Archives for December 2012

We had such a good Christmas and I hope you did too. 

Two weeks ago we spent the weekend in Maryland and Pennsylvania visiting my parents’ extended family.

We spent Friday night eating with my step-grandmother and then relaxing at her house.  She’s the wife of my grandfather that died this summer.  It was strange without him there even though normally he’s more of a watcher than a talker when the whole family’s together.  It was a new, good time though.  She had redecorated the living room and it was a nice new environment to match the new mix of people. 

Saturday we had a potluck dinner with my dad’s family.  We were missing one cousin and all her family as she had just given birth the day before, but we got to love on my other cousin’s new baby boy from this year.  So fun having little ones around again.  We played a new “left and right” Christmas game which Lexi led.  Lots of laughter, just how Christmas should be.

Sunday we had dinner with my mom’s side of the family.  We loved laughing with my cousin’s little toddler, the kids had a ton of fun with all the presents and it was good times with everyone.

Fast-forward to this week on Christmas Eve.  Mom fixed us dinner, Lexi regaled us with the Christmas story to the tune of Twas the Night Before Christmas and then we had a nice time opening presents. 

Christmas morning I had the winter wonderland ready for the kids like last year.  They made sure I did it again and even helped with the snowflakes this year.  The girls loved all their presents.  There were no complaints or meltdowns, just lots of smiles.  Their favorite was a doctor kit with personalized lab coats.  Scott and I just exchanged one present.  I got him a watch and he got me new headphones for my computer.

And finally, for Christmas lunch we had steaks over at Scott’s parents.  I even managed to pull together a gluten-free Happy Birthday, Jesus cake for dessert thanks to a little help from Mom at the last minute when I iced it before the cakes were cool.  Again, we had a great time opening presents and it was a nice afternoon.

All in all, a wonderful Christmas season.  We are so, so blessed with lots of wonderful family. 

I couldn’t help but continually think about people in Newtown and many other people who had so much else to worry about this season.  In stressful times, I remembered it could have been much worse and gave thanks for all we did have.

I was able to save a week of time off for this week and I’ve put my house in a head lock and am waiting for it to cry uncle.  Just a few minutes ago, I finished repainting the hall and bathroom.  Lots of much needed maintenance happening as well as family time.

Hard to believe we’ll be saying goodbye to 2012 in just a few days.  Goes faster and faster, doesn’t it?

Our tree this year is my favorite ever.  Our tree seems to be like my wardrobe—the older I get, the more I learn what is actually me.  I like it more when I stay true to that.

I love the bright red and lime green.  I love simple, cute, modern and of course a few handmade ones.

  This ball ornament is a set of 4 my mom gifted me.  I think it was the first set of ornaments I got that felt like me.

I bought this at Target several years ago.  I love the simple, unstained wood.  It feels rustic with a little shout-out to homemade snowflakes.

This little angel was a gift, along with several other on the tree.  When I put these on the tree, it reminds me of the giver and I love that they’re part of our tree every year.

This is another Target find the year I go the snowflakes.  While I’m not normally a teddy bear kind of gal I thought it was modern enough in the tree cut-out.

This lime green swirl is another find from my mom.  Whimsical and lime green.

Here’s a new one for this year.  Lexi used her own money to buy this one with Tucker’s name on it at the Christmas Show in Charlotte.

Again, another Target find.  I love the glitter and reminder of the true reason for the season—Christ coming to build His church.

Wow, um, another Target one.  Glitter. Lime green.  Snowflake.  I’m starting to see a pattern.  Also note the red glitter spray pick in the background.  It’s a new find this year from the Christmas show and I absolutely adore them.

And of course, here’s a handmade little gingerbread man, one of several handmade ornaments on the tree.  He’s even missing a button.

This is one of three picture frames from Target.  These might be my favorite ones to pull out every year.  So sweet.

And just as a bonus, here is the full tree.

Hop over to Musings of a Housewife to see more Ornament Show and Tells.