Each year, the family tries to uphold certain Christmas traditions which makes it a much-looked forward to occasion among the kids. In the past, we’ve either spent it in a hotel or out of town. This year being meaningful enough, we’ve chosen to spend it at home. Meaningful because it’s the first Christmas I’d spend with Mr. Z (since knowing each other in 2007) and it’s his first time as well with the kids. We certainly left no stone unturned in loading the house with gifts, food and laughter.

I started Christmas Eve on a high note, with a list of dishes for the noche buena. The only problem was my energy would taper off later in the day. Still, I was glad to finish my main course beef dish (tender-cooked beef mechado, simmered for four hours or so), the mac and cheese, and favorite chicken-potato fruit salad. The rest of the feast was store-bought, like the cookies and cream cake from Red Ribbon, the CDO whole cooked ham, the dinner rolls and some sweets from Dunkin’ Donuts.As they say, don’t sweat the small stuff, even during Christmas
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