The After-Christmas Kunundrum...

Well, our Christmas has come and has gone. Tomorrow I return to work, while 1 kid is off to Magic Mountain, 1 to the mall and one is quickly becoming obsessed with the Wii. So, when do you take down Christmas. I mean there is a village in the family room, nativities all over the main floor of the house, various snowmen and dancing things all over and the tree, where to begin with the tree. It is pretty, lots of shiny ornaments, and the dogs have no interest in it, it is fake, it's not a fire hazard well, not until probably July when it becomes overcome with dust. So, here is what I was thinking. Take it down a portion at a time. So, I reviewed it with those I want help from. The result...Christmas may still be up next Thanksgiving. So, it's coming down one piece at a time. I am shooting for repacking something every night this week. Although I have to be honest I do have snowmen in the garage to sprinkle around for winter being that I am going through some serious cold and snow withdrawal. Mike got me a Willowtree Nativity for  Christmas last year and the Creche this year and since I didn't get to even take it out of the box last year because we were moving and I love where it is, it may be out a little longer. Well, it is cold here by the standards of those who wear shorts all year but really it's just chilly with the occasional opportunity to wear a light sweater. To those of you in the frozen cold please know there is at least one person out there who is truly jealous and would change places with you in a heartbeat. Happy New Year All. ;)

Merry Christmas!!

I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas. We spent Christmas eve with Mike's family, and there were quite a few people there this year I must say. We had dinner, visited and there were gifts all around. We do things a little different with his family because there are so many siblings, 8 most with spouses and kids, we do a rotation of who is giving to who. I think for the most part it does OK. Some are more generous than others and some have a very small memory. We stopped by, not really it is another county afterall, my parents house for a late snack of crab and beef wellington then off to home to open the customary Christmas eve gifts of new jammies, don't want pictures for posterity to reflect that one day last spring you touched up the paint in your pj's cuz you didn't think anyone would notice and now you are forever explaining that yellow spot.  Anyway, new jammies, egg nog or hot cocoa and the reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas. That was our Christmas eve, Oh, I did manage to put in 1/2 a days work also. Christmas was different for us since we were here in California and no longer in Illinois. I think it is clearly noticeable in the new jammies. And, yes, it is warm enough for them. We spent today with my family. There were gifts, snacks, dinner of prime rib and stuffed potatoes, cookies, candy, a nap and more visiting with family. Oh and I did work diligently at getting pictures of all who were there. So, this year the loot was intense and we will now spend the next week trying to find a place for the new waffle iron, cast iron roasting pan in RED!!, a new phone, clothes for all, and so much that I can no longer sit in the living room we just stroll past and appreciate the generosity of all who love us.  I truly hope you all were able to spend the day exactly the way you wanted. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!