We had a fun day today with all the kids playing together and the rest of us busily preparing for Christmas! We had ordered a free range turkey from a local farm, so Rhodri and the kids went to pick it up in the morning. We decided to follow Nigella's turkey roasting recipe which I have just now located online
here...So this is us setting the guy to soak in a briny spicy bucket overnight.
Here is a bucket view of the fella
Nain Beryl, Taid Trefor and Auntie Sioned arrived around 1pm and we had a good afternoon of catching up, drinking tea, going for walks in the forest and having treats.
But it wasn't too long before we broke into the cocktails -- here are Rhiannon and I mixing some
Yule Mules. Of course, the kids had their own alcohol free version which was very special.
In the Gans Family tradition, on Christmas Eve we normally have chili. And seeing as how it was a lovely afternoon and evening, I decided to christen my new birthday presents of a portable fire bowl (thanks Mom!) and a cooking tripod (thanks Rhods!). So I set up shop in the back garden (close to the house, not down at the bottom of the garden) and cooked up this delicious Choc Chip Chili.. another Nigella
recipe..
Then we busted out the Christmas headwear, put on the seasonal tunes and the fun began! I love this photo of Nain and Taid
Cristian trying to look angelic...
The 3 reindeer rascals
With Auntie Nia and lil' Valentin
And here is Rhods with Valentin
We ate the chili and then settled in for a bedtime song, story and a last check to make sure the stockings were hung up in the right place! Here is everyone singing "Sion Corn" which is the Welsh Santa song..
Of course, the troops carefully set out a plate of treats for Santa and his reindeer: cup of milk, a mini mince pie, and a carrot and bag of reindeer food for the reindeer. There were some VERY excited little people who went to sleep this night!
Here is a bucket view of the fella
Nain Beryl, Taid Trefor and Auntie Sioned arrived around 1pm and we had a good afternoon of catching up, drinking tea, going for walks in the forest and having treats.
But it wasn't too long before we broke into the cocktails -- here are Rhiannon and I mixing some Yule Mules. Of course, the kids had their own alcohol free version which was very special.
In the Gans Family tradition, on Christmas Eve we normally have chili. And seeing as how it was a lovely afternoon and evening, I decided to christen my new birthday presents of a portable fire bowl (thanks Mom!) and a cooking tripod (thanks Rhods!). So I set up shop in the back garden (close to the house, not down at the bottom of the garden) and cooked up this delicious Choc Chip Chili.. another Nigella recipe..
Then we busted out the Christmas headwear, put on the seasonal tunes and the fun began! I love this photo of Nain and Taid
Cristian trying to look angelic...
The 3 reindeer rascals
With Auntie Nia and lil' Valentin
And here is Rhods with Valentin
We ate the chili and then settled in for a bedtime song, story and a last check to make sure the stockings were hung up in the right place! Here is everyone singing "Sion Corn" which is the Welsh Santa song..
Of course, the troops carefully set out a plate of treats for Santa and his reindeer: cup of milk, a mini mince pie, and a carrot and bag of reindeer food for the reindeer. There were some VERY excited little people who went to sleep this night!
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