Getting To Christmas

Today 12/11 after work - The Mr's boss' Christmas party, karate for The Boy, practice for the weekend concert

Friday 12/12 - concert #1

Saturday 12/13 - concert #2, take the family to see the amazing lights on Christmas Card Lane

Sunday 12/14 - play handbells in church, concert #3

Monday 12/15 - holiday baking!

Tuesday 12/16 - handbell Christmas Party

Wednesday 12/17 - finish holiday baking

Thursday 12/18 - holiday party at The Mr's co-worker, The Girl's piano recital, concert #4

Friday & Saturday 12/19 & 12/20 - blessed quiet time!

Sunday 12/21 - The Boy and The Girl have a Christmas pageant

Monday 12/22 - any last minute holiday shopping and wrapping

Tuesday 12/23 - holiday party at Darren & Darla's house

Wednesday 12/24 - play handbells at midnight Christmas Eve service

Thursday 12/25 - celebrate Christmas with The Mr's parents, then fly the family to Minnesota to spend a week with my family

Holy Cow! I wonder if we'll make it?!!

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Our First Ornament

This is the first ornament we got when we got engaged. It's the first ornament on our tree each year and one of my favorites.

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Christmas Memories

Several years ago The Mr and I went to NYC in the beginning of December. We had wonderful weather - not too cold and it snowed one day! I miss that kind of weather at Christmastime. It just doesn't quite seem like Christmas without a little snow... we'll enjoy our trip to see my parents in Minnesota the week after Christmas this year for that reason among the many others.

What makes it seem like Christmas for you?

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Saint Nicolas Day

This was all that was left after our Saint Nicolas Day Dinner!  Somehow I missed taking ANY pictures of the festivites (though you can see my adorable Le Crueset heart shaped ramekins - a birthday gift from my sister!)

Dinner was a traditional spiced roast, with au gratin potatoes and we had gingerbread for dessert.  I used this super-cute baking pan for the gingerbread!  We all share in telling the story of Saint Nicolas.

One of our favorite traditions is creating puzzles that show clues to the location of a special present for each member of the family.  Each year everyone gets a new Christmas ornament (usually one that we have found on our travels throughout the year).  Sometimes we make crossword puzzles where the answers to the clues all relate to where the present is hidden.  Sometimes we have math puzzles.  This year the puzzles were all collections of images.  

We had a wonderful time (so much so that I don't have any pictures to share...) and look forward to the telling of the Saint Nicolas story next year!

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Time for the Elf!

Looks like Anna is ready for Christmas!

I think we are ready too.  Saturday night we wrapped all the presents that we aren't taking to Minnesota with us.  House is beautifully decorated.

What I need to work on now...

• logo for our Christmas shirts
• Christmas dinner menu
• schedule for our Minnesota trip

That's not too many things actually!  Which is good because the next few weeks are incredibly full.

Off to bed now!

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Disney at night! Pin It

At Disneyland...in line for Pirates of the Caribbean! Pin It

At Disneyland...in line for Pirates of the Caribbean! Pin It

Tomorrow is Disneyland Day!

Look for pictures tomorrow or more likely the next day...

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Plan for Today

All rested and ready to tackle my to-do list!

My plan for this evening (once I have fixed The Mr a delicious dinner) is to finish off the tree decoration (then we'll be done with all of our decorations and I can start to take pictures!), bake a batch of these delicious cookies that I saw on Muffy's blog a week or so ago, wrap up some packages and get them ready to mail, and finish the Christmas cards.

Wish me luck!

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Working instead of this...

This is totally what I wish I had been doing today.   Instead, Anna found one of the few places not covered in Christmas decor to nap.  Nice and sunny too.

I'll have an update on Christmas tomorrow ... after some rest.  So tired!

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Wonderful Day!

I had a wonderful birthday! Thanks for all your good wishes!

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After A Long Day...

... all that is left to decorate is the tree (!) and the Christmas Village.

I am going to bed happy, on the eve of my birthday (!) knowing that we accomplished an incredible amount this weekend (and knowing the the Vikings are in undisputed possession of first place!!)

I wonder what my presents might be.....

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A Busy Day

We've been working all day on our Christmas decor.

• lights are up outside mostly
• bathroom done
• dishes unpacked
• nutcracker tree up
• wreaths on all the doors

So, tomorrow, we finish the outside and hopefully pick up our poinsettias.  Put the lights on the tree and then decorate.  Finish the living room and family room decor.  Put up al the interior lights.  Finish the kitchen and dining room.

And at some point, cook dinner and bake cookies.  I better get up early.  Like now.  ;-)

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Picking up the tree! Pin It

Taking a Rest...

... before we put up Christmas tomorrow!!


We are still at my brother-in-law's house, but we are heading to a winery this morning (!) and then driving from Paso Robles down to San Diego, about a 6 hour drive.  Then we get to get our tree!!  And start getting our Christmas boxes out!!!

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Stuffed!

Special thanks to my wonderful brother-in-law for cooking all day so we could enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving Feast!

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Apparently our kitties like lights!

1 Day Until We Put Up Christmas!

We LOVE lights at Christmas.  The Mr will spend at least 20 hours putting up our exterior lights.  5 hours of interior lights. Think Clark Griswald!

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And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

2 Days Until We Put Up Christmas!

My favorite stocking is the one pictured near the middle, the green and white one.  My great-aunt Marie knit that for me when I was a young girl.  Everyone on that side of the family has one, and when we all (unfortunately infrequently) all get together for Christmas, the sight of all of the matching stockings is something to see.  

Since Aunt Marie left us, we haven't had anyone to knit the new family members' stockings... but my sister is going to figure it out and knit them for The Mr, The Boy, The Girl and the FIL and MIL!  I've said this before - I'm one lucky girl to have such talent in my family!

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Over the aquaduct and through LA to grandmother's house we go...

OK, so we are really not at grandmother's house but instead at my brother-in-law's house to spend some quality Turkey Day time with the family.  We did in fact go over the aquaduct and through Los Angeles to get here.   We even got to see some rain.  No lightning though.  Rats.

We're in Paso Robles (the origin of many fine wines, perhaps even one you are drinking as you read this!) until Friday.  Tomorrow we will visit Hearst Castle!  I'll share a few of my (inevitably large virtual stack of) pictures tomorrow evening.

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