Christmas Eve 2024

Monday night, Drew went over to Jack's in San Francisco and picked up his presents and golf clubs. Getting off work on Tuesday, Jack jumped on BART to Orinda. Drew and Carmen picked up him up at the Bart Station about 2:15 pm and started for Elk Grove.

Sharon and I headed to her brother Tim's house after 3:00 pm. Tim and Kathy last hosted Christmas Eve in 2019. We got there about 3:45 pm. Drew, Carmen and Jack rolled up about 4:20 pm.

The group for Christmas Eve totalled 23, including: Tom; Eric and Ashley; Kevin, Leah, Lydia and Amelia; Terry and Steve; Jim; Tim and Kathy; Eileen, Will and a friend of Eileen from Portland; Cormac, Erin and Mave; and, Sharon, Jack, Drew, Carmen and me.

After a buffet dinner, we exchanged gifts. Starting to run out of gas, I had fun watching the cousins gift exchange.

I enjoyed the evening. For a number of reasons, we haven't done a Christmas Eve like this since 2019.

Christmas Eve 2023

Drew and Carmen spent the night. Jack was up early and drove Sharon's car into San Francisco for work.

A Christmas Eve in two parts.

Part 1

Morgan, Clem, Lee and Daniel came over about 9:15 am. We had a nice leisurely late breakfast of waffles, scambled eggs, bacon and berries.

Afterwards, we opened presents. Lee is at a great age for Christmas. I really enjoyed; it was wonderful to have everyone together. Sharon spent a long time reading Lee from a book about mushrooms.

I talked three years ago about a sea change. While there has been a couple of interesting stretches [Tennessee], this paradigm shift continues.

Morgan, Clem, Lee and Daniel headed home in the early afternoon.


Part 2

Sharon's brother Tim had originally committed to host Christmas Eve. Coming back from Las Vegas earlier in the week, Tim and Kathy both ended up sick. After some discussion with Tom, we decided to step up and host. Will and Eileen picked up the food that Tim and Kathy had bought [ham, crab cakes and quiches] and dropped it off at our house on Saturday.

Inviting everyone to come over at 2 pm, we ended up with a group of twelve. Drew and Carmen stayed until about 3 pm. In addtion to them, the group included:: Tom; Eric and Ashley; Kevin, Leah, Lydia and Amelia; Jim, and; Sharon and I. At the last minute, Will and Eileen and Erin and Cormac texted that they were sick.

It was a nice afternoon. The weather was warm enough that we ended up sitting on the deck to exchange presents.


After everyone left, Sharon and I cleaned up and then watched episode nine of season six of the Crown. Jack got home from spending the day working in the city just before 8 pm.

Christmas Eve 2022 [To Orinda]

Christmas Eve and Christmas are going to be very different this year.

Christmas Eve was a day broken into three parts. Part #1. Given our schedule for the weekend, Sharon and I exchanged gifts on Saturday morning. I got her a Frame television for a master bedroom (plus mounting), an AppleTV, an Apple Watch band, a Santorini Christmas Ornament and a Greek Christmas ornament. She got me an Oura ring. We spent the rest of the morning getting ready to take off for a couple of days.

Part #2. About 12:30 pm, we headed to Sharon's brother Tom's house. Tom hosted a Christmas Eve open house. The group included Tom, Eric and Ashley, Kevin, Leah, Lydia and Amelia, Terry and Steve, Tim and Kathy, Eileen and Will, Erin and Cromac, Larry and Robin, Jim, Mary, Sharon and I. There was an ongoing gift exchange over the course of the afternoon. I watched parts of the San Francisco 49er versus Washington Commander NFL game; the 49ers won by the score of 37 to 20.

Part #3. About 4 pm, we headed to Carmen and Drew's house in Orinda. Jack took BART after work. We rolled up to their house about 5:30 pm. Jack was about 15 minutes in front of us; Drew picked him up from the BART station.

Morgan, Daniel and Lee came up on Friday and are spending a few days with Drew and Carmen. Carmen's parents, Pam and Mike, are also spending a few days in the area.

We had a nice evening. We had visited and had dinner. After Lee went to bed, the Morgan and Drew played Christmas carols in the living room.

With Sharon feeling a little under weather, we headed to the hotel to the hotel early. We are planning to spend three nights at the Lafayette Park Hotel. We crashed very early.

Christmas Eve 2021

In an attempt to have a larger family celebration in this uncertain time, Sharon and I invited everyone to a Christmas Eve open house. Unfortunately, this turned into a drama with political overtunes.

Nevertheless, it turned out to be a very nice afternoon. Kevin, Leah, Lydia and Amelia showed up about 1:15 pm and stayed for an hour and a half. Jim showed up about 2 pm. Lee, Morgan and Daniel turned up at 3:00 pm. Erin and Cromac and Will and Eileen rolled about about 4 pm and stayed until just before 7 pm. As a result, we had twelve different guests over almost six hours! I do miss the larger Frame Family events...

