‘o cookin’ in the next couple of days!  On Christmas Eve we do a progressive dinner with family that live in the area.  This year it’s MY turn to cook the main course!  We’ll go to my sister’s house first for appetizers, then my house and finally my parents for dessert.  While we drive from house to house we take a meandering route and go down all the streets that put out luminaries and make sure we take in as many pretty lights as possible.  It’s a fun tradition!  But before I could think about my main dinner tomorrow, I needed to finish all my baking!

My brother John came over (he’s visiting from Miami!), I donned my “A Christmas Story” apron, we had the movie playing in the background and we got to work.  Do you see some of the shapes on that pan? Here’s a closer look:

It’s the “fragile” (must be Italian) Leg Lamp from A Christmas Story!!!  The all time classic Christmas movie!  And….

Who could forget the bunny suit???  Are these hilarious or what?  They came with the apron and DVD in a commemorative tin!  We just HAD to have them.  Can’t wait to frost these babies tomorrow!

What I should REALLY be doing is wishing you all a Merry Christmas Eve Eve!  Again, back in France, we had neighbors who held a yearly Christmas party on Christmas Eve Eve.  Every year we’d go and each year we were supposed to bring a memory, story, or talent to share.  Well, this got a bit taxing year after year and I’d find myself wondering if we couldn’t just do the same thing every year?!  I mean really.  Anyway, one year we all sat around to share stories.  I shared some of my favorite childhood memories like the year someone did the 12 Days of Christmas to us.  Ringing the doorbell every night and leaving treats on the doorstep.  We’d try to catch them every night, but never ever even saw them!  On the 12th day, Christmas morning, we found a box full of food for Christmas dinner.  A whole ham, potatoes, veggies, dessert…you name it and it was in the magic box.  I saw tears in my mother’s eyes when she found that box!  We didn’t have much money and she’d been worrying and worrying about what to feed us on Christmas Day.  I still don’t think we know who our Secret Santa was, but they sure brought joy to OUR house that season!  After I shared my story, Doug’s turn was next.  He told of a Christmas when all he wanted was a Red Flyer wagon.  You know the one I’m talking about…the classic toy!  On Christmas morning he was SO excited to find it in a box under  the tree!  But it wasn’t put together.  He needed his dad to help him get it ready for use.  So he asked him for help.  But he was busy putting other toys together.  So periodically, Doug would ask again, “Dad, can we put my wagon together”  Pleeeeaaase???” He kept getting the same reply, we’ll get to it, we’ll get to it.  Well Doug got tired of waiting and eventually, months later, the wagon in its box and all, got shoved underneath his bed where it stayed all year.  Until the following Christmas when he woke up to see what Santa had brought.  And THERE under the TREE was his long-forgotten wagon!  PUT TOGETHR this time!!!  The gift that just kept on givin’!

After we finish up our progressive dinner tomorrow night.  We come home, open presents from each other and watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” together.  Every year, we also like to read from a beautiful book I picked up from The National Gallery, London. Years and years ago when I used to actually do my Christmas shopping in London! (that’s a whole other story….)

Inside is the story of the birth of Christ, depicted with paintings featured in the National Gallery.

It’s so beautifully illustrated with Renaissance paintings of the First Christmas.

My kids LOVE this book!  My son, who is now 17, is the one who first noticed the cow in the background of this painting.  He was almost 2 years old at the time.

And that’s it for MY contributions to the 12 days of Christmas blogging.  Thank GOODNESS there are TWO of us!  We’ve plum worn ourselves out, but it’s been fun sharing our memories with you and reading about all of YOURS.  Thanks so much for participating!  And lest you think I’ve forgotten to announce our winner today, it’s…….

Karen Holland!!!!  You’re the next Lizzie B winner!  Emails us at lizziebgirls@gmail.com.

Do you have a Christmas Eve Eve tradition?  Or one last Christmas memory to share?  Leave a comment!

With all the hurry and hustle this season brings, it’s nice to stop and remember the true reason we celebrate it.  Whatever your religious beliefs may be, whether you celebrated Hanukah this year, or will be celebrating Christmas or Kwanzaa; I hope that you find the time to truly feel peace and joy. Wishing you a VERY Merry Christmas from the East Coast Lizzie B!