X-mas!

Before Christmas, Chris and Melanie came over with a 'Baby's First Christmas' hat - very cute. Maya was wearing it on Christmas day when we were at Grandma + Grandpa Lopez's. The hat is so soft and Maya didn't seem to mind it at all. We were eating turkey and opening a ton of presents all day. Not only do we have the before presents - presents, which are called 'stocking stuffers' and are sometime silly presents or maybe something you can eat (like lakris, uhmm), and yes, they are put in your X-mas stocking. And then of course there are the 'real deal' presents. It's all very overwhelming, but hey no one is complaining. We all got what we were hoping for - or that is, I don't know what Maya was hoping for, but she ended up with toys, music and some really cute outfits. Thanks for everything. Now, some of you know that I'm a true believer of eating duck at Christmas. Well, since my mum and Poul Arne turned to vegetarianism years ago, I had to selfishly fight for the choice of duck... Anyway duck once a year is just not enough... and well no duck at all is just disastrous, so Keith and I had a pretend Christmas Eve a few days before Christmas, where I cooked the usual menu of roast duck, potatoes, caramelized potatoes, red cabbage and of course delicious gravy. Lucky for me, Keith has developed a surprising love for duck too, so I'm not alone in my cravings. Christmas really snuck up on us this year. Before we knew of it it was the day before and we still hadn't put any decorations up. I wouldn't blame this on having a baby around, but lets face it, we are just last minute people. Most of it gets done sooner or later (usually later). What else for the holiday days?? - Well, Keith has had a cold since about a week before Christmas, and he now thinks he has gotten a cold upon a cold. Poor guy, he has not been feeling good at all and now his holiday from teaching is almost over. He will start teaching for the Spring semester on Monday (He has 3 classes again this semester). Me? Well, I changed my mind about teaching for the Spring semester - I have not had enough of Maya just yet. Instead, I will try and set up a portraiture business, something part time for now, but more about this later. Sandy and Larry (Keith's parents) came over the day after X-mas for æbleskiver and Gløgg (fluffy ball round pancake like things that you dip in powdered sugar and jam, and gløgg is warm spiced red wine with nuts and raisins). My mum and Poul Arne brought over a special æbleskive pan last year, so we figured we really ought to use it!