Merry Christmas EVE

I'm SO not believing today is Christmas Eve!

The past few months have been kind of a blur...I've been much busier than usual,

and all the while I kept telling my husband, 

"I don't want to miss Christmas - it's my favorite time of year!" 

He helped me stay grounded and he also helped me tremendously with my new business.

I don't think I could have done it without him.

So, I didn't get to do my usual baking, and I didn't get cards out this year either, 

but being the positive person I try very hard to be, 

I will tell you that I did get my shopping done (even though it was a bit later than usual)

and I did get to attend the Tea with Mrs. Claus with my mom and granddaughters.

That meant a LOT to me (and them, too, I think).

My shopping I did mostly online. I LOVE doing that!

I still put a lot of thought behind each gift but it really simplifies my life. 

I do still like to visit the stores, but that's because I like to see the beautiful lights 

and decorations, and feel the magic in the air...people are usually bubbly and happy

and the spirit of giving is everywhere!

Today I spent the day with my husband. 

He got a few calls and I went with him. 

We also visited our new Paneras and Starbucks

 

I wanted us to be together because the first thing he said this morning was

"I think Christmas Eve is the hardest for me"

I said, "what do you mean?" 

He said, "since the kids are gone, it's just so quiet, it's not the same."

And he was right...

It's very different once your children are grown and out of the house, 

but we are SO incredibly thankful that they live in the same town

and that we get to see them and go to church with them,

and we will get to see them tomorrow for Christmas.

Sometimes I wonder if you can love your kids too much. 

Now that our kids have kids of their own, I'm sure they understand. 

I don't think you can really love them too much, 

as long as you don't let your love for them interfere with them living their own lives.

Manny & I do remember how good it felt to be on our own

when we started out together.

And we didn't live in the same town as our families did.

Whenever we'd go to visit them, we'd always get a sick feeling when we'd leave, 

but we were also so happy to be starting our own family.

Anyway, let me get back to my theme for today...

Christmas Eve.

This is what my house looks like at Christmas

Our Christmas Tree and Train (oh, and the Santa to the right of the tree...I love him)

 Our stockings (no chimney, so hung on the staircase instead - thanks Sis)

Our Bedroom Tree

 Our bathroom tree

Our Kitchen Tree (it has fruit ornament and kitchen utensil ornaments, and Santa lights

Upstairs landing area

 Automated Mr. & Mrs. Santa (thank you Chuck - my bro-in-law)

 Our Yard

 This is our front porch at night

We found this (real) sled at an antique shop years ago for $20.

I love putting it out the porch every year for Christmas.

 And this is probably my favorite Snowman

Christmas Sunday

This is what we woke up to this morning

 It almost looked like snow

Today was the Sunday before Christmas 

and our church service today was especially beautiful, 

we even shared communion.

After church we went to the brand new Panera Bread in town for lunch.

It was VERY yummy. (I should have taken a picture).

I'm so excited that we finally have a Panera AND a Starbucks!

After lunch Manny & I ran some errands, which involved a trip to a few stores, 

the post office, and then finished up at the grocery store 

to buy the food for our Christmas meal.

I'm am going to attempt a Standing Rib Roast this year.

I sure hope it turns out. 

When we got home we had a very nice surprise

our nephew and niece had come by to visit their grandma (and us, too).

They were on their way to their folks for Christmas

and stopped by here to wish us Merry Christmas!

Here they are with Grandma and Buttons

And here is Miss Daisy in her doggy stroller

(she is the sweetest dog)

 And here's a picture in front of our tree.

Scott and Paige, we l♥ve you both so much (Daisy, too)

Thank you for coming by to visit us today!

Merry Christmas!!!

Tea with Mrs. Claus

 Today for the 3rd or 4th year we got to have Tea with Mrs. Claus.

A local Tea House does this every year before Christmas.

It is such a special time for me with my mother and granddaughter(s).  

