MORE CHRISTMAS DAY

My mom posing w/ a photo frame I made her.

Titan was more than excited that he got a huge container of his favorite peanut butter for Christmas!

CHRISTMAS DAY

Our new blue Christmas Tree; I missed having a tree in our front window so I picked this little one up at Hobby Lobby for $15. I already had the blue glass ornaments and then I made the "word" ornaments! Very simple and pretty! Our big family Christmas Tree is down the basement; it holds all the ornaments that the girls have made over the years and lots of other I've collected!

Allie got TEXT MESSAGING from Santa - she had to figure out the puzzle first though! Lindsey's big gift was the ipod touch which she loves and Rachel received Hannah Montana speakers for her new ipod nano which she is enjoying!
Allie gave Rachel some High School Musical TROY slippers!

Hollister gift cards and perfume made these two happy!

CHRISTMAS EVE

We spent a nice Christmas Eve with Rick's parents. We went to the Olive Garden for a yummy lunch and then headed back to our house for gift opening. As you can see, the girls all enjoyed that! We went to the 4:00pm service at Light of Christ and made a mental note to arrive much earlier next year; the place was packed w/ probably 400 people. It was a beautiful service complete w/ a candle lighting during Silent Night. Afterwards, Bob and Jan headed for home and we just relaxed in the basement watching Rick's new big screen TV. Lindsey requested Chinese for supper (kinda of a Christmas Eve tradition we started a few years ago). It was a fun and relaxing day spent w/ family!

SNOW MUCH FUN!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

It was good
it was different
it was happy
it was sad

IT'S THE DAY BEFORE THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

was one of my favorites songs growing up. We had the song on a Christmas record and I remember looking forward to playing that song every year on Dec. 23 cuz it really didn't make sense on any other day, right? I should try to google it and see what I find.

Feeling the excitement around the house today w/ the girls. And that makes me excited! So I will relax and simply try to enjoy the beauty of the wonderful Christmas and remember what it's really all about.

FEELING BETTER TODAY

got 3 rooms cleaned really good: Master bathroom, Master Bedroom, and the Laundry room, made 3 batches of cookies (well, do the pretzels w/ m&m's count?), took a nap, tried to take the girls to see Santa but wouldn't you know he needed a dinner break, had some awesome tacos for dinner. It always good to cross things off your to-do list!

Both Lindsey and Allie had outings tonight w/ their friends! I think they are all getting excited for Christmas and are definitely thrilled to be out of school for 2 weeks.

Plus I heard the Chicago area is scheduled to get some snow either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Now that would be awesome!

FEELING SAD

for Allie tonight. She didn't make the 7th grade girls basketball team. She had been looking forward to this all year. Plus she also tried out for and didn't make poms and cheerleading back in late October. I know she was disappointed although she tried not to act like it. I plan to get her something little tomorrow and will leave it on her bed with a note about how proud I am of her no matter team/squad she makes or doesn't make. I remember middle school; I also tried out and didn't make cheerleading and basketball so I guess I can feel her pain. You only want the best for your kids and when they are sad you are sad. Allie, please know how much I love you and how totally proud I am of you for just being you!

CHRISTMAS SEASON WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ...

better this year but it isn't. Hoping to change that feeling in the next day or two (or else it might be a lost cause til next year).