The Holiday Season

I always tell myself that I am going to do better

and maybe throw a post in at least once or twice a month

then I don't and I used to feel bad

but then I don't ~ how is that for honesty

I love having this place to come to ~ it is like a little journal

so here I am back again and sharing 

Christmas seemed to sneak up on me this year

I had the last week of Nov off and I had planned to get

everything done and get ahead of the game

then I got sick ~ not the flu but a nasty cold that kept me sidelined

most of the week

I did get some decorating, baking and shopping done

but not everything that landed on my ever growing list

oh well ~ we know everything will come together and it did

after church on Christmas Eve we all came back here for some finger foods

and drinks ~ we were a small group this year with both Moms along with 

my brother and his girlfriend

after a busy week both at home and at work ~ I fell into bed and did not open

my eyes again until 8:30!  

with no dinner to cook this year I did not have the added stress and responsibility 

of getting the turkey prepped and in the oven so it was a nice break

Our mantle

Sam, Gord, Mom & Kat

we picked up my MIL and went to Mom's for dinner

the girls arrived and they truly make the day

even though they are older now and way past the believing stage

they truly make things more fun!

Sam, Lori, Trevor & Kat

Sam, Lori, Kat

of course we needed to take some group shots and be a little silly

home for a bit and then off to Trev's Moms for a late supper of more appetizers

and gift opening.  Barb usually goes overboard and this year was no exception

she teased me the first of the month that she knew what she was getting my SIL and me

and that was it ~ yes I have heard that song and dance before

when I opened the above and heard the story behind it ~ my eyes welled up with tears

you see she took her Mother's diamond and also her Mother in Law's diamond

and had them set in pendants for my SIL and myself

well you know how I love things with a history ~ well family history is the best

something that I will cherish forever

Boo

Barb's tree

Boxing Day was back to her place for seafood casserole

which is oh so good then we stopped in to visit my Uncle on the way home

we ended up staying there for over 2 hours ~ told stories and laughed

love my peeps

our tree

last night the best neighbours ever came over and we exchanged

gifts and I made Pad Thai

we are getting together for New Years Eve and having fondue ~ so we are 

looking forward to that along with Cards Against Humanity

so wrong but so much fun!

Hope that your Christmas was merry and wishing you 

nothing but the best for 2016.

xo

Christmas Greetings

I needed a touch of red 

and since my camera is collecting dust

it was Pinterest to the rescue

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the tree is trimmed ~ finally!  

better late than never this year I say

the halls are decked ~ cookies made

menus planned and I wrapped the final gift last night

the house is clean and ready for company

thanks to hubby for the help with that one

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tomorrow night we will gather around the table

both mom's and one brother

then we head to church

everyone is spending the night

not sure if that was a good idea but we will make the best of it

then we will have 7 on Christmas Day

as the girls will join us

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that night we will go to my mil's

for munchies and gifts

I am sure I will reflect on past years

and miss Lee just a little more than usual

I purchased little pewter frame ornaments this year

and put a pic of him in each

ours in on the tree and I gave my mil hers on Sunday night

she cried ~ she loved it

I am so glad that she did

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tonight I did some food prep

and checked my list

I am cozied on the couch with my family

and watching the tail end of Polar Express again

love that movie

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Wishing you a very Merry Christmas

and the happiest of holidays

the magic of Santa

and blessings as we celebrate the real reason for the season

Happy Birthday Jesus

xoxo

Comparison

I have been on the blog trail this week

looking through all the beautiful homes on a

holiday house walk

it can inspire you or deflate you

a little green with envy at some

then I went on instagram and read these words

Comparison is the thief of joy...during this time of year when you see so many gorgeous homes decorated beautifully from top to bottom, it's easy to fall into the comparison trap and feel 'less' or not 'as good' etc. It just happened to me...But it's so important for us to keep the focus on why it is we adorn our homes in the first place. It's something that during the chaos of boxes and lights and pine needles and gift wrap and good store deals gets too easily lost. We have been given Christmas to spread the good news and to sprinkle love, kindness and compassion to those around us...it is my hope for you and me to keep this front and center as we enter the holiday season. xoxo

Wow ~ she nailed it ~ she really did

the person that said it was Lucy from Craftberry Bush

she touched on it again in her blog post as she was part of the holiday house walk

I have not been following her feed for a long time

but that night I was so glad I did

you see I decorated the house last weekend

all but the mantle and centerpieces are done

and we will only go out on Sunday for the tree

my house will never be one to participate in a house walk

but it is home ~ the little trinkets I placed out on Saturday

spark a memory and bring me joy

and you know ~ that is what Christmas is all about

so year after year

I will put basically the same things in the same spots

I will put my tree up 2 weeks before Christmas

I will bake cookies ~ the ones we love

and only seem to make this time of year

I will buy my Mom cherry chocolates

because my Dad used to buy her one every year

and I love carrying on that tradition for her

I will wrap the gifts and curl the ribbon

listening to Elvis Christmas music

because I love it so

when I take these ornaments out of the box

and place them in this big vase I will remember that they hung

on the big tree at the farm

and be grateful that my Aunt gave them to me

this year we will make new memories

there will be an empty chair

we will miss my father in law like crazy

but we will be blessed because we will be together

Happy weekend.

