Christmas

We had a lovely Christmas weekend. It was relaxed and low-key, just the way I was hoping. On Christmas Eve, we had a big Turkey dinner at home and read the Christmas story in Luke. The girls opened jammies and a Christmas book. We set out cookies for Santa and BG rushed to bed so she would be asleep before Santa arrived.

We slept in on Christmas morning (so nice!). By the time we got Dad out of bed, we opened gifts and had tasty Baked French Toast for breakfast. Blanche went down for a nap and we got ready for the day. When Blanche woke up we headed to my parents. They were very generous and BG was thrilled to get Barbies. On Sunday, we had a family party with JM's side. It was great to see everyone and they were generous with gifts. BG got a trunk of dresses with jewelry and accessories. She has been wearing them all week.

We brought home our gifts from my parents in a large box. Today BG was playing in the box and pretending it was a spaceship. She told me that I had a choice about where to go in the spaceship- either space or outer space.

And just because you really need some pictures, here's what our Christmas morning looked like.

Christmas Baking

About this time of year I really, REALLY start drooling over all the delicious Christmas cookie/ candy/treat recipes that are circulating. Since I haven't done my neighbor gifts, I think those recipes work well for giving away. This is also about the time that my idea of not giving unhealthy sugary gifts goes right out the window.

This year JM is doing a workout/diet program. And you can imagine, it doesn't include vast amounts of sugar or chocolate (boring!). That leaves me a bit stuck. Do I support his efforts and give up my love of Christmas calories? Do I make it away and just give it away? Or should I make it all and binge until I've made myself sick (then repeat night after night). So far, this is what's on the list of things I'm aching to make.

• Peppermint Bark
• Peanut Brittle
• Fudge (although I've never had it turn out right)
• Caramel popcorn
• Anything that includes Peppermint extract

I could go on and on, and I'm not even looking! What's your favorite holiday goodie? I obviously need to add more to my list. If you are my neighbor, feel free to weigh in on your treat of choice from our family.

Thinking about Calm

There is a strange calm this year around Christmas for me. My decorations are up, the tree has been trimmed, 90% of the gifts have been purchased and wrapped. My Christmas Cards are sitting on the table waiting for stamps. Our calendar is not too full (yet) and my blog background reads "holiday". How did I get so on top of things this year? We have even gone to see the lights.

It's also been interesting watching Blanche, as this is her first Christmas. Yet, it doesn't feel that way. She isn't a tiny baby is awe over the lights. Instead she is a mobile, nearly-toddler, snatching ornaments and shoving everything in her mouth as quick as she can. It almost feels like she is getting cheated out of her first Christmas, because she doesn't feel like a baby. She feels old enough to have one of these holiday seasons under her fat little belt. But, I suppose she is nearly 11 months old. She was born a mere few weeks after Christmas last year. It's unlikely Grandma will get the traditional picture of her on her back, under the tree playing with ornaments. Instead, she will flip over, pull up and gnaw on the branches.

I'm tempted to add more things to fill up the time, the season. Maybe I should be baking, or decorating. Maybe we should be shopping or partying. Yet, I'm enjoying the calm. Maybe, just once, I'll sit back and enjoy the season, rather than stress and let it overwhelm me.

Thanksgiving Weekend

I've been slacking on the blogging lately, but we've been busy. This week has been especially eventful, so I thought I'd post about it.

Seeing as how this was a holiday week, I got to take two extra days off work (because the girls were sick). We got to get out and about (to the doctor's office) in our time off. We whipped up a cheese ball for the Thanksgiving feast. On Thursday, we lounged around most of the day (because I was sick) and enjoyed a big meal (brought to us by a kind in-law). I did some Black Friday shopping (online since I had to work). I got some good deals (Saturday, after everything had been picked through) and bought a fresh turkey on sale. We went for a nice drive (to the doctor again) and nearly got admitted to an exclusive facility (the hospital). Blanche has been upbeat (despite moderate dehydration) and really putting her diapers to good use (with excessive diarrhea). We got to watch our team beat their biggest rival (by one point) and settle back for a cozy evening. So all in all, a great holiday week.

All sarcasm aside, we do have much to be thankful for. Right now I'm especially thankful for (typically) good health, health insurance, medication to help illness, and providers who are open during the holidays in addition to the many other blessings we have.

Vacation by the Numbers

Days on vacation: 9
Days home from vacation: 1

Average temperature on vacation: 75
Average temperature at home: 40

Heating on vacation: Not needed
Heating at home: Broken

Beaches on vacation: 4
Beaches at home: 0

Number of times cooking on vacation: 0
Number of times cooking at home: I have to do what?!

Servers & staff on vacation: 1500
Servers & staff at home: 0

Days in a swimsuit on vacation: 5
Days in a swimsuit at home: 0

Numbers of shows on vacation: 4
Number of shows at home: 0

Kids on vacation: 0
Kids at home: 2

Halloween

We dressed up both of the girls, but due to the rain, only BG went trick-or-treating. She was Jessie the cowgirl. Blanche was the cow. I thought they were adorable, but I might be slightly biased.

Check out those perfect eyelashes. Where did she get those?!

Pumpkin Patch

My sister visited this month and we took the kids to a pumpkin patch, which included a corn maze. We had lots of fun and we even made it out. There were lots of these cutouts. The kids loved them.

Finally made it out of the maze!


It was pretty hard to get all the kids looking at the camera and smiling at the same time.


Blanche spent most of the time napping, but she did wake up at the end for a few pumpkin pictures.