We have SO much fun!!!

 Mrs. Claus is the sweetest thing...

she reads to us and sings and tells stories about Santa Claus

 This year some of Hannah's cousins came

 Hannah, even though you are growing up, you are still a very sweet and tender hearted little girl.

 And she really enjoys these Teas.

 Sarah was quite happy and went along with the festivities

(as long as she had Woody in her arms, ha ha)

 After the lunch, the children get to go upstairs and decorate their own Gingerbread House

which they take home with them.

 Hannah especially likes doing this.

So did her little cousin.

 There was even an Elf nearby to assist the children

 Hannah was very proud of her creation

This Tea House is always decorated so beautifully!

 Here is Hannah with her cousins

 And here she is with her mommy and sister Sarah

watching as Mrs. Claus signs and ornament for Hannah and Sarah

Thank you Lord for such a beautiful day of making memories!

Happy Friday

Today I delivered the last of the locket orders from my recent parties. 

I still have some last minute individual orders coming in and I am happy to fill them. 

I love seeing how happy people get when I help them create a locket for someone special in their lives.

I ended up running a few more errands which kept me out much later in the day than I had planned. 

My husband was doing a job out of town and was then going to head to Miami to visit his mother...

but the job was WAY more involved than he had anticipated it to be

and then he can mechanical problems with his van so he had to come home.

I was kind of happy about that he came home,

I wasn't looking forward to him being gone, although I understood.

I had planned on getting a pile of wrapping done while he as gone. 

The pile is still waiting for me :0(

But today I experienced something very special...

today I visited a Brand New Starbucks which just opened up in our town. 

I LOVE Starbucks ♥♥♥

Needless to say, I am a Happy Camper. 

I shall not be a stranger to that place :0)

Christmas Is Almost Here

I can't believe is just five days away! 

I am SO not ready, but I know it's not going to wait for me, so I'd better get things together.

I am finishing up the last of my locket orders, so then I will breathe a sigh of relief. 

It certainly has been an adventure launching my new business right before Christmas!

Talk about timing!

Today was my day with Ethan. 

He really enjoys all the Christmas things...the lights, the music, the Choo Choo Train under our tree.

We watched some video clips on Youtube also. He really liked Frosty the Snowman one. 

It is so wonderful seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child. 

I hope I never outgrow the yearning for that wonderful feeling, 

and the Faith of a child to BELIEVE!

Tonight, after Ethan went home with his mommy

I had to run into town to deliver a locket order

and since my husband was still out, too,

we decided to meet up at one of the new restaurants that just opened in our town:

Chick-fil-A, Panera Bread, and Starbucks

We have waited YEARS for those stores to come to our town

and now they are here and open just in time for Christmas!

YAY!!!

Happy Anniversary

Today is my 36th Wedding Anniversary

Hard to believe it's been that long since our journey began...

 This was our first apartment.

We lived in the downstairs apt on the right.

It was an old place but a very charming place.

What wonderful memories you make in your very first "home" together!

This is us as newlyweds

Sometimes we miss the old days...those beginning days.

It was fun starting out, but back then we didn't have Manuel or Mark,

OR Hannah, Ethan, and Sarah

and what in the world would our lives be like without them?

We had planned to do dinner and a movie tonight but of course, 
the day got crazy and we didn't get to leave as early as we would have liked.
So we settled for a quiet dinner at Olive Garden and then did some Christmas shopping.
We should have asked the waitress to take our picture, but we didn't
so I tried to take one ourselves (but those never turn out very well for us, ha ha)

 This is my hubby trying to eat his dinner

 and this was our dinner (the Mixed Grill) and it was DELICIOUS!

 We had parked our KIA Soul next to a friend :0)

 So the boys had company while we were dining.

 Btw, here are the Boys, decked out for Christmas

Here is the beautiful Christmas tree in the center of the shopping village we visited

 It changes colors

 Isn't it beautiful!