Christmas cheer

this is our tree. It's attached to the ceiling because it has a balance problem. Honestly, we just gave it one drink...

Project Status:

Wood blocks- all sanded, and all but 1 set painted. That set is an extra, so it isn't urgent that I finish it before Christmas, except that I really want my dining room table back soon :)

Hats- 2 knit, 1 half-way done [finished by tonight for sure]
Scarves to match those hats- not even started :) that's an 'after-Christmas bonus present' at this point.

Towel Embroidery- finished, washed, and folded into neat packages.

Autumn Wall Hanging- I put this back into my 'unfinished projects' box. I'll pull it out in January :) maybe...

Tree Skirt- Sadly, I haven't even cut this out. It went into the 'unfinished projects' box as well. But it will be done by the end of January. That's the new goal anyway ;)

Baking- DONE. And enjoyed, and of course there is more to do, but that's for fun, not a deadline.

Books to Read- took several breaks from my non-fiction stack: some Georgette Heyer books, "The Blind Side" by Michael Lewis [good book!], and a Mercedes Lackey novel [another favorite author]. But mostly I've been knitting and sewing in my free time...

All the presents are made. All the presents for other people are wrapped and sent. My kids' presents are almost wrapped- there's a family gift that we won't be wrapping [too big], and 4 other gifts that will be set out 'naked' after bedtime Christmas Eve. But, I'm done. Whew!

All Christmas Cards are sent. At least I hope they are... :) If you read this and didn't get one [and if you actually care LOL] please email me your address [jgailey4 at hotmail dot com] and I'll send one out. I do have extras!

Last night I dragged the kids and my husband to see the movie "The Blind Side." It was good! Of course, with the late night, we all slept in this morning. It is the last day of school, but Morgen and Hyrum have chess club, so they had about 10 minutes to shower, dress, and eat breakfast. All I can say is thank goodness M doesn't do makeup yet!

Gratitude List:
* We're all healthy.
* Presents done!
* Tree still smells like pine :)
* Presents piling up under the tree, and my kids' excitement about Christmas coming.
* I'm excited, too LOL
* Snow- lots of snow- making this a wonderful white Christmas!
* Looking forward to family dinners.
* Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ [I know He was born in April. I get that. But I'm still glad we can celebrate His birth at this time, and I don't think He minds if the date is a bit off.]
* Neighbors who come over and sing carols to us :)
* Fudge. I love fudge.
* My husband and kids.
* 4 wheel drive :)
* Dishwasher
* Clothes washer and dryer [can you imagine hanging your wash outside to "dry" in the wintertime? then bringing it frozen on the line back into the house to thaw out by the fire? Yeah. SO glad for my dryer.]
* Time to meditate in the mornings. Yes, I'm still doing this amid the holiday bustle. Totally worth the time, too.

Let it snow...

Okay, that's enough! :) Monday we got about 14 inches, mostly during the daytime. Spent the rest of the week reminding myself how to drive [safely] in the snow. Last night it started snowing again, and we've gotten another 12 inches since then. Enough for a snow fort in the yard [back] and there's more than enough to build a snow town in our front yard [if somebody gets bored].

Thursday we got a quick visit from my in-laws. They drove up, slept at our house, then Jared and his dog took my FIL and HIS dog hunting pheasants on Friday. My MIL and I went out to eat, and discussed Christmas stuff, and listened to Christmas music. Then we went and got my kids from school, had a snack [kids], and drove down to visit Nate and Caitlin. We ate dinner at Buco di Beppa, a wonderfully noisy Italian restaurant, with delicious food that they serve family style. :) And since it is already noisy, when I bring my three noisy children, they fit right in!

Saturday the boys went to the Dinosaur Museum, and the girls [including Morgen] went shopping for: fabric, old stuff [at this awesome junky store that has lots of cool treasures if you look hard], and new paint for our toes. We decided the pedicure was a nice treat after all that walking around :)

Oh, and today, despite the many inches of snow on the ground, Morgen wore her sandals WITHOUT socks to church. I wondered [snow, cold, bare toes], but she is old enough to know better, and I refuse to nag her about things that won't be fatal. Halfway to church I realized that her motivation was to show off those fancy new toes, with the little glitter flowers painted onto her big toenails. Fancy! And now I understand. :)

Having the Carrot and Squash Curry Soup again today, along with my stand-by bread recipe with rosemary added, made into rolls, and a Caesar Salad. :) Perfect cold weather meal.

Gratitude List:
* Good music.
* Cough medicine [not for me].
* Sunday naps [also not for me].
* That Jared is hardly ever sick :) and when he is, he just gets quiet and sleepy.
* Lots of snow, and lots of imagination to help us know what to do with it.
* Good food :)
* 4 wheel drive
* God
* My family, friends, and neighbors