In retrospect, I should have taken a picture.

Last year, I invited my mom and sister to my apartment for Christmas Eve dinner. Admittedly, it was kind of a ploy to show my then-better half that I was, in fact, capable of celebrating the holiday (let's just say I make the Grinch look pleasant) and being a family-oriented guy.

Things went pretty well. Dinner was decent, presents were exchanged and no law enforcement officers were summoned to my apartment.

This year, though sans significant other, I extended the invitation again. What was supposed to be a casual dinner with just my mother, sister and myself soon included my grandparents and great-grandmother ... in my tiny, quasi-Downtown apartment.

I think it's safe to say, I may have entered adulthood.

Catering to my family's immigrant palates, I whipped up some schnitzel and spatzle; by no means overwhelming, but still something that I haven't quite mastered in my efforts to learn Oma's (my great-grandmother's) old-world talents.

We ate. We drank. And, as hard as it will be for people that know me to believe, we got along. A Christmas miracle, some might say.

Cooking, especially as I continue my tutelage under Oma's watchful eye, has become something I am enjoying more and more each day. My group of friends has become big fans of my goulash and we've established a New Year's Eve tradition of gathering for a formal dinner.

I like cooking for people. But never have I made a dinner for my family, though, and I've got to say ... it wasn't the most horrible experience on earth. Nobody died; nobody complained about the meal ... it was successful.

The best part, though, was seeing the look on Oma's face. She's 95 and probably my best friend. She's been a mentor and an inspiration to me. Spending time in the kitchen with her and trying to learn how to cook has been one of the best experiences in my life.

But watching her eat a meal she taught me how to prepare, and seeing her smile with approval ... well, when she finally said "Andy, it's very good" ... that may be the best Christmas present I'll ever get.

If somebody would have told me just two years ago that I'd be the one hosting the holiday meal, I would have laughed you out of the room or demanded a similar cocktail. But now that it's all said and done, it's safe to say that I plan on tossing my hat in the ring for future holiday-hosting duties.

There's something satisfying about preparing a meal for a group of people; even more so when it's a meal for relatives.

They've headed home now, leaving me with the dishes and other cleanup duties (which will wait until after a trip out to a local establishment with close friends), but I've got to admit, this may have been one of my best Christmas experiences ever.

Happy Holidays to you all. Hopefully your dinners turn out as well as I think mine did.