I was dissappointed that Tom didn't make it. At the last minute, he decided to focus on getting his house cleaned up for a couple of holiday celebrations over the next couple of days.

Sharon got a honey baked ham. We had a spread of appetizers with several people bringing contributions.

After everyone left and we picked up a little, Sharon and I finished the day watching episode eight of season three of Succession.

Christmas Eve 2020

Sharon and I spent a hectic day getting the house cleaned up.  With everyone getting tested for COVID this week, Sharon, Jack and I hosted Morgan, Daniel and Lee and Drew and Shannon for Christmas Eve. Sharon noted that it was the first time that she hasn't spent Christmas Eve with her family.

Before Drew and Shannon got there, we spent some time on the deck. We added a propane patio heater in the last week.

We had a very nice dinner of ham, lasagna and green salad. Shannon made the Lasagna.

Morgan, Lee and Daniel headed home a little after 7 pm. Sharon, Jack, Drew, Shannon and I had a relaxing evening catching up and opening a few presents. There are a lot of presents left to open on Christmas Day.

In an unexcepted surprise, Jack had built a Jeopardy game with questions based on posts in this blog!?! We finished the night playing Jeopardy. Being caught off guard and falling behind early, I rallied to beat Sharon, Drew and Shannon and win the game.

Christmas Eve 2019

We left the house about 2:45 pm and headed towards Elk Grove for Christmas Eve Mass at Good Shepherd. We got there about 3:30 pm. We were lucky to get a couple of seats in the last row. This is the first time that we have been back to Good Shepherd since 2014. Unlike five years ago, we didn't see very many families that we knew from our long history with the school and the church. Leaving Mass after communion, I was shocked at the number of people standing in the vestibule.

From there, we headed to Sharon's brother Tim's house. We have hosted Christmas Eve five of the last seven years. While it is nice to take a break from hosting, both Sharon and I lamented not being able to share the house and our Christmas decorations. I think that I am going to push the idea of a Christmas Open House next year. We really haven't done a large holiday open house since 2002.

The group for Christmas eve totaled nineteen, including Tom, Eric and Ashley, Kevin, Leah, Lydia and Amelia, Terry and Steve, Tim and Kathy, Eileen and Will, Erin and Cromac, Jim, Sharon, Jack and I. Tim barbecued a tri-tip for dinner.

After dinner, we exchanged gifts. The Tims gave a number of Irish themed gifts in commemoration of their trip to Ireland. Eric and Ashley made individualized pillows for everyone!

Christmas Eve 2018

Drew and Shannon spent the night with us. We had a nice leisurely breakfast and exchanged gifts. It was very nice to get a chance to spend some time with Shannon.

For the eighth time in ten years, we hosted Christmas Eve. The group of Frames, Funks and Heringers included: Tim and Kathy, Eileen and Will, Erin and Cormac, Tom, Kevin, Leah, Lydia and Amelia, Eric and Ashley, Jim, Terri and Steve, Lori, Fabian, Brian and Bella, Sharon, Jack and I. At 23, this sets a record for the number of people that we have hosted for a holiday dinner!

Sharon made a nice dinner of Prime Rib and Ham. Everyone contributed something to the evening including rolls, salad and lasagna.

Last year, the present opening was a little bit of a fiasco. This year, things went much more smoothly. With Jack orchestrating, we went back to doing a round robin by age.

With everyone showing up earlier this year at 3:00 pm, the original plan was to go to Mass at 11:00 pm. We didn't make it; it is probably the first time in 15 years that we haven't made it to Mass on Christmas Eve...

Christmas Eve 2017

After spending the day getting the house spec'ed up, Drew, Jack and I took off for Mass about 3:10 pm. Tom was already there when we got there. The four of us worked on saving a row. The Rositanis joined us. Sharon rolled up a couple of minutes before Mass started; she had to park in the Bank of America parking lot. Although Eric and Ashley were supposed to join us, they never got there. If possible, it seemed like the church was fuller than previous years. There were a lot of people standing in the back...

For the second year in a row, Father Mike Moynahan gave a unique homily. The priest gathered all of the kids at the front to serve as his counselors to help him tell the story of the birth of Christ.

After Mass, we raced back home. The Christmas Eve group this year was 19, including Sharon's brother Tom, Eric, Eric's girlfriend Ashley, Kevin, Leah, Lydia, Sharon's brother Tim, Kathy, Erin, Erin's boyfriend Cromac, Eileen, Eileen's boyfriend Will, Leah's parents Steve and Teri, Jim Dunn, Jack, Drew, Sharon and I. This ties the record for the number of people that we have hosted for a holiday dinner with Thanksgiving of 2014.