With Grateful Hearts

Light the candle on a holy night

singing loud and proud

grateful hearts ~ both Mom's to my right

cherish this moment

snow is gently falling

it is a perfect Christmas Eve

back to the house ~ gather around the table

a little "nip" or two

and listen to stories of days gone by

laugh and smile

exchanging of cards with my boy

it's late and I am tired ~ fill the stockings

then up to bed

we awoke Christmas morning to a layer of fresh fallen snow

when the sun came out around 11 it truly made it 

a magical Christmas Day

coffee in hand ~ loved ones around the table

we shared a fabulous meal

then spent time just talking and being

and sharing the love around the tree

waving goodbye ~ a couple hours "free"

before round 2

so a nap was had

ding ding

in the car ~ surrounded by our other clan

stockings were dug into and presents were opened

lots of oohs and ahs

eating cookies and sweet breads

crunching on candy and nuts

then everyone grabs a bowl of seafood casserole

and more sharing of the day so far

coming together ~ being together

another gathering on Boxing Day

around the table ~ good eats

sweet treats ~ raise your glass

toast the season

blessed to be part of two wonderful families

blessed to have power as so many around us do not

blessed with the ability to love and be loved

xo

Christmas Wishes

Happy Sunday!

Everything is done ~ I have just completed my wrapping and I am going to 

curl up with my fur baby and watch a movie

it has been a hectic week at work so overtime was in the cards

3 out of 5 days so that makes for a time crunch at home

thankfully I was organized so other than not getting enough sleep

we coasted through it without too many problems

last Sunday we decorated the tree

can someone love and hate something both at the same time?

I love picking it out and bringing it in ~ the smell is heaven

on the flip side putting the lights on it

because I am type A and need 10 million or so

it took me a couple of hours ~ not my favourite job

then unwrapping each ornament and smiling at the memory

and finding the perfect spot on the tree

I am so traditional ~ no themes here

Christmas is a celebration of family and memories of days gone by

and making new memories ~ right

Cathy aka the best neighbour ever made this for us this year

she is so talented and I love it!

my wrap station and chalkboard

love this little room of mine

we had Secret Santa at work last week

and these are a couple of my gifts ~ are they not the cutest!

this is outside right now ~ 3 storms in 7 days

we dug out from 27 cm last Sunday only to receive 27 more on Wednesday

last night started with freezing rain ~ turned to snow and then more freezing rain

this was the car Wednesday night but I loved how our outdoor lights looked under the snow

yesterday we stopped at the in-laws as we do a cookie swap every year

and I had to get some shots of the icicles on their house ~ so pretty

I remember as a kid breaking them off and eating them like popsicles

did anyone else do that?

home we came and I put together a few cookie and sweet trays

some to keep ~ some to give

I have chicken stock simmering on the stove to make chicken fricot for

Christmas eve supper

Lists are made for last minute prep

after church on Christmas eve we will host Trev's family

for drinks and some munchies

I am also hosting Christmas dinner this year for my side

so turkey dinner for 6 and possibly 9

then that night we will go up the road to our inlaws and have 

seafood casserole and open gifts

Boxing day is a lazy day and we have our big dinner with Trev's family

so we will be surrounded by those that we love

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas

thank you for your friendship

xo

Friday Potpourri

the hustle and bustle is here

have you been caught up in the whirl of it all

or are you laid back and just biding your time for the big sprint

at the end

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although I could curl up in a ball and pretty much sleep most of the day

I will go down swinging

busy week ~ overtime at work busy

and something going on almost every night 

tis the season

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I needed some festive ~ some red

because you know how I feel about red

looking forward to bringing the tree in tonight

then we will have lights ~ a party

some wrapping ~ hot chocolate drinking

cookie eating ~ secret santa gift prepping weekend

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snow in the forecast for Sunday

hope it warms things up because baby it's cold outside!

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I have been keeping up with you by reading via Bloglovin

but hope to get around this weekend to leave some comments

hope you have the best weekend.

xo