Sometime during the night the rain turned to snow...we didn't get much. It did give me somthing to take pictures of today however.
I have been sick since last Tuesday. In bed all day yesterday, only left the house today to take these photos.
I made these photos black and white and then re-colored the NUK!
Christmas Eve, Bruce and I went to Sandy and Karl's house. We went to church, which was nice, and thankfully, quite brief. They had great singing and nice decorations. Lydia commented on the shepherd statutes they had off to the side of the Nativity scene, I think they were the 3 wise men, but I thought it was so cute that she noticed them.
We got back to the house after church and ate a wonderful supper. Bruce and I had made stuffing, green bean casserole and scalloped corn (we made a lot so we would have enough for our Christmas day meal with Josh and Malorie). Sandy made turkey and of course, jello (it was sooo good). We had wine, and Lydia had milk in a wine glass...and we all clinked glasses.
Bruce and I played with the girls while Sandy and Karl did the dishes.
Rachel put on a pair of Lydia's underpants over her diaper and pants! It was very cute...she is anxious to be potty trained I think!
She even got new underpants of her own for Christmas! Lydia passed out all the presents from under the tree. She could recognize the first letter in each name.
After we opened presents, we all had Christmas cookies. Lydia picked 2 different cookies to leave out for Santa. She left them on a plate near the fireplace. She thought it best to wait until just before bed to put out the milk. She had a special glass picked out. After that we lounged around by the tree.
Soon, we all heard the sound of jingle bells. The first time we heard it we all sort of looked at each other. The 2nd time, Lydia excitedly asked "what is that?" We all thought it must be Santa's sleigh bells. Lydia got a bit scared and started asking lots of questions. She wanted to know what he was doing...was he coming already? Then she got more scared and said (bottom lip out) "I want to go to bed." She really seemed a bit frightened. We all tried to reassure her that Santa is a good man, he wouldn't come until she was asleep, and he wouldn't go in her bedroom. She decided however that it would be best if Santa left the gifts outside on the steps!
I guess I am relieved that Christmas is over. It wasn't a good one for me. Christmas eve was really fun...to see the girls, and go to church with them, etc.
Christmas day, Josh and Malorie were here. We opened presents. I got a gift cert for Bella Boutique...another new purse for me!! Bruce got a laser light level! He was pretty excited. We also got new socks! Always a big hit! Josh gave Malorie a really special present, and she got it at our house. He gave her a card with a clue in it and she had to figure out about 5 clues before finally finding the box with her gift inside. Of course, Josh put phonebooks in it to make it heavy and throw her off. Inside she got a beautiful ring from him. It was so sweet.
The day didn't go at all as I had envisioned. I guess I had expectations about what the day would be like. I sort of had a timeline in mind...which you have to if meals are involved etc...what time we would eat, what we would have, etc. Bruce and I put a fair amount of time into preparing the food, but the meals we had in mind didn't happen...I was really bummed.
We got wonderful, extremely thoughtful gifts from Josh and Malorie...but what I most wanted, to spend the day together and share a nice meal did not happen. I would say...well, maybe next year...but next year, Bruce and I think instead we might go away for the holidays.
I got up and took the tree and all the decorations down in the house at 4:00 in the morning, the day after Christmas...I have to say, I am glad it is over!
This is a card I did for my friend.
And another photo of Rachel.
This is the calendar that I made for Christmas Gifts this year. They are 12x18" and bound at the top.
Click on the photo below to view all 14 pages.
Last night, we went to Bonnie's for Christmas with that part of the family.
Samantha's 2 boys, Brian and Brent as well as their wives, and Brent's son, Wyatt.
Poor, Cody was at home with the flu and strep throat : (
I don't have any pictures to work on tonight. I have enjoyed working on my other photos this week. Maybe that is why I am behind for Christmas.
I thought I was so on top of things this year, I got the calendars done in early November. Maybe I am behind because it doesn't feel like Christmas yet. I don't know if it is because there hasn't been any snow, so subconsiously, I didn't think Christmas was coming up as fast as it was. Today I got caught...
A co-worker brought me a Christmas present...and I didn't have anything for her yet. I hadn't bought anything for any of my co-workers yet. I have always had gift bags for all my friends at work. For years, I gave them stuff that I had made, just little things, nothing expensive. All of it was mostly left over stuff from when I was selling crafts. I gave them painted ornaments, or note cards that I had printed, cookie mix in a jar, homemade cappuccino mix, etc. I always had decorated the bags too...whether it was a hand painted gingerbread girl with a fabric bow glued on it, or a print of one of my originals glued to the bag. Well, I didn't do that this year. (I didn't do it last year either because of the remodel = no time).
I don't have a lot of inventory left, and I don't remember who I have given what! I don't want to give them something that I may have given them before!!!
Maybe it doesn't feel like Christmas yet because I didn't have those projects to do. Maybe that is why I am not in the Christmas mood. I think I missed all the preparation that went into making that stuff or at least putting together the bags...it made me feel good to give them something I made, even if it wasn't a gift I spent money on (and the only reason I still have it is because no one bought it!).
Today, I got a really cute photo card of Ryan, his wife, Julia and son Colton, a Target gift card, and also a tin of homemade cookies! Ryan said that Julia had been busy baking.
We have made Ritz peanut butter cookies (Ritz crackers with peanut butter in between and dipped in chocolate), almond bark covered Oreo cookies, and Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix and whipped cream frosting with red sprinkles. I never thought of giving that as a gift...in a cute tin! I might have to think ahead and go get some tins or something at an after Christmas sale. Just thinking about it makes me feel more cheerful...but it is too late.
Because of my procrastination I had to go to the store and buy gifts today. I bought a 3-pack of Starbucks coffee and $10.00 gift cards for Westside Liquor. I also got some biscotti and flavored Folgers coffee. I had gift bags, etc at home...but actually had to BUY Christmas cards to give with the gifts. I don't know if I have EVER done that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Note to self...remember to have Christmas gift bags for friends/co-workers next year.
Ideas: Note cards with original photos, tin of cookies,
