Sunday, January 1, 2017

Happy New Year!



I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!  I made our traditional Italian fish feast for Christmas Eve. Most call it the "Feast of the Seven Fishes," but I make more fish than that, and also many vegetables and rice balls. I serve buffet style with everyone helping themselves. Our dining room table extended into our living room, as beside family, we had our son's in laws and a friend as dinner guests.


Our grandchildren were very patient and waited until after dinner to open their gifts.  They were very excited to get surprise gifts, as well as special hoped for presents.


This photo made me smile as the granddaughters had fun playing with the wrapping paper, bows and boxes!

Dessert on Christmas Eve were the many Christmas cookies I baked--some regular and some gluten free, as well as a.....


... gluten free black forest trifle! It is composed of layers of gluten free chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, cherries and whip cream. It was a definite hit with the grandsons.


Christmas Day, my husband and I were at my daughter and son-in-law's home, while our son and daughter-in-law and children were at their in-laws. My son-in-law cooked a delicious ham, turkey and eggplant parmigiana dinner and our granddaughter had fun showing us all the gifts Santa Claus brought to her. 


During the Christmas vacation from school we took our three oldest grandchildren to the History Colorado Center in Denver, Colorado.  I blogged about this unique museum in depth on this post
There was a gingerbread house exhibit, of Denver landmarks, made by students at local art schools, in the lobby of the center, which the children enjoyed looking at when we first walked in.


The History Colorado Center is a wonderful "hands on" center for adults and children that brings visitors back in time to Colorado's early to present days. We spent a few hours working on a farm, working in the mines, driving through the plains on a rural road, learning about snow pack, the beginning of the ski industry, and learning about important historical events and people in Colorado.


My grandchildren especially enjoyed the simulated ski jump exhibit that gives one the feeling of jumping off the ski jump on Woodchuck Hill in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. It was built by Norwegian born skier Carl Howelsen for the 1914 inaugural Winter Carnival. As one steps on the skis a short instruction video is shown and then the simulation of skiing, complete with the skis tilting and air blowing in your face.  My oldest grandson did a great  job every time he tried and won many a "gold medal"!  He also helped his younger brother and cousin do their "jumps!" 



Sadly, the "Elf on the Shelf" played a trick on us this year, and passed around the stomach flu among some of our family, so our New Year's Eve celebrations were low key and food and champagne-less. Maybe not such a bad way to begin the New Year after so many prior celebrations and treats?  Thankfully, we are all feeling better and are now ready to make 2017 a year filled with joy and new experiences.  I hope you will return to my blog to see where I'll take you next. I'm always visiting new places and learning new things and love to share them with you.


Have a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous 2017!


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45 comments:

Stacey said...

That's a lot of good food and adorable grands in your photos.

Happy New Year, Pat. :)

Terri Steffes said...

I loved reading about your Christmas. Thanks for sharing your fun details!

Linda W. said...

Loved all your Christmas photos! The food looked scrumptious! (I need to visit your house next Christmas..) Sorry you all got sick, but hope everyone's on the mend for 2017.

The Gathering Place said...

It looks like you had a wonderful Christmas holiday with your family. The food sounds amazing, your grandchild look cute and excited, and your house looks festive.

diane b said...

Its nice to see how others celebrate. As usual you had a great spread of food.The grand kids look very happy with their lot and what fun to have an interactive museum. I will continue to follow you on your adventures although I might not catch every post. Sometimes other things get in the way of blogging.

Daniela said...

Happy New Year to you, Darling Pat, and thanks most sincerely for sharing such a wonderful, hertwarming post !

Hope you've enjoyed all the warmth of your family and your home during these festive days, I'm sending many blessings on your days to come

Xx Dany

Lady Fi said...

What festive shots. That trifle looks amazing!

The Furry Gnome said...

Happy New Year Pat!

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

Happy New Year, Pat! Looks like you had a very fun and festive holiday :) Sorry to hear about the stomach flu though and hope you're feeling better!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Sending you wishes for a fabulous 2017 to you and your family!

Barbara said...

Pat, I'm so glad that you love to share your adventures with us because I enjoy seeing them on your blog!

I'm sorry to see that the stomach flu was a part of your holidays. The food and family pictures are wonderful. I'm amazed that you could come up with additional fish (more than 7). You are amazing!

Have a wonderful New Year!

Sarah said...

Looks like you had a full holiday! Hope you are feeling better by now.
Happy New Year!

Forest Dream Weaver said...

Beautiful fun post....thank you!
Wishing you a wonderful New Year!

NanaHood said...

I LOVE connecting with other grandparents and do hope you will visit and subscribe to NanaHood.com so we can get to know each other. Definitely going to subscribe to your blog. Your pictures were amazing and your family is gorgeous. You are blessed! Sorry about the stomach flu. That's happened to us too One Thanksgiving all kids had at least one kid sick and so we fixed meals and took to parents. Not much fun but we were happy to do it! Happy New Year! Teresa from NanaHood.com

Tamar SB said...

A great celebration until the sickness took hold! Happy new year and feel well soon.

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year Pat and family! You really put on an amazing spread. Wow! Everything looked so lovely and festive.

Vee said...

Oh that nasty virus/flu has been all over the place. so many in Blogdom having been ill over the holidays. Enough of that!

I was taking special note of your card this morning so enjoyed knowing who all the players are. What a lot of adorable children who are growing so fast. Loved the ski jump simulator pics...yup, the eldest knows what he is doing!

Your celebrations look just marvelous...you must be so busy preparing. Hope that you have a good elf helping out. (I am pretty sure that you do.)

Happy New Year to you and all of yours!

Linda said...