Sharon made a nice dinner of Osso Boco, risotto and green beans. I really enjoyed having a chance to sit with Drew and Jack at one end of the table.

Opening the presents was a little bit of a fiasco. Unlike previous years where we did a round robin, they tried a strategy of giving everyone a present at the same time. We need to rethink this in the future.

Christmas Eve 2016

Sharon, Jack and I met Tom and Eric at St. Ignatius at about 3:35 pm for the 4:00 pm mass at St. Ignatius. It didn't seem to fill up quite as fast as last year. It was probably the most unique homily that I have ever heard... The priest gathered all of the kids at the front to serve as his counselors to help him tell the story of the birth of Christ.

After Mass, we headed to Tom's house. The Christmas Eve group this year was 16, including, Sharon's brother Tom, Eric, Kevin, Leah, Lydia, Sharon's brother Tim, Kathy, Erin, Eileen, Eileen's boyfriend Will, Leah's parents Steve and Terri, Jack, Sharon and I. Tom served a nice dinner of rigatoni from one of his mom's recipes. Sharon contributed the blood and cara cara orange salad.

We exchanged presents after dinner. I gave Tom and Eric books I had made of Tom's pictures and stories from their pilgrimage on the Camino. It was fun to have an eighteen month as part of the group; it gives a different slant to the festivities. With all of the families, the gift exchange took a while.

We ended up getting home about 9:30 pm. It was a very nice evening!

Christmas Eve 2015

Jack and I went to the 4 pm Christmas Eve Mass at St. Ignatuis. We got there about 3:30 pm and the place was already filling up. Tom, Eric and Sharon rolled up just before Mass started. We wedged the five of us into the space that Jack and I had been saving... While I probably shouldn't be, I was surprised at how many people were packed into the church.

After Mass, we rushed home. For the fourth time in the last five years, we hosted Christmas Eve. At seventeen, I think that it is the biggest group we have ever hosted. It included Sharon's brother Tom, Eric, Kevin, Leah, Lydia, Jim Dunn, Sharon's brother Tim, Kathy, Eileen, Will, Erin, Dillon, Leah parent's Terry and Steve, Sharon, Jack and I. It was interesting to add a baby to the mix.

Sharon made a great dinner of individual beef wellingtons and squash. Leah contributed a green bean casserole. The Tims brought some bundt cakes for desert.

After dinner, we exchanged gifts. Eric gave bobbleheads as gifts, including Pope Francis to his dad, Winston Churchill to me and Napoleon to Sharon.

Christmas Eve 2014

Sharon, Jack and I headed to Good Shepherd for the Christmas Eve 4:00 pm Mass. After attending Mass at St. Ignatius the last two years, it was nice to be back at Good Shepherd. The church did not seem as crowded as it did three years ago. We got there at 3:30 pm and were still able to get some seats. It was nice to see a number of families that we have known for years (Banacki, Ralph, Smith, Marchant...). We ran into Alan on the way out...

From there we headed to Tim's house for Christmas Eve. After hosting Christmas Eve the last three years, it was a refreshing change to go to someone else's house for dinner. The group totalled fifteen, including Tom and Becky, Tim and Kathy, Leah's parents, Kevin and Leah, Eileen and Will, Jim Dunn, Eric, Jack and Sharon and I. Tim and Kathy made a great dinner of cornish game hens, rice and asparagus.

It seems like there were more presents than previous years. As a result, the evening ran later. By the time, we got home, I wrapped a few presents for Christmas morning and Jack walked the dog, it was almost 1:00 am.

With Kevin and Leah expecting a baby in June, next Thankgiving and Christmas are going to be very, very different!

Christmas Eve 2013

Christmas Eve Dinner Table, a photo by heringermr on Flickr.

Sharon, Jack and I went to the 4 pm Christmas Eve Mass at St. Ignatuis. We got there about 3:40 pm and just barely got a seat. After Mass, we rushed home. For the third straight year, we hosted Christmas Eve. Kevin showed up just as we were getting to the house. The group was a little smaller this year. It included: Tim; Kathy; Eileen; Kevin; Jim Dunn; and the three of us. The Tom Frames [Tom, Becky and Eric] were in Arizona spending Christmas with Becky's dad. Erin is in North Carolina with Dylan's family.

Sharon made a great dinner of prime rib, baked tomatoes and green beans. I picked up a cake for dessert from Nothing But Bundt Cake earlier in the day.

After dinner, we exchanged gifts. With a smaller group, the evening was not as late as some years.

Christmas Eve 2012

We spent most of the day getting the house cleaned and the food prepared for Christmas Eve. In the early afternoon, the three of us met Tom, Becky and Kevin at St. Ignatius for 4:00 p.m. Christmas Mass. I was surprised to run into the Wackmans.

