Christmas 2015

We had the greatest Christmas this year.

December flew by so fast, but the days leading up to Christmas were some of the most special ones we've ever had.

We reinstated our Christmas Eve Brunch tradition. 

 

 

 

It was wonderful having all of the grandparents here to just visit and enjoy each other's company before Christmas Day.

 

 

After brunch was cleared, we set to work making cookies for Santa.
 

 

Kam had seen a Peppermint Kiss Cookie recipe, and was begging to try it, so those {and Chocolate Chip} were the cookie of choice for Santa this year.

The rest of the day was spent preparing for Christmas Day, which can be a little chaotic :)
 

Finally, Christmas morning arrived, with lots of excitement, and gifts!

{I was blessed with the gift of warmth this year.  I am always cold.  Always.  And I must complain about it an awful lot, because I got a heated throw ~ ahhhhhhhhhh ~ and an electric fireplace for our bedroom.  I am happy to report that I'm super toasty all the time now!}
 

 

Once we've had our little Christmas at home, we head over to Jeremy's parents to celebrate with them, and then to my parents in the afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 Our day was full of great memories.
 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas Eve!!!

We're all pretty excited around here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Little Honesty, and a Lotta Christmas Goodness

 

We've been plugging along, counting down our days until Christmas.

 

Last weekend Jeremy and I got to take off for a few hours and board a brunch cruise. 

It was a Christmas gathering for the local telephone company that he volunteers for, but any time away is looked forward to, as it happens so seldom.

 

 

It was a dreary day, but the scenery was still beautiful.

{If you can ignore the muddy waters ~ we have had an ABUNDANCE of rain these last few weeks!}

 



We've also been busy with our Christmas Countdown crafts and activities.

 



 

We had plans to have friends over to decorate graham cracker gingerbread houses,

but all of the girls have had sniffles and coughs, so we postponed, not wanting to pass any germs along to others right before Christmas.

 

So we proceeded, just the five of us.

 

 

 

 

We're flitting about ~ just like normal

We're crafting away ~ just like normal

We're humming carols,

and baking cookies,

and decorating houses,

and visiting with friends,

and wrapping packages,

and watching Christmas movies,

JUST LIKE NORMAL.

 

And somehow, the last couple of years, it just hasn't felt as normal.

 

The truth?

The real truth?

 

~ I've been a little grumpy lately ~

 

*Sometimes I want to hole up the entire month of December, and just BE with my little family.

 

*Sometimes I want SNOW. {Possibly so that we can be snowed in and FORCED to ignore the outside world for a bit}.

 

*Sometimes I just want no bickering.

 

*Sometimes missing those we love and can't be with really, really, hurts.

 

*Sometimes the holidays make old wounds open wider.

 

*Sometimes I love online shopping so that I don't have to battle crowds. 

 

and

 

*Sometimes I HATE online shopping because packages that are shipped out the first of December, still haven't arrived, and you FREAK out that they won't make it in time for Christmas.  Which leads me to . . .

 

*Sometimes I wish we could rewind to 1890 and hand make all of our gifts. And be elated with a peppermint stick or an orange in our stocking.  And ya know what, I LOVE to buy gifts for people.  I love to pick something out that I think someone will love.  I love to wrap it, and give it!  It's not that I hate shopping.  But I am getting sick of Christmas gifts.  The excess. The lists. What ever happened to surprising someone with something that you picked out especially for them? 

 

Whew, y'all.  I'm just grumpin.

 

Time for me to get some Christmas spirit back!

 

Sending out lots of love to you, in case you have the case of the grumps too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday ~ Holiday Baking

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home Videos

 I LOVE Home Videos.

I could sit and watch them for hours.
And so could the girls.

So our Countdown to Christmas activity for Day 11 was watching Home Videos!
 

 

 

We watched every Christmas I had on tape since 2002 :)

 

 

Look at those two little ones!

 

 

 

 Ahhhhh, I love reminiscing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Countdown to Christmas 2015 ~ Days 6-10

Whew! 

This December is busier than any other I can remember!

We've been decorating:
{Our own tree, as well as others :) }  

 

 

 

Crafting:
 

 

 

Miss Tay made a sled ornament, while the other girls chose to work on sewing projects.
 

 

 

 We've been out and about, running so many errands, that we've had to pick up  a couple of treats along the way:

{Starbucks Cake Pops are the girls' favorites}
 

 

We went to watch the Peanuts Movie.

 

 

We had other errands to run that day, so we stayed in town ALL.DAY.LONG.
Good thing we were prepared with books and snacks to keep us busy in the car while we waited for the movie to start.

 

 

Miss Tay loves our theater.

 

 

 

 

 Super comfy recliners and buttery popcorn?
What's not to love??

What's keeping you busy? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday ~ {Countdown to Christmas} Wrapping Day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Countdown to Christmas 2015 ~ Day 5

 Day 5 was spent reading Christmas stories . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 What are your favorites??