Weekend Update: Christmas Coming

What a weekend.  Whew.  Up at 10:30 last night still doing laundry.  Christmas Parade.  Decorating.  Indoors and outdoors.  Christmas Village up, paper chains made, nativity out, Advent calendar started.  Then why did I think this was the time to enroll the girls in Taekwondo classes three times a week?

I...am...officially...insane.

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer at the theatre next Saturday, get the Christmas tree Sunday, girls are to go shopping with Mom on Sunday for my gifts, then an invite to Karelyn's best friend's Christmas play.

Whew.

Last weekend before Christmas is dedicated to cookie baking.  This tradition we will not miss.  No way.  The presents are all purchased, most of them wrapped, cards are sent, decorations are out.  So why do I feel so darn wiped out?  Too much at once I guess.

But I adore this time of year.  I like having so many traditions and things to look forward to.  I really wish we could hold on to these feelings all year long.

But this pace.....never.  I'll almost be happy when I'm at Mom's house on Christmas Day, girls having already come astonished downstairs to see what Santa has brought and safely tucked off to their Dad's and I'm sitting eating her delicious dinner with a glass of wine and warming myself by the wood stove.

Ahhhhhh.....sweet rest.


p.s.   love the advert!  how sweet!!

Here And There: Grateful

I'm stressed out over Thanksgiving dinner which I say every year I'm not going to be, but it's a big meal.  A huge meal to make for one evening.  Luckily I am on vacation and today I will cook the turkey the day before to free up the oven for the big day.  Here is our Thanksgiving menu:

Roast Turkey and Gravy

Mashed Potatoes

Stuffing or perhaps Dressing?

Roast Carrots, Leeks and Mushrooms

Green Beans with Dill

Succotash

Fresh Cranberry-Pomegranate Sauce

Pumpkin Pie

Bread Pudding

Wish I could send you a slice of pumpkin pie, it is my favorite part!!

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Tomorrow we will be writing down five things each we are grateful and putting them in a jar and then will try to guess who wrote each one.  

In preparation here is a list of things I am grateful for right now

A warm home.

The sounds of the birds migrating.

The way the trees looked in the fog this morning.

Christmas Carols playing in the background.

The lady who let me use her discount card at the grocery when I forgot mine.

Having my family so close to me.

Having my Christmas shopping 3/4 of the way done.

Vacation, vacation, vacation

Little girls outside splashing in puddles.

A friend a country away emailing me a last minute recipe.

Having a gaggle of good friends including you!!

Weekend Update: Holiday Preparations

Fall has come and about all the leaves are gone, blown to the ground.  It's been alternating between balmy and frigid temperatures in a completely odd way we are not used to.  The leaves we put on the windows are a nice reminder and look at the extra benefit I didn't know we would get.  This weekend I noticed when the sun comes out I get these beautiful shadows on my curtains.  We are getting ready for Thanksgiving this week, so I hope these at least stay put. My sister and I are preparing to go do the shopping for our big dinner on Thursday and the girls and I are cutting out some paper leaves for everyone to write what they are thankful for to collect from the family.  Lots of preparations underway, dare I say, even got my Christmas cards and a handful of gifts done this past weekend as well.

8.4.11

Jennifer- My Sister and her Boyfriend's Birthday Celebration at Mom's House

(or that's a lot more candles than we used to have)