Christmas 2011

Well, since we last conversed there's been presents, ham, pies, potatoes, egg rolls (in various forms), caramels, corn flake candy, sausage bread, more presents, Christmas crackers, game playing, on and on and on! What a wonderful Christmas weekend we have had! The most important thing of all, of course, is the people you share this all with. When my children were young, they had no choice but to be with me - lol! Now that they are grown and still choose to spend time with me over the holidays means more than any presents (although I received WONDERFUL presents). You'll be especially happy to know, as my blog readers, that I was given a new camera; so hopefully, the quality of pictures you are forced to view here will improve (as I learn how to use it, of course!). I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas as well. Here's a few pictures (in no timely order - sorry!) to kinda let you in on some of the activities - more info and pics to come, as I have to tell you about the egg roll experiment and some other nuggets of info!

New stockings - rather random!

Terrance!

Emma!

Apollo, Maria, Barry, Britt!

Britt, Vicky, Ashley!

Jill, Britt, Vicky!

Mom, Mal, Barry!

Apollo and Terrance building Legos!

Mom and one of her presents!

Tanner and Patrick on Christmas morning!

Barry and Britt!

Patrick and his new hat!

Mal and her mug!

Mal and her mittens!

Patrick and his mandolin!

Mal's new boots!

Tanner and his titanium necklace!

Britt and her Ipod thingy!

Playing our new game!

Playing our new game!

Playing our new game!

Patrick and hew new haircut!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Just a quick note - things are soon going to be bustling. Today my extended family; i.e., my brothers and their families, my mom, my kids, will all be coming over for dinner and presents. We'll be a little crowded, but that's ok. Here's a quick look back to what December has held - my camera's not too good anymore, but it gives you the idea of what's been happening. Merry Christmas everyone - cherish what time you have with your family. It slips past faster than we realize!

There was food!

There was family and friends!

There was beautiful people!

There was tree picking out!

There was cookie baking!

There was an owie!

There was serious recipe reading!

There were smiles!

There were hugs!

There was fun and laughter!

There was shopping and eating!

There was tie dying!

There was more blue stuff!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Merry Christmas Eve of the Eve of Christmas Eve

Whew! It seems like just yesterday it was Thanksgiving - now it's only a few days til Christmas. I can't even begin to tell you where this time has gone. My days, like everyone else's, have been filled with decorating, buying, wrapping, baking, planning, shopping, on and on - oh yeah, and I have been working amidst all that, too. It's so fun - my favorite time of the year, as I try to find the absolutely exact item that would make my friends and loved ones' faces light up as they pull some little trinket out of a pretty bag (usually with penguins on it somewhere). I also experienced a very special group of shopping trips this season, as I took my youngest nieces and nephews (aged 9, 6, 4, and 4) each on a separate shopping and eating trip exclusively for them individually. They got to pick out their own present from me and pick where we grabbed something to eat - let's just say those kids all LOVE Steak n Shake - lol! Oh yeah - and 1 McDonald's! We had so much fun looking at everything, then finding the exact item they wanted. I really enjoyed spending individual time with each one of them and seeing their excitement at finding the perfect gift. Now we're down to the last few days and the activity level has to increase, as there's much to finish doing and little time. But that's part of the fun of it - the flurry and excitement as the time approaches and everyone's hustling and bustling about. In the midst of it all, there's that quiet peacefulness of knowing that the reason we are even commemorating a special day of giving gifts to one another is because of the gift from God to all of us, of His son, Jesus - and for that we are eternally grateful. Merry Christmas everyone!