Hope you are all recovered from the flu, not nice at any time of the year. Our granddaughter got the same nurses outfit a couple of years ago.

NCSue said...

Thanks for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2017/01/church-of-primacy-of-peter.html, and have a wonderful - and healthy - 2017

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

Pat your Christmas celebrations are just wonderful. Food, family and love. I admire you for taking so many photos as we were quite remiss in this department this year. I adore the sweet photo of the girls enjoying the wrapping paper. What wonderful memories you have to cherish! Happy New Year! I do hope you are feeling much better. ♥

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

You sure had a wonderful Christmas feast and I know you loved being there with your family. What a beautiful place to live! And I hope you are all feeling lots better now...that old flu has been around a lot! Happy New year sweet friend. Hugs, Diane

Taken For Granted said...

Fine food photography. Now it is time for the January diets.Your Black Forest Trifle looks fabulous.

Judy said...

I so enjoyed reading about all your Christmas festivities. The food looked amazing...and your beautiful grands are growing by leaps and bounds! Wishing you and your family and most blessed and wonderful new year!

Anonymous said...

Yes, and being a Nana I was sick last two years after the holidays because the little ones caught the flu bug - am so happy I escaped that one this New Year! A very happy New Year to your and your family and many thanks sharing it with ALL SEASONS!

Your family must love your making the holidays such a feast! Am interested where you got the recipe for the gluten free trifle - let me know when life has turned back to normal for you:)

Su-sieee! Mac said...

Thanks for sharing your holiday adventures. I enjoyed them a lot. I imagined myself eating the chocolate trifle and doing the ski jump. :-) Happy New Year!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Looks like there was lots of action and fun at your place during the Christmas season.Children certainly add to the excitement.

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

You and your family certainly had a great Christmas. And it looks like the museum is a hit. Sorry you were under the weather for NYE.

We'll be passing through the Denver airport on Wednesday on our way to Idaho to see my Dad. I'll give you a wave!

bj said...

A great post full of good eats and beautiful grands...how fun.
We had a couple people feeling bad thru Christmas...
Happy New Year...

betty-NZ said...

Looks like a great spread! I hope the new year brings you lots of joy and peace.

Maggie said...

Certainly looks like you had a wonderful time with your family over the holidays. I'm sorry to hear that the elf brought the flu to your NYE bash, hopefully everyone is feeling better now.
Happy New Year from Normandy.

Karen (Back Road Journal) said...

It sounds like wonderful Christmas celebrations…except for that stomach flu. Wishing you and your family all the best in the New Year.

carol l mckenna said...

Always such wonderful photos ~ here one sees the love within your family besides the delightful festivities ~ Hope you all are on the mend from the festivities ~

Wishing you a Healthy and Happy New Year ~ ^_^

podso said...

Looks like some lovely holiday times! And we had the stomach flu here too over New Years. Wishing you all the best in 2017.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

What a wonderful and tasty looking array of food dishes! Wow! I'm sure everyone had a lovely time and I loved seeing the photos of your beautiful family. Happy New Year, Pat! I hope to do better with my blogging and visiting now that things have slowed down a bit. I have some catching up to do. Have a wonderful day! ~Cheryl

Handmade in Israel said...

It looks like a delightful Christmas. The black forest trifle looks especially delicious!

Ruth said...

Wow! You seem to have the most decadent feasts during the festivities (I remember your Thanksgiving photos). I learned about the Feast of the Seven Fishes from a coworker. Her husband was the one who used to prepare the dishes. Would love to be on a feast like that. Wishing you the best in 2017! #WordlessWednesday

Andrea said...

You have a very festive and colorful Holidays. A house is always wonderful with young kids. In our case during the long wake of my youngest uncle, i love watching the kids playing very well, although one speaks English, one in Italian and one in Spanish. We are in awe how they understand each other. Nobody speaks in Pilipino but i think that is the way they understand each one. They are first cousins who came home for their grandfather's wake and burial. Happy New Year!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Happy New Year.....looks like a wonderful Holiday season, at least until the very end ...glad you're all recovered. That Museum is definitely a winner...great place to take your grands, who are at a perfect age for that experience. Stay warm.... I just got a text photo from our Boulder family... snow!! The Oregon ans Washington kids have the white stuff too. Bill and I don't mind being the only different members of the family!

Sharon said...

What a great collection of warm family photos! Family and friends at holidays are the best of life! Happy New Year to you.

Powell River Books said...

A seafood supper sounds wonderful. We had a quiet holiday with a few traditional foods we like to have once a year. - Margy

Lowcarb team member said...

A lovely lot of photographs you've shared - so lovely to see them all.

That trifle looks lovely.

Sorry to read that many of you have been unwell but pleased that you are now all feeling better.

Happy New Year Wishes to you and yours and looking forward to more of your blog posts during 2017.

All the best Jan

Michelle said...

Pat, I know you must be so glad that you moved to Colorado to be close to your children and their families. This time of year must really prove it! It looks like such a great celebration at your home. I would love to try all of the food! Thank you for linking up to Thankful Thursday and I hope to see you again!

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful holiday! All but the stomach flu. Hubby and I had that last week. Definitely not fun. :( Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann

Mary K. said...

Pat there is nothing better in the world than being with your family at this time of the year. And your pictures prove it. I see smiles of happiness all around. Your grand kids will grow up remembering these happy times. Happy New Year and I hope you are feeling better.

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

I’ve had trouble with the Blue Monday 2 blog. It is not accepting links. So, until Jeanne of Backyard Neighbor is able to return, please post your Blue Monday links at Magical Mystical Teacher each Monday. The first link is here:
https://magicalmysticalteacher.wordpress.com/2017/01/16/blue-monday/