[](http://uswm.openpluto.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/CZ-20161225145717570.jpg) While it could have very well just been another traditional Christmas Day for House Parker, we did not have anything close to traditional.  My Sister and I have quarterbacked taking the money out of Christmas for a few years now and with all that financial stress alleviated and all the hussle-and-bussle of getting things done by the morning of the 25th, we all got to focus on what matters most - spending time with one another. It's mind-blowing to see how far my Sister's dynamic reach has gone in the kitchen.  She's pretty much the Head Chef now for Christmas.  Her take on mashed potatoes is a slap in the face of the 1-2-1-2 version of bagged potatoes and what's the most interesting part of that is how she differs from some professional chefs.  When they crank out something fantastic like that they oftentimes (from what I've seen) start to try and figure out ways to cut corners and get things done faster.  Not my dear Sister Nicole.  She keeps those very traditional methods of making food close to her heart and when you eat the food she cooks that amount of effort is delivered to your taste buds. We got to work together rather closely in the kitchen yesterday and while I wasn't doing anything outside of a kitchen porters duties, it sure was nice to see her cranking out her self-taught craft with unfaltering perfection.  The way she handles kitchen gadgets, the way she uses a knife and the way she upholds herself while cooking all speak to her experience. From dinner, we mashed out dishes and then retired around the same dinner table to enjoy coffee and photo albums.  The way I resemble my Grandfather blows my mind.  We laughed at some photos and again asked "who is this" to other photos. We all went on our own paths after our photographic trip down memory lane came to and end.  Tagging along with my Sister I was able to see how her extended Family get down on this special day.  We headed to her good friend's house and hung out with them for a while.  It was nice to spend time with new faces on a day when everyone is such a fantastic mood for one another.  It is always such a pleasure to be around people with such good vibes.  Keeping the vibes right is a big part of the success of the day and we did that without interruption yesterday. Now we have ready our battle gear and prep for this new year which is coming full-speed ahead.  Batten down the hatches, some might not be ready for this ride! Off to work now because the beat of the world stops for nobody.  Makes the best of it and only attract the things that you are mindful of!