After Mass, we rushed home. For the second straight year, we hosted Christmas Eve. The group included Tom, Becky, Kevin, Tim, Kathy, Eileen, Erin, Erin's Boyfriend Dylan and Jim Dunn. Of the traditional group, only Eric was missing; he is in China. Sharon made a great dinner of short ribs, celery root mash potatoes and green beans. Tom bought a cheese cake for desert.

After dinner, we exchanged gifts. There was nothing quite as exciting as the 4 1/2 foot sword that Tom came Jack last night. Highlights included a Notre Dame flag and banner for Jack from the Toms.

The evening seemed to run later than usual. Even without starting to get the house cleaned up, it was after midnight before I got to bed.

Christmas Eve 2011

Sharon, Jack, Tim and I went to the 4:00 p.m. Mass at Good Shepherd. Rushing home afterwards, we scrambled to get hors d'oeuvres ready as everyone showed up. We have a slightly different group this year. With Sharon's brother Tom in Arizona, the group included my sister Sharon and her friend Michael, my sister Lee Ann and her husband Dean, Sharon's brother Tim and his family (Kathy, Erin and Eileen) and Jim Dunn. Donna Gainsley stopped by for a drink on the way to her parents.

Sharon made a great dinner of individual Beef Wellingtons, mashed potatoes and green beans. The starter was a shrimp salad. My sister Sharon and Tim brought cakes for desert. Kevin had to work and showed up after dinner.

After dinner, we exchanged a few gifts. The highlight of the evening was a 4 1/2 foot sword that Sharon's brother Tom gave to Jack. Really, who would give a 13 year old a sword almost as big as he is?

Table set for Christmas Eve Dinner

Christmas Eve 2010

After going to the Children's Mass at Good Shepherd, we headed to Tom's to celebrate Christmas Eve.

This year's group included 12 people: Sharon's brother Tom's family [Tom, Becky, Kevin and Eric], her brother Tim's family [Tim, Kathy, Erin and Eileen], a friend of the family [Jim Dunn] and us. Tom and Becky made chicken, stuffing, salad and bread for dinner. After dinner, we had a gift exchange. Jack really enjoys being with his cousins.

Christmas Eve with the Frames

Christmas Eve with the Frames, originally uploaded by heringermr.

Christmas Eve 2009

After going to the Children's Mass at Good Shepherd, we rushed home to get dinner started.

Donna and Kevin stopped by for a quick drink before everyone arrived.

The group for Christmas Eve this year included the Tom Frame's (Tom, Becky, Kevin and Eric), the Tim Frame's (Tim, Kathy, Erin and Eileen), Jim Dunn, Drew, Jack, Sharon and I.

Sharon made a great dinner of a pear salad, prime rib, baked potato and green beans. For desert, she made a chocolate cake. We did not get the prime ribs in the rotisserie in a timely fashion. Consequently, dinner was little late.

After dinner, we did a gift exchange. For a number of years, we drew names for the adults, but did not do that this year. Consequently, it seemed like there were more gifts than in previous years.

I enjoyed the evening immensely. It has been a treat to enjoy Drew's company for Thankgiving and Christmas Eve this year.

Christmas Eve 2008

Sharon, Jack and I went to the children's mass at Good Shepherd. Afterwards we headed to Tom's house to celebrate Christmas Eve.

This year's group included 14 people: Sharon's brother Tom's family [Tom, Becky, Kevin and Eric], her brother Tim's family [Tim, Kathy, Erin and Eileen], her mom [Rosemary], two friends of the family [Jim Dunn and Jim Gale] and us. Becky made minestrone soup and a macaroni casserole for dinner. Sharon's family are big Notre Dame fans. We watched the Notre Dame beat Hawaii by a score of 49 to 21 in the Hawaii Bowl. The Fighting Irish ended their NCAA-record nine-game bowl losing streak. This was their first bowl win in 15 years!

After the game, we exchanged gifts. For some reason, it seemed like there were more gifts exchanged between families this year. Combined wtih watching the end of the football game, it was late by the finished the gift exchange and headed home. It was after 11:30 p.m. by the time we got home and had Jack down for the night.

Christmas Eve 2007

Sharon, Jack and I met her mom, Sharon's brother Tim and her niece Eileen at St. Mary's for Mass. Afterwards, we headed to her parent's house in River Park. Traditionally, Sharon's family gets together for Christmas Eve. This year, the group totaled 13, including both of her brothers' families and Jim Dunn.

We had take-out from Buca di Beppo for dinner. After dinner, we exchanged presents. It is a nice size group. The kids' excitement makes it a very festive and enjoyable evening.

By the time we got home, it was after 10:30 p.m. and Jack was literally bouncing off the walls. He is very excited about Christmas tomorrow.