Christmas in Ohio

As I mentioned yesterday, we left for our Christmas vacation on Christmas Eve. Our first stop was to visit my Mom’s side of the family in Ohio. We had a great time with them!

Christmas Eve (December 24)

We had a late lunch that day of spaghetti with huge meatballs, bread with butter, green bean casserole, chips with guacamole, and milk. It was filling!

For dessert there was pumpkin bread, fruit, cookies, and donut holes.

The Christmas tree with all the gifts underneath! We had to be patient to open them until the next day, though.

After attending the Christmas Eve service at my Grandparent’s church, we looked at Christmas lights. One neighborhood in their town is famous for its brilliant displays.

Most of the houses had nativity scenes, along with all the other decorations.

When we arrived home, we enjoyed a snack of hot chocolate, desserts, cheese, crackers, and nuts. Then it was off to bed in anticipation of Christmas day!

Christmas Day (December 25)

On Christmas morning, my Abuela made a delicious breakfast of hard-boiled eggs, Vienna sausages, zucchini pineapple bread, fruit, bread and butter, and pineapple juice. It was delicioso!

After breakfast we had our own church service in the family room. It was a very encouraging time, filled with testimonies from everyone.

Not long after our service finished, our cousins arrived and we enjoyed a Puerto Rican feast for lunch. We ate Spanish rice, maduros, homemade bread with butter, pasteles, tortilla chips with guacamole, pork with peppers and onions, and punch. It was a meal fit for a king!

Ben, Roma, and Rubia enjoying lunch together.

After lunch it was time for gifts! But first we took a picture with our cousins.

We had such a splendid time exchanging gifts in front of the fire and the twinkling Christmas tree.

Then it was time for the annual, original Christmas production, put on by the twins, Josiah, and our cousins. In this year’s play, a young girl named Molly is transported back in time to Bethlehem to witness the birth of Jesus Christ. They did an excellent job!

 

December 26

Next day, we were invited over to our aunt and uncle’s house for lunch. They served delicious baked ham and cheese sandwiches, fresh strawberries, carrots, salad, chips with guacamole, bacalao con verduras, pear and cranberry crumble, and other candies. It was scrumptious!

My aunt’s side of the family came over as well and we enjoyed an afternoon filled with talking, playing games, shooting BB guns, and playing with their new dog, Alvin. We had a great time visiting with them!

We were sorry to leave the next day, but it was time to visit my Dad’s family in PA. Tune in tomorrow to hear about that visit!